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Future of Europe & Reform Debates
May 21, 2026

Merz Picks His Battles on the EU Budget — and Europe's Big Fight Is Already Starting

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used the Charlemagne Prize ceremony in Aachen to lay out Germany's opening position on the 2028-2034 EU budget: fewer farm subsidies, more defence investment, and a hard no on joint borrowing.

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News & Analysis
May 21, 2026

Europe's Defence Industry Is Growing. The Orders Are Growing Faster.

European governments are committing unprecedented sums to rearmament. But the factories, skilled workers, and supply chains needed to deliver on those commitments are lagging badly behind.

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News & Analysis
May 21, 2026

France's Presidential Frontrunner Is Under Criminal Investigation. The 2027 Race Just Got Messier.

A French judge has opened a formal corruption inquiry into Édouard Philippe, the centrist ex-prime minister leading polls for the 2027 presidential race, over the awarding of a digital hub contract in Le Havre.

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News & Analysis
May 20, 2026

Putin Comes to Beijing With One Goal: A Pipeline That Would Blunt EU Sanctions

Vladimir Putin is in Beijing pressing Xi Jinping to finalise the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline — a 2,600-kilometre route that would redirect Russia’s gas exports from Europe to China, structurally weakening the EU’s remaining leverage over Moscow.

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News & Analysis
May 20, 2026

Europe Is Looking for Someone to Talk to Putin. The Three Names on the Table All Have Problems.

EU leaders are considering appointing a special envoy for peace talks with Russia, with three names in circulation — Angela Merkel, Mario Draghi, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Each comes with a reason it might not work.

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Business & Economy
May 20, 2026

Europe Blinks: Brussels Agrees to Implement the Turnberry Trade Deal

Brussels has agreed to implement the Turnberry Agreement — a landmark but contested trade deal with Washington that caps US tariffs on EU goods at 15 per cent and commits Europe to buying $750 billion in US energy. Critics say Europe conceded under threat.

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