European Business Review

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Satellite images obtained by the BBC suggest that the Russian strike on 27 January damaged its key part - a huge tank used to store oil necessary to keep the pipeline pressurised and functioning.

Ukraine-Hungary oil pipeline row threatens EU loan

A bitter dispute pitting Hungary and Slovakia against Ukraine is holding up a crucial €90bn (£77.95bn) EU loan to Ukraine.

The war in Iran is influencing global politics well beyond the battlefield. It has reignited Europe’s energy concerns, exposed NATO and EU divisions, complicated Ukraine’s position, challenged India’s diplomacy and compelled militaries to confront the rise of asymmetric tactics threats. Of course, if the war continues for a longer period, the EU will quickly have to brace itself for the possible refugee implications.

Iran War Exposes Fault Lines in Global Politics

From energy shocks to NATO strains, the conflict is redrawing strategic priorities far beyond the Middle East.

In general, the elections have confirmed the growing strength of the far left in the peripheries of big cities, where there are concentrations of the immigrant working class as well as the so-called "intellectual proletariat".

France’s Socialists hold on to power in major cities in election boost for mainstream

Socialists and allies held on to power in France’s big four cities - Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Lille - on a local election night that offered hopes for mainstream parties in next year’s presidential elections.

Despite the question on the ballot paper was quite complex and many Italians struggled to understand the technical details, the turnout was almost 60%, a high figure for Italian standards. The vote morphed into a plebiscite on Meloni’s near-record three and half years in office.

Referendum defeat rubbed off the shine of Meloni and her government

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has lost a referendum on a constitutional reform which had turned into a vote on her government.

What’s needed is a revolution in the EU mindset. The last quarter-century of largely introspective policymaking has pushed external affairs to the edges. Yes, there’s the European External Action Service (EEAS) – the EU’s ‘diplomatic service’ – but it’s a Potemkin village that’s impressive yet illusory. Proof of the pudding is the EU’s lack of strategic policy stances on key questions.

Saying ’No’ to Trump must trigger tougher EU policies

Giles Merritt urges EU leaders to learn from their muddled Iran responses and adopt more proactive, and even pre-emptive, common external policies.

MORE FEATURES

For decades, Russia was the obvious destination for Central Asian workers seeking employment abroad. Salaries there were sometimes up to five times higher than those available in their home countries, whose economies remain poorly diversified and offer limited opportunities for young people.

Analyses

Central Asian migrants increasingly look to Europe as Russia loses appeal

Monday, March 23, 2026

Since the war in Ukraine began, Russia is no longer widely seen as an economic “El Dorado”

Russia’s Imperial Retreat Is Europe’s Strategic Opportunity

Friday, March 20, 2026

The war in Ukraine is costing Russia its leverage overseas. Across the South Caucasus and Middle East, this presents an opportunity for Europe to pick up the pieces and claim its own sphere of influence.

EU and the Arab Gulf Must Come Together

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

The war in Iran proves the United States is now a destabilizing actor for Europe and the Arab Gulf. From protect their economies and energy supplies to safeguarding their territorial integrity, both regions have much to gain from forming a new kind of partnership together.

The EU Needs a Third Way in Iran

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

European reactions to the war in Iran have lost sight of wider political dynamics. The EU must position itself for the next phase of the crisis without giving up on its principles.

Explaining the digital euro to public opinion is complicated by the fact that it comes in two versions – retail and wholesale. When and if a recent EU summit’s green light is confirmed by the European Parliament, this autumn should see the advent of the wholesale digital-euro for financial institutions. The retail version for general use isn’t expected for at least three years.

Analyses

To succeed, the digital euro needs megaphone messaging

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Giles Merritt looks at the undoubted benefits of the digital euro, and warns that greater public awareness will be vital to its introduction.

Taxation policy across the EU is another area which is in urgent need of reform to encourage investment into the EU, with only 15% of our members feeling that this has become more conducive to growth, competitiveness and investment over the past year.

Management

The EU is falling behind its key competitors in R&D

Monday, March 9, 2026

The EU is falling behind its key competitors in Research and Development (R&D), according to a report by Brussels-based BusinessEurope, which represents the business community at EU level.

Greens Shock Victory Undermines Starmer’s Leadership

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The local by election result exposes the fragility of Labour’s mandate—and mirrors a wider European unravelling for centre parties.

Rethinking British Democracy

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Britain’s voting system encourages the belief that complex social conflicts can be settled not by compromise, but by conquest.

Skills and the new "knowledge economy"

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The answer to the fundamental question that has been raised for several years regarding the gap between education and the real needs of the labor market is clearly affirmative, given the speed of change taking place in the business environment, driven by new technological applications, emerging and multiple specializations, and the increasing need for digitization.

Cyprus fears ‘chaotic’ terrorism from Turkey-occupied territory as EU help ramps up

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Cyprus is on high alert over potential terrorist threats linked to Iranians in the Turkish-occupied north, while Germany is weighing the deployment of a frigate to shield the island from Hezbollah- and Iran-related risks