The European Union has decided to fast track the provisional application of its long negotiated free trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur, triggering strong criticism from France and reigniting tensions within the bloc over agricultural policy and trade strategy. The European Commission confirmed that the agreement could enter into force provisionally two months […]
Europe’s long-running habit of supporting industries with public money appears to be entering a quieter phase, with new figures showing that overall state aid spending across the European Union eased in 2024 and that Portugal and Ireland once again sat at the bottom of the table. According to the latest assessment released the European Commission, […]
An unannounced inspection European Commission technicians has raised fresh concerns about border security standards at Lisbon Airport, one of Portugal’s most important transport hubs. Following an on site assessment carried out between December 15 and 17, inspectors concluded that there are serious deficiencies in how border controls are being managed, a finding that could have […]
Price distortions in the European Union’s energy market must be addressed urgently to ensure fair competition and stable electricity costs across member states, according to Portugal’s Energy and Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho. Speaking to Euronews, the minister said the European Commission has a central role to play as countries invest heavily in upgrading […]
Brussels pushes for momentum as opposition hardens in Paris The European Commission has intensified pressure on France to drop its opposition to the long delayed Mercosur trade agreement, arguing that shifting global economic and geopolitical conditions make the deal increasingly urgent. The move places Paris in a difficult position as domestic resistance, particularly from farmers, […]
The European Commission has unveiled a sweeping new initiative known as the Democracy Shield, aimed at protecting Europe’s democratic systems and elections from foreign interference, disinformation, and manipulation threats that have grown in sophistication with the rise of new technologies. The plan, announced on Wednesday in Brussels, reflects the EU’s growing concern over the spread […]
An entrenched housing crisis was one of the dominant themes in last week’s Dutch election, and it is not hard to understand why. House prices in the Netherlands have doubled in the past decade, and a new-build home costs 16 times the average salary. Across the EU, affordability is not just a life-limiting problem in notoriously expensive […]
Introduction The European Union’s budget negotiations for 2026 have begun to resemble a football match where every team believes it has already scored a winning goal. From Berlin’s cautious accountants to Lisbon’s hopeful planners, the question is no longer whether there will be a budget but who will end up paying for whose ambitions. The […]
