The group of finance ministers from Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria have joined forces to ask the European Union to introduce a windfall tax on energy firms. Their main worry is that the recent surge in oil and gas prices—linked to conflicts in Iran—could push inflation higher and hurt o
Five European countries want energy giants to share extra profits from high fuel costs. Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria signed a letter asking the EU to tax sudden gains made by energy firms. The push comes as rising oil prices from Middle East tensions squeeze household budgets. The mi
The Greek government is about to change its cabinet after a big farm‑aid fraud case. A probe started last year showed that many Greek livestock owners made up fake records to get EU money. State workers and politicians are said to have helped them. The scandal has already forced several min
The United States and the European Union have a long‑standing partnership, but one problem keeps popping up: fines. A senior U. S. State Department official said that penalties from the EU are the biggest hurdle in economic talks between the two sides. The focus is on a new rule called the Digital M
The European Union and the South American group Mercosur have agreed that their trade pact will begin to work on a provisional basis from May 1. This means the main parts of the agreement will be active for EU countries and those Mercosur members who have finished their approval steps by the end o
Scientists have looked beyond the usual parks and reserves to find other lands that could help wildlife survive. They called these places “Other Effective Area‑Based Conservation Measures” or OECMs. The idea is that some areas, even if not officially protected, still play a key role in keeping speci
In less than a month, Hungary will hold an election that could shake up the country’s political scene. The foreign minister confirmed that a top U. S. official plans to visit Budapest around the same time. The trip seems timed to show support for the current prime minister, who is facing his toughes
EU leaders want no more attacks on energy and water plants in the Middle East. They worry these strikes could hurt global oil prices and make the Iran war worse. In a meeting in Brussels, the 27 countries agreed to ask everyone to stop fighting near these important buildings. They also want civil ri
In Brussels, European leaders gathered to talk about how the fighting in the Middle East is pushing up oil and gas costs. They said they will not send troops to help the United States or Israel protect the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil. The meeting started with worries about rising en
European leaders are calling for a more confident stance on the world stage. The current climate sees the United States, led by President Donald Trump, and China as dominant powers. Some argue that Europe must step up to protect its own interests. Germany’s new chancellor has highlighted the size o
