The finance policy battles shaping 2025 – POLITICO

Karol Nawrocki, Poland's newly elected president from the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, narrowly defeated Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Coalition candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, by less than 2%. Nawrocki is expected to block Tusk's pro-EU reforms and escalate tensions between the presidency and government, marking a shift towards more extreme rightwing politics in Poland and potentially across Europe. His victory, supported by a pact with the far-right Confederation party, reflects a growing resilience of...

This article discusses the election of Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing nationalist and former football hooligan, as Poland's next president, marking a significant setback for the pro-EU government. Nawrocki, supported by Donald Trump, won with 50.9% of the vote against Rafał Trzaskowski, representing the ruling coalition, indicating a shift towards Euroscepticism and political uncertainty in Poland. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia are set for negotiations after recent airstrikes, with Ukraine seeking a ceasefire and the return of...

SummaryEurope's patience with Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank is waning, prompting EU foreign ministers to reconsider Israel's association agreement and leading to potential sanctions from the UK, Norway, and Canada. While some compare the situation to Russia's war in Ukraine, it's possible to support Israel's right to defend itself while condemning unlawful conduct, as the UN has cited evidence of war crimes. The EU should prepare a systematic sanctions framework targeting trade...

SummaryPro-EU candidate Rafał Trzaskowski is leading in Poland’s presidential run-off vote, according to an Ipsos exit poll, with 50.3% of the votes compared to 49.7% for his rightwing opponent, Karol Nawrocki. If confirmed, this victory would enable Prime Minister Donald Tusk to advance his reform agenda and represent a setback for Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, following similar defeats for rightwing politicians in other countries. The electoral commission anticipates that final results will be available by...

Over the past two decades, corporate sustainability has progressed, but the emphasis on climate action has been overly narrow, neglecting significant nature loss risks. Business leaders are increasingly incorporating biodiversity into their sustainability strategies, with initiatives such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures gaining traction. Three developments driving this shift include heightened awareness of nature's economic foundations, public institutions enhancing visibility of nature's contributions, and the emergence of market-based investment mechanisms that incentivize biodiversity...

European leaders have adopted the term "coalition of the willing" while convening to support Ukraine, a shift marked by irony given their previous inaction during the Iraq invasion. Despite meetings among 30 nations and promises of military aid, the coalition's effectiveness is undermined by insufficient troop commitments, funding challenges, and a lack of political will among European populations regarding troop deployments. Leaders should prioritize feasible initiatives such as aiding Ukraine in building its military and...