Author: staff

“It says, basically, if you want to pollute, you pay. If you don’t want to pay, innovate. And this is what happened,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the ETS criticism after Thursday’s summit in Alden-Biesen.  The ETS requires companies to hold a permit for each ton of CO2 they emit. They can buy and trade them on the market, while the number of permits gradually falls over time, slashing total possible emissions. This mechanism, besides shifting the costs of dealing with climate damage from society to those who cause it, encourages investments in clean manufacturing. …

Published on 12/02/2026 – 11:27 GMT+1 Level 1. During the 2012 financial crisis, Mario Draghi famously promised to do “whatever it takes” to save the euro. And he saved the currency you now use every day. But the price was high. Draghi was the face of austerity. And if you are from southern Europe, you know exactly the meaning behind cuts, unemployment, and a legendary battle with his nemesis, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. Varoufakis wanted to end the belt-tightening, but Draghi pulled the plug on Greek banks to force a deal. Level 2. Fast forward to 2026. The EU…

Published on 16/02/2026 – 10:22 GMT+1•Updated 10:22 Ukraine’s former energy minister Herman Halushchenko was charged with money laundering and involvement in a criminal group as part of the country’s corruption investigation around the state nuclear power company Energoatom, authorities announced on Monday. In a statement by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), it was confirmed that two anti-graft watchdogs have “expanded the circle of suspects in the Midas case”. “The former minister of energy (2021–2025) has been exposed for money laundering and participation in a criminal organisation,” the statement said. According to the investigation, which…

Published on 16/02/2026 – 9:17 GMT+1•Updated 10:03 The backlash to Bad Bunny’s historic Super Bowl performance can’t seem to die down, as certain political circles in the US apparently unable to get over how a halftime show could be sung exclusively in Spanish. Or how awful the MAGA alternative show was. Following Donald Trump’s bellyaching on the matter, a number of Republican congressmen called for a probe accusing the Puerto Rican superstar of potentially violating broadcast decency standards – despite the fact he censored or omitted his most explicit lyrics from the show. Conservative lawmaker Andy Ogles called for a…

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News In a special recess week edition of Politics at Sam and Anne, the pair look at who could replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. Anne – who’s in Munich – tells Sam how the Europeans view the Starmer government and if his vision of closer ties with Europe aligns with his EU counterparts. Back home, is the Peter Mandelson affair ramping up with a possible police interview under caution within the next 14 days? Plus, Nigel Farage will announce part of Reform UK’s shadow cabinet next week, but who will make…

There were so many potential Democratic presidential hopefuls here that it could have been the Sheraton Nashua rather than an elegant Bavarian lodge. In their public comments and private conversations, some of which were de facto bilateral meetings, Democrats ranging from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez assured their European counterparts that Trump is temporary and the transatlantic relationship isn’t. “It is very important that we have this much Democratic representation this year and to show that we as a party are committed to a different path,” Ocasio-Cortez told me. “Regardless of any political speculation, it is important…

Published on 16/02/2026 – 7:30 GMT+1 The last time the EU held its general entry-level AD5 competition, as opposed to specialist ones, was in 2019. EPSO explained the repeated delays as part of the Commission’s work to update old IT systems and fix problems with the testing platform. With open eligibility and a monthly salary of nearly €6,000, about 50,000 people are expected to apply before the 10 March deadline for these entry-level civil service jobs. Candidates will take a four-part online test to determine if they are ready to become permanent EU officials and help with policy work. There…

In front of several hundred people, contestants in feathered costumes take turns screeching into a banana-shaped mic. Some come from nearby towns, others from much farther away. Everyone invents a character. This year’s shield went to Laurie Duhaudt, aka “Maître Mouette et Chandon”, dressed in pearls, heart-shaped sunglasses and full gull plumage. The jury, made up of past winners and carnival regulars, rewarded timing, tone and commitment. YouTuber Raphaël Carlier joined in too, while his partner David Coscas watched from the crowd. It is silly, noisy and oddly precise, and it now ranks among Dunkirk’s key carnival moments.

19) Mathieu Darnaud et Elsa Schalck Au Sénat, on dit qu’ils ont horreur de la lumière. C’est pourtant bien là que la flamme est née entre l’élu de l’Ardèche et l’élue du Bas-Rhin. A 50 ans, Mathieu Darnaud a pris la succession de Bruno Retailleau à la tête du groupe LR, qui est le plus gros groupe politique du Parlement (130 membres). Ce qui n’aurait pu être qu’un intérim est devenu un poste durable pour ce protégé de Gérard Larcher, qui a gravi un à un les échelons du cursus honorum dans un département très rural. Sa compagne Elsa Schalk,…

On today’s show: EU editor Maria Tadeo fills us in on what happened this weekend at the Munich Security Conference We interview Fabrice Pothier, the CEO of Rasmussen Global – who previously served as Director of Policy Planning for the NATO Alliance. Jakub Janas explains what is this European mutual defence clause everyone is talking about. Our Alice Tidey reports on the debate on a common European nuclear umbrella. Our correspondent Laura Fleischmann in Berlin tells us more over the significant controversy over comments made by members of the jury at the Berlinale cinema festival. When and where to watch…