Why the EU and Nato fear Romania’s hard-right presidential frontrunner

When Italian lawyer Mario Franzosi coined the term “Italian torpedo” in 1997, he described a tactic of preemptively filing lawsuits in slow Italian courts to impede opponents' legal actions. This practice has resurfaced in post-Brexit Britain, as EU regulations no longer apply, allowing litigators to exploit it again, particularly in financial derivative disputes between Italian municipalities and banks. As the UK prepares to sign the 2019 Hague Convention in 2025, the strategic filing of claims...

SummaryThe EU has a unique opportunity to enhance the euro's global influence amidst uncertainties surrounding the US dollar due to the Trump administration's erratic policies. European leaders could capitalize on this by issuing common debt, consolidating existing bonds, and pre-funding future spending, thereby fostering a stable euro asset market. Additionally, strengthening trade relationships and implementing financial tools to promote euro usage could further enhance the euro's attractiveness, urging leaders to recognize the geopolitical importance of...

The writer was chair of the economic affairs committee of the House of Lords in the last parliament Tony Blair criticized current climate policies as impractical, urging a more pragmatic approach amid three key challenges facing Europe: climate change, competitiveness, and security. He argues that growth should be prioritized to fund defense and decarbonization efforts, emphasizing that robust energy supply, including gas, is essential for rearmament while balancing climate goals. Leaders must reassess regulatory frameworks...

SummaryDonald Trump's potential return to the White House is reigniting plans for a strategic partnership between the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes 12 countries like Canada and Japan. European Commission officials express a renewed willingness to explore structured cooperation on trade rules, aiming to bolster the rules-based international trade system amid current global challenges. While discussions are in early stages, momentum is growing, with support from countries...

In 1920, Poland established its first ammunition factory to support its newly regained independence against the Soviet Red Army, but a century later, the same factory struggles to meet current defense needs amid rising Russian aggression. The Niewiadów plant symbolizes Poland's manufacturing decline, with executives criticizing the state-controlled Polish Armaments Group for failing to enhance domestic production capabilities. Despite Poland's high military spending and some successes, such as a contract to supply TNT to the...

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the UK breached its obligations by restricting EU fishermen's access to certain waters for sand eels, while upholding London's right to impose conservation measures in others. This dispute is a significant point of tension in post-Brexit relations between the UK and EU, particularly affecting Danish and Swedish fishermen. The UK government welcomed the ruling, stating it would comply with the tribunal's findings on English waters but noted it...