Europe | DD News

May 21, 2026 3:39 PM

Europe’s economy hit hard as energy price shock stifles demand

Economic activity in the euro zone shrank at its sharpest rate in more than two-and-a-half years in May as a war-driven surge in living costs hammered demand for services across Europe and firms accelerated layoffs, surveys showed on Thursday. S&P Global's Flash Euro Zone Composite Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 47.5 in May from 48.8 in April- its lowest since October 2023 — and below a Reuters poll forecast which predicted no change. The reading marked the second consecutive month of...

May 15, 2026 11:58 AM

PM Modi begins five-nation tour, UAE leg to focus on energy and strategic ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emplaned for Abu Dhabi, beginning a five-nation tour covering the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15 to 20. The visit aims to deepen India’s strategic partnerships across energy, trade, investment, technology, innovation and green growth.. In Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister will hold talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on strengthening bilateral cooperation and key regional and internat...

May 14, 2026 4:01 PM

EU revises draft list to continue imports of Indian aquaculture products beyond September 2026

India has received a major boost in its seafood export sector after the European Union (EU) included the country in its revised draft list for the continued export of aquaculture products to the European market beyond September 2026. The revised draft list, published by EU on May 12, addresses concerns that emerged after India was omitted from the earlier Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 issued in October 2024. That regulation had excluded India from the list of third countries authorised...

April 22, 2026 1:01 PM

Number of immigrants in EU reaches record high of 64.2 million in 2025, study shows

The number of immigrants residing in the European Union climbed to a record high of 64.2 million in 2025, up about 2.1 million from a year earlier, according to a report published on Wednesday by the Centre for Research and Analysis on Migration at RFBerlin. The figure compares with 40 million in 2010, the report said, citing Eurostat and U.N. Refugee Agency data. Germany remained the bloc's biggest host of foreign-born people at nearly 18 million, 72% of them of working age, while Spain poste...

April 12, 2026 9:06 PM

Russia ready to supply gas to the EU if it has a surplus

Russia is ready to continue supplying gas to the European Union if there are volumes remaining after supplies to alternative markets, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Sunday. "There is plenty of it for now. But alternative markets are very voracious, there are a great many requests for supplies," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying. However, Europe will find a way to buy gas even if Russia does not supply it, Peskov said. "There are so many gas liquefaction plants, ...

April 8, 2026 2:57 PM

Zelenskiy, welcoming Iran de-escalation, says Ukraine ready for ceasefire with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to "respond in kind" if Moscow ceased strikes. "Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people, and we support the ceasefire in the Middle East and the Gulf that paves the way for diplomatic efforts," he wrote on X. "It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right precondit...

March 24, 2026 3:48 PM

Russian strikes in Ukraine kill five, cut Moldovan power line, officials say

Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least five people, damaged homes and hit energy supplies including a power link between Moldova and Europe overnight and early on Tuesday, officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said damage had been reported in 11 regions after heavy missile and drone attacks and issued a new appeal for allies to supply Kyiv with air defence munitions. He has repeatedly warned that Kyiv, whose main supplier of air defence systems against ballistic missiles is the Uni...

February 24, 2026 9:18 AM

Hungary blocks Russia sanctions, EU cash for Kyiv on eve of Ukraine war anniversary

Hungary maintained its veto on Monday on new EU sanctions on Russia and a huge loan for Ukraine amid a dispute over oil supplies, in a blow to Europe's pro-Ukrainian consensus on the eve of the war's fourth anniversary. On the ground in Ukraine, Kyiv claimed a rare frontline advance, though Moscow continued its campaign of targeting Ukrainian cities, killing two people in drone strikes in the south. The diplomatic spotlight was on Brussels, where European foreign ministers tried unsuccessfully...

February 16, 2026 10:12 AM

Europe aims to rely less on US defence after Trump’s Greenland push

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reflected a feeling of profound change among European leaders at this weekend's Munich Security Conference when she said: "Some lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed anymore". Transatlantic ties have already been strained over the past year by Donald Trump’s return to the White House. But the U.S. president’s push to annex Greenland dramatically increased European doubts about Washington’s commitment to protect the continent th...

February 2, 2026 10:16 PM

EU efforts to diversify critical raw material imports fail so far, auditors say

The European Court of Auditors said on Monday the EU's efforts to diversify its imports of metals and minerals critical to tech, defence and the energy transition had "yet to produce tangible results". The EU's Critical Raw Materials Act in 2024 set a plan to boost local production of 34 strategic materials to reduce an over-reliance on imports from just a few countries - mainly China, Turkey and Chile. The list includes lithium, antimony, tungsten, copper and rare earth elements needed to man...