Young people outside London fear they’ll ‘never succeed’ as regional optimism hits new low

On Monday, the UK will seek to redefine its relationship with the EU, with attention on the outcomes of the EU-UK summit. Recent trade deals with India and the US may strengthen ties with the EU rather than hinder them, as they avoid closing avenues for deeper relations. The summit is expected to yield agreements on defense, economic cooperation, and regulatory alignment, highlighting the UK's ongoing adaptation to EU rules, while revealing the limitations of...

A deal between the UK and EU for mutual recognition of conformity assessment could boost UK exports to the EU by an average of 9.8%, with some sectors like industrial machinery seeing increases of up to 27.9%. Despite the UK government's push for this agreement as part of a broader economic reset with the EU, Brussels has consistently rebuffed the request, citing political reasons and the UK’s own red lines. Industry bodies on both sides...

To revive Germany’s struggling economy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces the challenge of high employment alongside decreasing individual work hours, as 4.8 million workers are set to retire by 2035. Merz’s coalition aims to encourage younger generations to increase their working hours to sustain economic growth, particularly as the labour supply dwindles. While Germany has one of the highest labour participation rates, the average working hours per employee are the shortest among wealthy nations, signaling a...

The European Central Bank (ECB) may need to lower borrowing costs to “slightly below” 2 percent due to global trade wars impacting consumer prices, according to Belgium’s central bank governor Pierre Wunsch. He indicated that the ECB's key deposit facility rate, currently at 2.25 percent after seven cuts since June, could be further reduced, with markets expecting a quarter-point cut in June and another later this year. Wunsch's shift from a hawkish stance suggests a...

SummaryOn Monday, Sir Keir Starmer aims to finalize a veterinary deal with the EU to simplify agrifood trade, which may require the UK to accept evolving EU rules without voting rights. While the deal is intended to cut costs for consumers and enhance UK-EU relations, it poses political risks for Starmer, as it involves giving up some sovereignty. The agreement will also include a youth mobility scheme and improved access for European students to UK...

Portugal's immigration policy is a central issue in the upcoming elections, with the centre-right government advocating for a "regulated and humane" approach to counter the populist Chega party's rise amid immigration concerns. Minister António Leitão Amaro criticized past Socialist policies for the immigration surge, while asserting that his coalition's measures aim to be firm yet humane, avoiding extreme right tactics. The government, facing a potential minority outcome, has responded to the influx from South Asia...