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Europe (English)

Member states hopelessly at odds over brake on energy prices

Even at the informal European Council, there was no sign of a common approach to curbing the rise in gas and electricity prices. The criticism of the Germans' go-it-alone approach was all the more audible. The double boom is not going down very well with the direct neighbors.

By Ella Joyner

US data transfer agreement: Substantial improvement or just cosmetics?

Long-awaited, now finally here: On Friday, US President Joe Biden signed presidential orders in Washington, D.C. to make way for the Privacy Shield, which failed on the EU side. The business community is hoping, the EU Commission is confident. And data protection experts consider this attempt to be ineffectual yet again.

By Falk Steiner

What's cooking in Brussels: dining table and bridge

The menu of the day is the art of culinary diplomacy. Today is the day of European summits, which seem to favor the end of the week since the start of the war in Ukraine. The table order plays an important role during negotiations – and increasingly also the passerelle, a small bridge.

By Claire Stam

Conflict with China: Lithuania's companies seek alternatives

Stopped trains, rejected containers, unanswered customs applications - Lithuanian shipments to China continue to hang by a thread. Sometimes they get in, sometimes they do not. It is a nerve-wracking situation for the companies. Hope is now placed in Brussels. There, a trade instrument is taking shape that is supposed to provide help.

By Amelie Richter