Close Your Borders, Wreck Your Economy: Spain Has Done the Math on Clamping Down Migration
Spain’s National Office of Foresight and Strategy released a report modeling the economic fallout of a 30% annual reduction in migration. The model projects GDP shrinking 5% within a decade, 14% by 2055 and 22% by 2075, while the labor market would lose 220,000 farms, 2,300 municipalities and tens of thousands of classrooms. A decline in migrant workers would cut the care workforce by 28%, eliminate 64,000 doctors, and force pension beneficiaries to contribute roughly $2,200 extra each by 2075. The findings arrive as Spain celebrates a record 22 million employed, underscoring migration’s role in sustaining growth.
Will an Iran Ceasefire Lower Energy Bills?
A two‑week ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran triggered a sharp drop in European gas prices (about 20%) and pushed Brent crude down to roughly $93‑$95 per barrel, down from $100 during the conflict. The deal includes Iran’s...
European Earnings Preview: Who Wins and Who Loses From the Iran War?
European Q1 earnings season 2026 arrives amid the Iran‑Israel war, surging energy prices and an expected ECB rate hike. STOXX 600 firms are projected to post 4% earnings growth, driven almost entirely by a 24.9% jump in energy‑sector profits; the rest...
Greek and Liberian-Flagged Ships First to Transit Hormuz Since Ceasefire
Greek‑owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and Liberian‑flagged tanker Daytona Beach became the first vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week cease‑fire. The truce permits coordinated safe passage, though Iran’s technical limitations...
How Serious Will the Jet Fuel Crisis in Europe Become?
Jet fuel prices have jumped 95% since the February attacks on Iran, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz cut roughly 20% of global seaborne jet‑fuel supply. European airports are already imposing restrictions, and airlines such as SAS have...
Portugal Among EU Countries with the Most People Working Close to 50 Hours a Week
A Randstad analysis shows Portugal ranks fourth in the EU for employees working 49 hours or more per week, with 9.1% of its workforce clocking such long hours. This exceeds the EU average of 6.5% and is higher than Germany and...
Easter's Chocolate Giants: The EU Nations Fuelling the Global Industry
Europe remains the world’s largest chocolate producer and exporter, with the market valued at $52 bn last year and projected to reach $65.8 bn by 2031. Germany dominates the region, generating roughly $10.9 bn in sales and shipping over 4 million tonnes of cocoa‑based...
Egg Prices Surge in Europe Ahead of Easter: Which Countries Saw the Highest Rise?
Egg prices across Europe are soaring ahead of Easter, with consumer inflation averaging 9.3% versus 2.3% overall EU inflation. Spain leads the surge, recording a 31.3% rise in consumer egg prices and a 33.7% jump in wholesale rates. Wholesale egg...
Rome Court Rules Netflix Price Hikes Illegal, Opening Door to €500 Refunds
An Italian court ruled that Netflix’s subscription price increases from 2017 to 2024 were unlawful, opening the door for refunds of up to €500 (about $545) for premium plan holders and €250 (about $273) for standard users. The judgment also...
Eurasian Cargo Hub Expands to Capture Europe-Asia Freight Flows
Navoi International Airport in Uzbekistan is adding a 16,000 m² cargo terminal, expanding fuel storage to 15,000 tonnes, and introducing a duty‑free porto‑franco customs regime. The upgrades aim to streamline Europe‑Asia freight by integrating air, rail, and road networks and offering specialized...
Which European Countries' Ships Are Most Hit by the Hormuz Crisis?
The Hormuz crisis has stranded roughly 670 cargo vessels, with Greece most affected—about 75 ships (12% of the total). The United Arab Emirates follows, accounting for 120 vessels (18%), while Chinese operators have 74 ships in the chokepoint. Around 50...
Which European Countries Have the Best Salaries After Taxes?
New Eurostat figures reveal Luxembourg leads Europe with the highest average net hourly wage at €49.7 (≈ $55). Iceland, Norway and Denmark trail closely, while Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria sit near the bottom at roughly €12 (≈ $13). From 2021 to 2025,...
Germany and Italy Propose EU ‘Kill Switch’ for Global Stablecoins
Germany and Italy have tabled a joint proposal to give the EU a “kill switch” for foreign stablecoins that operate through multi‑issuer, cross‑border structures. The draft would require the European Banking Authority to ban any token whose home‑country regulatory regime...
Home Loans Hit a Record High in Portugal: Experts Say the Time to Act Is 'Now'
Portugal’s housing loan portfolio surged to a record €112.4 bn (about $122.5 bn), up 10.4% year‑over‑year, as Euribor rates climbed above 2.5% following Middle‑East tensions. Borrowers with contracts reviewed in April face monthly payment hikes of roughly $16 for six‑month Euribor loans...
Should You Book Holiday Flights Now Considering Jet Fuel Price Spikes?
Global jet‑fuel prices have surged, with the International Air Transport Association reporting an average of $195.19 per barrel and the U.S. Argus index exceeding $4.60 per gallon—more than double pre‑conflict levels. The spike is forcing airlines to trim capacity, with...
Real Wages in Europe Near Pre-Pandemic Levels, but Iran Crisis Clouds Outlook
Real wages across Europe remain below pre‑pandemic levels, with the euro‑area real‑wage index at 96.2, indicating a 3.8% shortfall. The Netherlands (99.7) and the UK (99.5) are closest to full recovery, while Italy lags sharply at 89.9. Slow collective‑bargaining cycles...
TotalEnergies Made $1bn Profit From Middle East Oil Bet as War Disrupts Prices
TotalEnergies earned over $1 bn (€868 m) profit by snapping up roughly 70 Middle East crude cargoes in March as war‑related disruptions choked the Strait of Hormuz. The profit stemmed from a sudden narrowing of the Dubai crude benchmark after S&P Global Platts suspended...
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge: Why Has Safe-Haven Demand Faded Amid Iran War?
Gold prices have slumped about 25% from their record $5,602 (≈€4,873) peak to around $4,500 (≈€3,915) despite the ongoing Iran war, as a stronger US dollar and rising Treasury yields eroded safe‑haven appeal. The drop triggered a rapid unwind of...
European Markets Mixed as Iran Tensions Push Oil Prices Higher
European markets opened lower on Monday but quickly split, with Germany's DAX barely down 0.04%, while the FTSE 100 rose 0.59% and France's CAC 40 edged up 0.05%. The divergence follows a 50% jump in Brent crude since the Iran...
The EU's Recipe for Trade Deals : Easy on Beef, Tough on Wine
The European Commission has finalized trade agreements with Mercosur, India and Australia, keeping a defensive stance on beef while pushing an offensive agenda for wine, cars and other high‑value products. In the Australia deal, the EU granted a 30,600‑tonne beef...
The Biggest Winners and Losers of the Tariff War as AI-Related Trade Skyrockets
The McKinsey Global Institute report finds that despite record‑high U.S. tariffs, global trade expanded faster than the world economy in 2025, with AI‑related shipments accounting for roughly one‑third of that growth. U.S.–China trade fell about 30%, wiping out $130 bn in...
EBRD Spearheads €5.9bn Investment Programme in Emerging Central Asian Markets
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced a new investment programme in Uzbekistan worth about $6.4 billion across more than 200 projects. Roughly 60% of the capital is earmarked for private‑sector companies, with the bank’s total exposure in the country...
Portugal Edges Closer to Declaring Energy Crisis as Gas Prices Surge
Portugal is close to meeting EU criteria for declaring an energy crisis as natural‑gas wholesale prices surge past €180 per megawatt hour (about $195) and are 85% above pre‑war levels. If the European Council confirms the crisis, the government could...
Europe’s Trade with Iran: Which Countries Do the Most Business with Tehran?
EU‑Iran trade collapsed to €3.72 billion in 2025, the lowest level in two decades, as renewed sanctions tightened economic ties. Germany remains the dominant EU partner, accounting for 31.8% of the remaining trade, followed by Italy and the Netherlands, together representing...
MEPs Clear Path for Full Adoption of EU–US Trade Deal
The European Parliament’s trade committee voted 29‑for‑0 to eliminate EU tariffs on most US industrial goods, clearing a key hurdle for the EU‑US trade agreement signed in July 2025. The deal retains a 15% US tariff on EU imports while...
AI Use at Work in Europe: Which Countries Use Generative AI Tools Most, and Why?
Eurostat data show that 15% of Europeans aged 16‑74 used generative AI at work in 2025, but adoption varies dramatically across the continent. Norway tops the chart with 35.4% workplace usage, while Hungary lags at 1.3%, reflecting a north‑west versus...
New Almalyk Mining Copper Plant Begins Work with 60 Million Tonne Capacity
Uzbekistan has launched a new copper processing plant at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, adding 60 million tonnes of annual ore‑processing capacity. The facility is slated to produce up to 900,000 tonnes of copper concentrate, potentially moving Almalyk into the global...
Portugal's Food Basket Cost at All-Time High but Not Due to Iran War
Portugal's consumer price index for a basket of essential foods hit a record €254.12, up €12.30 (5%) from early 2026 and 35% above 2022 levels. DECO says the surge cannot yet be linked to the Iran war, pointing instead to...
What Are the Four New Companies Being Added to the S&P 500 Index in March?
The S&P 500’s March rebalance will add Vertiv Holdings, Lumentum Holdings, Coherent Corp. and EchoStar Corporation, replacing Match Group, Molina Healthcare, Lamb Weston and Paycom Software. Three of the newcomers—Vertiv, Lumentum and Coherent—provide critical AI‑infrastructure hardware, while EchoStar brings satellite communications...
Global Baku Forum Opens with Iran War Raging Across the Border
The Global Baku Forum opened under the shadow of the Iran war, with Azerbaijan pledging to increase gas supplies to the EU to offset Gulf disruptions. President Ilham Aliyev warned that rising oil prices—now above $100 a barrel—threaten consumers and...
BMW Profits Fall 11.5% to Pandemic-Era Low After Tariffs and China Slump
BMW’s operating profit dropped 11.5% to €10.2 billion in 2025, the lowest level since the Covid pandemic, as US and EU tariffs and a 12% sales slump in China squeezed margins. The automotive EBIT margin fell to 5.3%, well below the...
US Justice Department Digs Into Iran's Sanctions Evasion via Binance
The U.S. Justice Department has opened a probe into Binance’s alleged facilitation of Iran’s sanctions evasion, focusing on crypto transfers that may have funded IRGC‑linked terrorist groups. The investigation follows a Treasury‑appointed monitor’s request for detailed transaction data and a...
Authorities Probe Spike in Portuguese Exports to Russia-Tied Countries
Portugal’s finance ministry has opened an investigation after statistics revealed a sharp rise in exports to countries closely aligned with Russia. Direct sales to Russia dropped from over €26 million in 2021 to near zero, while exports to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan,...
As Bombs Fall, Gold Prices Rise — and Poland Is Taking Notice
Geopolitical strikes on Iran have pushed spot gold to a record $5,420 per ounce, sparking a surge in demand for physical bullion. In Poland, the Mazovia Mint reports private investor purchases rising 30‑50% year‑on‑year, with 21% of Poles entering the...
EU Enlargement: What's in It for European Businesses?
EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos urged European firms to invest in candidate countries, citing past enlargement’s boost to exports, supply chains and GDP. She emphasized reforms—independent courts, anti‑corruption, free media—as prerequisites for safe investment. New research from the Confederation of...
Europe Shouldn’t Fear Trade War with China, EU Agency Says
The EU Institute for Security Studies recommends an “escalate to de‑escalate” approach toward China, urging faster use of the Anti‑Coercion Instrument (ACI), the bloc’s most powerful trade‑defence tool. The report notes China’s growing trade surplus of €359.3 billion and its leverage...
The Colossus Next Door: Will the German Baltic Sea Survive Poland's Mega Hotel?
The Gołębiewski "Gołębiewski" mega‑hotel in Pobierowo, Poland, plans 1,200 rooms for up to 3,000 guests but remains unfinished after pandemic setbacks, construction disputes and the founder’s death, with the final environmental permit still pending. Its size dwarfs the largest German...
SOCAR Gets EU Green Light for Major Italian Petrol Bid
The European Commission has approved Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR to acquire 99.82% of Italy’s Italiana Petroli, including its two refineries and a network of roughly 4,500 fuel stations. The deal adds about 10 million tonnes per year of crude‑processing capacity to...
British Charm Offensive on 'Made in Europe' Under Way as London Seeks Closer EU Ties
British Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle is leading a diplomatic push to embed the United Kingdom in the EU’s new “Made in Europe” procurement framework. The effort follows a stalled attempt to join the €150 billion Security Action for Europe...
Airbus Posts Record Year — but Washington Still Prefers the Boeing 'Home' Team
Airbus announced a record 2025, delivering 793 commercial jets, boosting revenue 6% to €73.4 bn and posting €7.1 bn adjusted operating profit. The company closed the year with a €619 bn order book and a backlog of 8,754 aircraft, underscoring robust demand. However,...
One in Three French Car Manufacturing Jobs Was Lost in Dramatic 13-Year Decline
Employment in France’s automotive sector dropped from 425,500 in 2010 to 286,800 in 2023, a loss of nearly 139,000 jobs or 33 %. The decline was driven primarily by car manufacturers, which shed 46,000 positions, while parts suppliers lost 31.5 % of...