Author: Press Room
Ireland, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, has proposed trimming the bloc’s next long-term budget by €141bn in a bid to win over the Germany-led ‘frugal’ countries. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The so-called negotiating box will anchor the sensitive budget talks when EU leaders meet next week. It concentrates most of the reductions on the programmes for economic competitiveness and global cooperation. “The negotiating box acts to bridge the many differences between the member states. It brings us closer to resolving the so-called budgetary trilemma,” said Thomas Byrne, Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs, who leads on the file. Byrne…
Published on 10/10/2026 – 12:57 GMT+2 Czechs are heading to the polls on Saturday in the second day of voting to elect local representatives as well as a third of the Senate’s members, in what is being seen as a popularity test for Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Babiš, who previously served as PM from 2017 to 2021, returned to power after his ANO party sealed a strong win in parliamentary elections in October 2025. The ANO, which continues to hold a sizeable lead in opinion polls as the country’s most popular party, formed a nationalist coalition government with…
The European Union is rapidly coming to terms with the limitations of its multibillion-euro support for Ukraine, as Russia’s all-out escalation wrecks the country’s finances, depletes its air defences and deepens its reliance on cash-strapped donors. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “This war will last longer than we thought,” a European diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There’s a realisation that needs will continue to present themselves, but it’s not yet clear how this will be addressed.” “We must send a clear message that the EU won’t change its position and will double down on its support for Ukraine and pressure on…
Published on 09/10/2026 – 15:51 GMT+2•Updated 15:52 Thieves in Italy took off with a €5 million haul consisting of 30,000 wine bottles after targeting a prestigious winemaker in Tuscany last weekend, Italian media reported. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT A group of at least seven individuals carried out the heist at a winery belonging to the Marchesi Antinori company in Cortona, making away with bottles of Solaia, Tignanello, and Guado al Tasso, per a report in the Corriere della Sera newspaper. The report said the thieves arrived in two large trucks and had deactivated the alarm system and disabled cameras at the site.…
Published on 09/10/2026 – 15:51 GMT+2•Updated 16:54 EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič announced a deal with China on Friday to curb imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles into the EU and facilitate access to rare earths. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT While the understanding signals a preference for a diplomatic resolution to the growing trade imbalance, European leaders are pushing for stronger measures to level the playing field. They are expected to review the details at a summit in Brussels next week. The EU has also floated retaliatory measures if the outcome falls short of expectations. Šefčovič travelled to Beijing on Wednesday for two…
A rare double waterspout struck the coast near Marsala, in western Sicily, on Friday, 9 October, before moving inland and causing damage to buildings, vehicles and farmland. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The two swirling columns formed over the sea near Marsala’s port before reaching land and moving towards the surrounding Trapani area. The Alcide De Gasperi school in the Terrenove district was also severely damaged. In nearby Petrosino, a car was hit by the tornado and thrown into a ravine. The two people inside were injured and taken to hospital. Footage filmed from the Biscione seafront in Petrosino, near Sibiliana, shows the…
Published on 09/10/2026 – 17:10 GMT+2 Britain’s former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has received £302,000 (around €347,000) in compensation after being forced to give up the lease on his longtime home amid controversy over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Crown Estate confirmed on Friday that Mountbatten-Windsor was entitled to compensation because he left Royal Lodge less than 25 years into his 75-year lease. The amount was deducted from the £1.8 million (around €2.07 million) he owed for repairs to the property, leaving him with a bill of around £1.5 million (€1.73 million). “The lease for…
Published on 09/10/2026 – 18:14 GMT+2 The European Union on Friday described US sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) as “deeply regrettable” and said it was “ready to take any necessary measures to enable the court to carry out its work”. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “The EU will work closely with the ICC to ensure it continues to operate effectively,” the European Commission said, adding it hoped that the six-month delay before the sanctions applied meant “there is room for dialogue” One possible EU response would be to activate a legal instrument known as the “blocking mechanism”, which prohibits European firms…
Published on 09/10/2026 – 18:25 GMT+2 On 5 October, a group used makeshift stairs to enter Latvia. While the Baltic country of two million has faced irregular migration from Belarus since 2021, the latest incident was particularly aggressive. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The group of 20 migrants was led by “armed, masked escorts openly threatening Latvian soldiers,” Latvia’s Interior Minister, Jānis Dombrava, told Euronews. In the following hours, border surveillance equipment was damaged, reducing Latvia’s “ability to detect and respond to further incursions.” “The combination of armed intimidation and targeted sabotage raises the risk of a violent confrontation and tests both our…
French S&D MEP Emma Rafowicz says Emmanuel Macron’s government is “completely irresponsible” in its handling of the ongoing student protests in France. Rafowicz argues that most of the violence comes “from the police side” and says young people are “mobilising quite well”. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT She accuses the government of “looking to the other side” and hoping the protests will dissipate during the holidays. Rafowicz also describes French schools as being “in shambles”, citing falling ceilings and food that fails to meet quality standards. The MEP says this reflects “a disrespect for the young people”.