Topics ›
Europe
The euro-area economy, the euro, and the politics that move European markets. 13 items, newest first.
October 2026
- Our researchWhy is the Albanian lek so strong? Who gains, who pays, and what nobody counts
The Albanian lek is so strong that no floating currency has gained more since 2019. Tourism leads; import prices did not fall, but the state's debt ratio did.
- BalkansAlbania protests: Rama says EU membership is at risk, with €709m in EU funds to come
Albania's protests hit a sixth day as Rama said EU membership, not his government, is at stake. €709m of the EU's €922m in Growth Plan money is still to come.
- GeopoliticsCost of living protests spread across Europe as fuel prices jump 31.9%
Cost of living protests hit France, Italy and Portugal. Euro area inflation reached 3.8% in September, as fuel cost 31.9% more than a year earlier.
- BalkansAlbania protests: students riot in Tirana as the young keep leaving
Students joined the flamingo movement and attacked government buildings for two nights. EU countries gave Albanians 68,653 first residence permits last year, and youth unemployment is 25.6%.
- GeopoliticsEU-China hybrid deal: imports capped at 350,000 a year, less than half this year's
China will hold hybrid car exports to the EU to 350,000 a year from December, against about 800,000 this year. The EU's deficit with China was €372bn in 2025.
- GeopoliticsNord Stream: US and Russian officials discussed an American investor
Jared Kushner and Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev talked about a US stake in the idle Nord Stream pipelines, Reuters reported. Germany says it does not want them back.
- PolicyECB minutes: a unanimous rate rise, and no promise of another
The ECB minutes for September show every member backed the rise to 2.50% and saw inflation risks to the upside, but they chose to promise nothing for October.
- CurrenciesEuro falls to a 17-month low on French debt and Spain's snap election
Why is the euro falling? French bond yields jumped, Spain called a snap election, and the euro hit $1.1204, its lowest since May 2025. The figures behind it.
- PolicyEuro area inflation jumped to 3.8%, but markets expect the ECB to wait
Energy prices were 18.8% higher than a year ago in September, and inflation reached its highest since 2023. Core inflation rose only to 2.5%, and markets see little chance of an ECB rise this month.
September 2026
- BalkansVučić gave up Serbia’s presidency, not his power
He resigned to lead his party’s list in the election on 25 October. If it wins, he runs Serbia from the prime minister’s office. The size of the result matters as much as the winner.
- GeopoliticsBurnham put rejoining the EU on the table. Voters back it, but Reform leads the polls
The prime minister says Britain “could go all the way” back into the EU. Polls this year put support for membership at 60%. Reform UK, the party of Brexit, is level with Labour.
- GeopoliticsEurope criticised Trump on migration. Now it is looking to Rwanda too
Five EU countries want to start sending rejected asylum seekers to countries outside the bloc next year, with Rwanda first. Rwanda also takes US deportees. Asylum claims are already down by a third.
- CurrenciesThe euro fell 2.2% in two weeks, after the ECB raised rates
Both central banks raised rates in September. The dollar gained anyway, because Fed officials expect to go further.
WeeklyThe Notebook by email
The week, in one email
Once a week: the stories we published, and the releases and decisions due in the week ahead. Free. One click stops it.
We email you a link to confirm. By signing up, you agree to the Terms and the Privacy policy.
Check your email. We sent a link to . Open it within 15 minutes to confirm.
You are signed in as . You can change this on your Saved page.
You get the weekly email. To stop it, use the link at the end of any of them, or your Saved page.