Latest news from Europe and the European Union. Politics, economy, Ukraine's integration, sanctions
Tetyana Tarasiuk won the silver medal at the junior stage of the IBU Cup in Goms, Switzerland. In the 7.5 km sprint she had one miss and finished 27.5 seconds behind the leader; it is her first medal at the international level.
The Baltic states have approved record budgets for 2026: Lithuania and Estonia are allocating 5% or more of GDP to defense, while Latvia aims to reach that level in 2027.
British commercial banks oppose using about £8 billion of frozen Russian funds for a loan to Ukraine, citing potential legal consequences and the absence of government guarantees.
Rosen Zhelyazkov submitted his resignation after two weeks of protests sparked by the draft 2026 budget proposing changes to taxes and social contributions. The resignation was announced ahead of a vote of confidence in the government.
The European Commission will propose a rule under which extensions of the freeze on Russian assets will be decided by qualified majority rather than by consensus; the decision will be separated from the debate over using the funds to aid Ukraine.
Karol Nawrocki said he had not received information about the transfer of Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine. The head of international policy at the presidential office confirmed he had not been notified; the president intends to discuss the matter with the defense minister.
A Russian researcher from the Hermitage was detained in Poland on suspicion of illegal excavations in Crimea. He refused to give testimony; a court remanded him in custody for 40 days. An extradition request is expected.
In its annual assessment, one of Denmark’s main intelligence services notes that the United States is increasingly employing economic and technological power as an instrument of influence. At the same time, the primary risks remain Russia and China; the Baltic region faces a high military risk.
After more than eleven years of court proceedings in Austria, the U.S. request to extradite a businessman was definitively rejected; the case was complicated by a procedural error and a missed appeal deadline.
Fintech company Lyzi, built on the Tezos blockchain, has introduced cryptocurrency payments at the Porsche Centre Montpellier and Lamborghini Bordeaux dealerships, allowing customers to buy cars with BTC, XTZ, stablecoins and more than 80 other cryptocurrencies.
ECB President Christine Lagarde described the latest version of the European proposal for financial support to Ukraine as best aligned with international law and urged Europeans to continue their support. She stressed the initiative's legal exclusivity.
The Chancellery of the President of Poland said it was in talks with Kyiv regarding a possible visit by Volodymyr Zelensky to Warsaw. At the same time, it denied reports of a meeting in the Volyn region.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence warns of the deployment of UAV production in Transnistria, the removal of weapons from storage and mobilization measures; the risk of sabotage groups infiltrating Ukraine is increasing.
Lithuania has declared a state of emergency over ongoing attacks by balloons carrying contraband from Belarus. Since October, Vilnius Airport has been closed for a total of 60 hours; more than 300 flights and 47,000 passengers have been affected.
Tokyo refused to use about $30 billion of Russian assets frozen in Japan as a loan to Ukraine. The finance minister cites legal obstacles, but officials link the decision to the U.S. stance.
After the London meeting, Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of France and Germany expressed hope for a swift agreement on a mechanism to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's defence and reconstruction.
The Council of the EU approved the EDIP programme for 2025–2027 with funding of €1.5 billion. A separate €300 million instrument is earmarked for Ukraine, while the remaining €1.2 billion will be directed to joint European defence projects.
French Mfex director Olivier Yubi, linked to Russia, allegedly used influence and threats during negotiations over the use of frozen Russian assets. This has raised questions about the protection of Euroclear’s leadership and access to €193 billion.
Prime ministers of seven European countries urged the swift approval of a reparations loan drawn from frozen Russian assets, saying it would bolster Kyiv in peace negotiations and would not hamper peace efforts.
The Netherlands will allocate an additional €700 million to Ukraine for 2026 from unspent budgets of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The decision was taken after the government faced parliamentary criticism for refusing to increase support for Kyiv.
Law enforcement has seized cryptocurrency assets worth $107 million that, according to authorities, were intended to finance pro‑Russian parties and influence networks. A Kyiv statement also describes a wide‑ranging Russian operation and steps to protect electoral systems.
Prime Minister Alexander Muntianu said the government will seek a new agreement with the IMF as confirmation of macroeconomic stability, although there is currently no immediate need for financing. The article mentions previous programs and outstanding tranches.
The United Kingdom will join the EU initiative and plans to allocate £8 billion from frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. The mechanism has not yet been agreed; a decision is expected at the EU summit on 18–19 December.
The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) has opened the possibility for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags and with their national anthems at FIAS competitions starting 1 January 2026, following decisions by its executive committee.
Dario Vitale is leaving Versace eight months after his appointment. The announcement coincided with the completion of the €1.375 billion acquisition of the Prada brand; Vitale will leave the company on December 12, and the creative team will be temporarily led by the CEO.
The Netherlands, Spain and Ireland have declined to participate in Eurovision 2026 after members of the European Broadcasting Union voted to allow Israel to take part and approved new rules to safeguard the contest’s integrity.
Nikita Sheremet set a world junior record and simultaneously broke the Ukrainian senior record in the men's 4×50 m freestyle relay at Euro 2025 in Lublin. The team finished fourth, lowering the national time.
Regulator Ofcom has fined AVS Group £1 million for inadequate age verification of users and imposed an additional £50,000 for ignoring requests. The company was given 72 hours to rectify the violations, or face a £1,000 daily penalty.
After meeting with Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron proposed a temporary halt to strikes on critical infrastructure and asked Beijing to use its influence on Moscow. The article also mentions attempts at an energy truce and shelling by both sides.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that Belgium’s decision regarding a reparations loan to Ukraine could affect the course of the Russia-Ukraine war. He made the remark while speaking with journalists at NATO headquarters after a meeting of the Alliance’s foreign ministers in Brussels.
The EU will add Russia to the list of countries with an increased risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, forcing banks to tighten transaction checks. FATF suspended Russia’s membership, but had not previously placed it on its blacklist.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Budapest will challenge the RePowerEU initiative to ban imports of Russian gas at the EU Court, saying it threatens the country's energy security.
Mark Rutte said that, should negotiations prove fruitless, the best way to compel the Kremlin to compromise is continued military assistance to Ukraine and sustained sanctions pressure.
Prada Group completed the acquisition of Versace on December 2 for $1.38 billion. Capri Holdings will be left with Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, and the proceeds are being used to pay down debt. In November 2024 the group recorded a significant decline in revenues.
At Christie's in London the "Winter Egg," made for Nicholas II in 1913, fetched £22.9 million (about $30.2 million). The sale set a new world record for Fabergé works; the egg is one of the few imperial eggs in private collections.
The EU Council and the European Parliament overnight on December 3 agreed on a phased ban on imports of Russian gas, with different timelines for liquefied and pipeline gas; the European Commission is to submit a legislative proposal on oil in 2026.
The owner of the tanker damaged off the coast of Senegal has announced the suspension of all operations with Russian counterparties, citing increased risks to vessels and crews. The company stressed its compliance with sanctions; the day before, several attacks on tankers occurred.
XploraOne — a compact device for children from HMD and Xplora that does not support installation of third-party apps and blocks access to social networks and the browser. The device offers basic functions and parental controls; price and release date were not disclosed.
Oracle Red Bull Racing has confirmed the signing of 21‑year‑old Isack Hadjar as its second driver for the 2026 season. He will replace Yuki Tsunoda and join Max Verstappen ahead of major technical changes and the debut of the Red Bull Ford power unit.
The Dutch government intends to close municipal accommodation centers as soon as possible after the temporary protection ends in March 2027. Around 135,000 Ukrainians will receive three-year residence permits but will have to pay for housing and medical care themselves.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport partially overturned a FIS ban and opened the door for Russian and Belarusian skiers to compete at the 2026 Winter Games, provided they do so without national symbols.
In November, at a British airbase, new systems to protect aircraft from missiles and hostile radars were tested during the Viking Flame exercises. Two Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters were used in the trials; radar suppression and air-defence attacks were simulated.
Gradium, a company developing AI voice models, launched in Paris and raised $70 million. Investors include Eric Schmidt and Xavier Niel; the round was led by FirstMark Capital and Eurazeo. The founders are engineers from Google, Meta and Jane Street.
The UK government is examining the possibility of banning the financing of political parties with cryptocurrency. The restriction could hit Nigel Farage’s Reform UK hardest — the first party to officially accept such donations.
The European Central Bank has refused to act as lender of last resort for the European Commission’s plan for a €140 billion loan that was to be backed by frozen Russian assets; the Commission is seeking other options to secure liquidity.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the approach of previous Conservative governments to China and said that a policy of restoring dialogue with Beijing is necessary for the country’s national interests.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Saab Dynamics for a third MSHORAD short-range air-defence module. The cost exceeds €119 million; installation on JLTV armoured vehicles includes a separate integration agreement of about €11 million.
Despite the destruction of one of the three offshore berths, shipments through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk continued via another berth; expert assessments indicate a reduction in deliveries, and Kazakhstan lodged a diplomatic protest.
European Commissioner Michael McGrath said that any peace agreements regarding Ukraine cannot include absolving Russia of responsibility for war crimes.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki adjusted his itinerary for a visit to Hungary after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's meeting with Putin in Moscow. He will only take part in the Visegrád Group summit, canceling other events because of Orbán's trip to Moscow.
Renowned playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard has died at the age of 88. He won an Oscar for the screenplay of "Shakespeare in Love" and wrote the cult play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead." Stoppard was born into a Jewish family in Czechoslovakia and fled the Nazis.
Pope Leo XIV visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, but did not pray there, focusing instead on strengthening ties with Orthodox patriarchs. He signed a joint declaration seeking a common date for Easter and called for unity among the churches.
A private collector in the United Kingdom bought the jewellery figure "Jack," cast in 18‑carat gold with a ruby eye and turquoise inlay, for £82,550. Earlier the piece became the focus of a global hunt prompted by clues in the author's book.
Belgium is blocking an EU plan to provide Ukraine with a loan of up to €140 billion using frozen Russian assets. Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the plan could undermine a future peace agreement and raises legal concerns.
The Ministry of Agriculture has proposed transferring Carrefour’s Polish assets into the ownership of the state-owned company Krajowa Grupa Spożywcza to create a national network to support farmers and lower prices. The decision is being stalled by the Ministry of State Assets; estimated costs reach about 8 billion zlotys.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium reported damage to one of its three offshore berths following an alleged attack by unmanned boats at 04:06. There is no independent confirmation; VPU-2 has been declared inoperable and a replacement is already being fabricated in Dubai.
On 28 November, explosions struck two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea off the Turkish coast. Kairos caught fire and began to sink, while Virat came under attack; all crew members were rescued.
In Warsaw, the renovated Warszawa Zachodnia railway station was officially opened: the modernization lasted five years, about PLN 2.5 billion was invested, an underground tunnel was built and solar panels were installed on the roof.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that Brussels is too slow to investigate American tech companies because of U.S. pressure over the EU’s digital laws. He accused the European Commission and member states of being afraid to pursue cases in the face of an American onslaught.
Israeli soldiers in the West Bank shot dead two Palestinians after they surrendered, in footage that captured the incident. The Israeli army has opened an investigation; Palestinian authorities call it an extrajudicial execution.
During a visit to Moscow, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Budapest was ready to host talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The leaders also discussed the possibility of a Russian‑American summit and cooperation in the energy sector.
Western diplomats accuse Belgium of reluctance to disclose how tax revenues from frozen Russian reserves are being used, making it harder to verify whether its commitments to Ukraine are being met.
Lukoil International companies have been granted permission to conduct business operations until February 2026.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever proposes allocating €45 billion a year to Ukraine through joint borrowing.
European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribeiro accused the United States of blackmail over attempts to weaken the EU's digital rules. Washington is offering a review of steel tariffs in exchange for changes to the Digital Markets Act.
The M4 line will become the first fully driverless line in the Polish capital.
Lithuania notified the Council of Europe of its intention to join the Special Tribunal on Russia's aggression; it became the first country to do so after Ukraine.