The Belgian capital had been without a regional government since an election in June 2024, with parties unable to agree on forming a coalition, causing chaos for the city’s finances. Brussels is currently grappling with a staggering €15 billion debt, raising concerns about a looming financial crisis. The parties involved in this week’s talks were the Francophone […]
Continue ReadingLeaders played down differences as they gathered at the Alden Biesen estate, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying her views on industrial strategy converged with those of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and brushing off suggestions the duo were trying to isolate French President Emmanuel Macron. “It is not something that we do against someone […]
Continue ReadingThat means a “NATO 3.0,” he said, where Europeans pay more for their own defense and slim NATO’s activities down to its core task of defending alliance territory. The term won immediate praise from some allies. NATO 3.0 is “a good way to explain his point, which we totally agree on,” Norwegian Defense Minister Tore […]
Continue ReadingAfter spending most of his political career in relative anonymity, the 65-year-old Retailleau burst onto the scene two years ago after being named interior minister by former Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Retailleau’s political savvy and hard-line, unapologetic stance on hot-button issues such as immigration electrified supporters of his seemingly moribund political party, Les Républicains, and […]
Continue ReadingSAFE provides low-interest, long-term loans with a 10-year grace period for principal repayments, raised by Brussels on capital markets and offering significant savings compared to national borrowing. Those terms are crucial for Poland, which plans to devote 4.8 percent of its GDP to defense this year, one of the highest levels in NATO. The country’s public […]
Continue ReadingBONUS EPISODE: “Europe has to be saved from itself” — Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister – POLITICO Skip to main content
Continue ReadingThe investigation concerns “the sale of 23 Commission buildings to the Belgian state in 2024,” a Commission spokesperson told POLITICO. The property sale “followed established procedures and protocols,” the spokesperson said, expressing confidence that the transaction was conducted in compliance with applicable rules. “The European Commission is committed to transparency and accountability and will cooperate […]
Continue ReadingMit über 108 Milliarden Euro Wehretat erlebt Deutschland einen historischen Wendepunkt in der Verteidigungspolitik. Für Kanzler Friedrich Merz gehören Wirtschaftswende, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Rüstung zusammen. Aber kommt die „Zeitenwende“ auch in der Realwirtschaft an? Wo bremsen Bürokratie, europäische Konflikte und politische Kontrolle? In dieser Premierenfolge analysieren Joana Lehner und Jürgen Klöckner die drei größten Probleme für […]
Continue ReadingThe move against WhatsApp follows reports of renewed difficulties with Telegram, the most popular messaging platform in Russia, after media watchdog Roskomnadzor announced new restrictions against the company earlier this week. Roskomnadzor last year accused Telegram and WhatsApp of violating Russian law by facilitating terrorists and scammers. Following its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February […]
Continue ReadingThe legal opinion by Advocate-General Tamara Ćapeta — to annul the Commission’s decision to unfreeze the funds — will guide the judges on their final ruling, which will be delivered in a few months. Advocates-general are not judges but legal advisers who help the court in complicated or unprecedented cases. René Repasi, a German MEP […]
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