EU leaders grapple with how to build and finance a competitive Europe

Published on 10/02/2026 – 18:10 GMT+1•Updated 11/02/2026 – 7:01 GMT+1 EU leaders will gather on Thursday to informally discuss priorities for Europe’s economic agenda, including how to strengthen the single market and make Europe more economically independent and competitive. Among proposals on the table include dismantling barriers for European Union-based businesses via a “simplification” agenda, […]
Germany explores how to replace France in Europe’s flagship fighter jet project – POLITICO

“We share the assessment that the current situation is unsatisfactory. We are not advancing with this project,” he said. “We are both speaking with the French government, and we want a solution as soon as possible.” French officials denied that Dassault Aviation wants 80 percent of the work on the NGWS. However, the French company […]
How to get the money for Europe’s defense – POLITICO

Currently, the EU spends a third of its entire budget on climate policy. Just last year, the price tag for buying things like solar panels, wind turbines, transmission lines, electric cars and chargers was €367 billion — this amount alone could fund Europe’s need for defense spending. The EU’s extremely high energy prices also drain […]
How to watch the German election like a pro – POLITICO

Each voter gets two votes: One is cast for their local representative, and the other for a party. In most cases, candidates who win their district get a seat. But the overall share of seats that parties gain in parliament is determined by the percentage of second votes they win, so this is the number […]