How German politics went kaput November 12, 2024 After the collapse of its shaky ‘traffic light’ coalition, Germany is once again the sick man of Europe, says Rainer Zitelmann German chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has sacked his finance minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and delivered an aggressive speech personally insulting Lindner. This is a drastic shift in tone for the otherwise calm chancellor, who [...]
Georgia goes to the polls in make-or-break vote for country’s future October 26, 2024 Georgians headed to the polls on Saturday in a ballot many citizens see as a make-or-break vote on the opportunity to join the European Union. The pre-election campaign in the South Caucasus nation of 3.7m people has been dominated by foreign policy and marked by a bitter fight for votes and allegations of a smear [...]
London 2012 medallist hires Bosman lawyer to reinstate Paris place October 24, 2024 When Elena Congost Mohedano, a blind marathon runner, crossed the finish line in Paris last month, the Spaniard thought that she had completed the set of Paralympic medals with a bronze at the age of 37. Her delight turned to anguish, however, after she was disqualified for letting go of the tether to her guide [...]
UK and EU energy giants call for post-Brexit North Sea ‘green power hub’ October 15, 2024 UK and EU energy firms are urging their governments to overhaul the post-Brexit trading set up in a bid to construct a North Sea “green power hub” and unlock investment. Some 20 top power firms and lobby groups have written an open letter to European and British energy ministers to urge them to prioritise a [...]
FIfa admits it will have to rewrite football’s transfer rules October 14, 2024 The European Court of Justice ruled this month that Fifa’s existing regulations do not comply with EU law.
Shares in spirits companies drop after ‘tit-for-tat’ Chinese brandy tariff October 8, 2024 Shares in international drinks companies fell this morning after China slapped an anti-dumping tariff on brandy imports from the EU, escalating trade tensions. The move from China came only days after the EU imposed a tariff of 45 per cent on Chinese electric vehicles for the next five years. The European Commission called it an “abuse” of [...]
The stakes are high for Starmer’s post-Brexit return to Brussels October 2, 2024 Brexit remains a defining issue, but say it quietly, writes Andrew Hammond as he explores what could come up on Starmer's Brussels trip.
Starmer to hold talks with EU to patch up post-Brexit relationship October 1, 2024 Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to hold talks with EU leaders in Brussels this week as he looks to improve Britain’s relationship with the bloc. Starmer, who is keen to move past Brexit, will discuss plans for the coming months with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and [...]
The EU will strangle innovation in AI September 18, 2024 EU regulatory overreach has gone from from a Brexiteer conspiracy theory and source of ridicule to something that EU leaders themselves acknowledge and are trying to address. But when it comes to AI, they’re already behind, says James Price If you’ve bought a plastic drinks bottle in recent months, you may have noticed a maddening [...]
Back in the GDR? East Germans fear a return to socialism September 16, 2024 As half of East Germans say recent negative developments in their country remind them of the post-war era of socialism, Germany has become the sick man of Europe, warns Rainer Zitelmann The German government has been increasingly intervening in the economy. Many Germans have been outraged by government mandates dictating which heating systems they are [...]