Category: EU Reporter

France has followed Germany in saying Europe should prepare itself for a total cut-off in Russian gas deliveries as the Ukraine war drags out. “Let’s prepare for a total cut-off of Russian gas; Today that is the most likely option,” he said at a business event in Aix-en-Provence on Saturday, Politico reports. “We have to […]

Ukraine has recalled its ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, after he had spent eight years in the post. Melnyk had in the past stirred controversy by defending Stepan Bandera — a Ukrainian nationalist and Nazi collaborator. He had also mocked German chancellor Olaf Scholz for his weak reaction to Russia’s invasion by saying he was […]

A humble “trade representative” from an elite spy unit and a “technician” who did wiretapping — the identities of 21 Russian diplomats kicked out by Belgium help tell the story of how Moscow made Brussels the ‘spy capital’ of Europe.

The EU is building an €8m secure bunker in Brussels so that leaders can discuss secrets without Russian or other eavesdroppers.

French journalist Guy Lagache spent the first six months of this year in close proximity to Emmanuel Macron, making a film that ended up focusing on the French president’s Putin strategy.

Hungary’s central bank raised one of its main interest rates by 200 basis points to 9.75 per cent on Thursday. The move follows a 5 per cent fall in the currency against the euro over the past week. Budapest has been at odds with the EU Commission over its rule of law record and Brussels […]

An advisor to the EU court in Luxembourg has said Italian authorities can force US property-rental firm Airbnb to give up data to national tax authorities. The firm recently lost a similar case in Belgian courts, in a challenge to its business model in Europe. “Airbnb wants to be a good partner on tax,” it […]

Turkey has let free a Russian-flagged ship Ukraine said was full of stolen grain, prompting Kyiv to summon Turkey’s ambassador to clarify what happened, Reuters reports. “We regret that Russia’s ship Zhibek Zholy, which was full of stolen Ukrainian grain, was allowed to leave Karasu port, despite criminal evidence presented to the Turkish authorities,” Ukraine’s […]

Finnish MPs have passed a law to strengthen barriers on the country’s 1,300km-long border with Russia, currently composed of wooden fences designed to keep farm animals from wandering. “In all likelihood the fence will not cover the entire eastern border but will be targeted at locations considered to be the most important”, Sanna Palo, director […]

Ukraine has arrested a gang-leader in Kyiv charged with trafficking refugee women via Europe to Turkey for prostitution after giving them fake promises of other jobs, The Guardian reports. One 21-year old woman was to be moved via Hungary and Austria to Istanbul. “Her vulnerable condition was clear: absence of money, a child to support,” […]