Author: Press Room
EU economy and finance ministers are gathering in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday to discuss how to respond to surging energy prices and anticipated inflation amid the ongoing strikes and counter-strikes in the Middle East. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “We are ready to take necessary and coordinated steps in order to stabilise markets, such as strategic stockpiling,” French Economy Minister Roland Lescure told journalists on Monday after chairing a meeting of G7 finance ministers. Asked whether G7 finance ministers had agreed on releasing the system’s strategic stockpile, Lescure said: “We are not there yet.” “What we’ve agreed upon is to use any…
Published on 09/03/2026 – 18:02 GMT+1•Updated 18:29 NATO forces have intercepted an Iranian missile heading to Türkiye for the second time in less than a week, as US-Israeli strikes on Iran throw the wider Middle East into conflict. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Last Wednesday, Türkiye’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile headed toward Turkish airspace close to the Syria border. Confirming the incident, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said “NATO stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat”. According to NATO sources, there is as yet no indication Türkiye is triggering formal proceedings within the…
The European Union’s vision of a local energy revolution is hitting serious roadblocks, a new report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) revealed on Monday, as plans for citizens, local authorities and small businesses to create so-called “energy communities” – where they produce, share, and consume their own renewable energy – are moving far slower than promised. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Citizens who belong to energy communities often express confusion about permits and legal steps and insufficient information and support, shattering dreams of energy self-sufficiency by way of shared rooftops or village-owned wind turbines. The EU gave citizens the power to…
As high costs continue to affect industries and economic competitiveness, the European Commission plans to protect its heavy industry from rising electricity prices by considering changes to national taxes, network charges and carbon costs, a document discussed by EU leaders and seen by Euronews reveals. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Energy-intensive industries such as chemicals, steel, and aluminium, which depend heavily on large amounts of power to operate, have been calling on the EU to address rising electricity and gas prices even before energy prices soared further after the United States and Israel launched their strikes on Iran. Industrial electricity prices in the…
Published on 09/03/2026 – 14:59 GMT+1 Washington and Beijing are both trying to weaken Europe because it constitutes an “unknown variable” in their power struggle, France’s foreign minister said on Monday, urging the European Union to stop doubting itself and assert itself on the global stage. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “The main geopolitical challenge is the growing rivalry between two powers, two superpowers,” Jean‑Noël Barrot told the annual European Union Ambassadors Conference on Monday, citing the US and China. The two countries’ increasingly confrontational stances, coupled with their common desire to reshape the international order to their advantage, Barrot said, could see…
Published on 09/03/2026 – 14:28 GMT+1 Ukraine’s Oschadbank is demanding the immediate return of cash and gold confiscated by Hungarian authorities last week, lawyers representing the bank in Hungary told Euronews. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The incident triggered a diplomatic row after Hungarian police raided a convoy of cash carriers near Budapest and seized $40 million, €35 million and 9kg of gold. Hungary expelled seven Ukrainian nationals accompanying the transport the following day and opened an investigation into suspected money laundering. Horváth Lawyers, a law firm representing Oschadbank and its seven employees in Hungary, told Euronews that the Ukrainian vehicles were carrying…
Published on 09/03/2026 – 10:26 GMT+1 As the old Hollywood rule goes, attributed to Alfred Hitchcock, a good thriller starts with an explosion, followed by rising tension. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In the ongoing crisis between Hungary and Ukraine, the blast was a literal pipeline. Since late January, the Druzhba pipeline has been down. Kyiv blames Russia for the explosion, halting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Budapest, on the other hand, accuses Kyiv of exploiting the disruption and is blocking a critical €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine. But escalation did not stop at financial vetoes. Hungarian Premier Viktor Orbán vowed…
By Alessio Dell’Anna & video by Maud Zaba Published on 09/03/2026 – 10:32 GMT+1•Updated 10:33 If you ever wondered whether young Europeans tend to vote for political parties on the left more than the right, the answer might be neither way. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Across the EU’s five largest member states, the majority of people aged 16 to 39 gravitate towards the political centre, particularly in Italy and Germany. That’s according to the Allianz Foundation’s 2026 Next Generation Study. Spain stands out as the most left-leaning country among young people, with 28% identifying either with the left or the far-left. At the other end…
Good morning from Brussels. I’m Mared Gwyn. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Europeans are today pushing for diplomacy and de-escalation amid signs that the conflict in the Middle East is spiralling further, with targets on both sides of the conflict widening to include civilian infrastructure – including key energy sites. Bahrain’s state oil company Bapco has just declared force majeure after a suspected Iranian drone hit its refinery, while oil depots in the Tehran area were also hit over the weekend, engulfing the Iranian capital in black smoke. Crude prices have now soared to over $100 (€87) per barrel for the first time…
Ahead of the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Monday, the Greek economy and finance minister told Euronews that the EU is “being tested” as the situation in the Middle East remains deeply problematic and highly uncertain, leaving energy markets in turmoil. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “Energy is going to be a core element of our discussion,” said the Eurogroup president, adding that “the impact on energy prices is significant already and we want to see how we are going to meet that challenge on the ground.” Oil prices eclipsed $114 per barrel for the first time since 2022 on Monday as the…