What would Europe do without Norway
The Andøya Space Center is located in the Vesterålen archipelago, above the Arctic Circle, in northern Norway. In this far north, which attracts tourists for the midnight sun and the northern lights amid unspoiled nature, since the 1960s there has been a spaceport owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry (ten percent is […]
In this busy month, competitiveness, Ukraine’s defense and “buy European”
A brainstorming to get to a “road map” on competitiveness An informal “retreat” to do with the economy and competitiveness in 2026 what was done on defense in 2025. António Costa, the President of the European Council, has convened heads of state and government on February 12 at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium to outline […]
Music, theatre, art, cartoons: how to survive a freezing February
22 FEBRUARY 2026. A CONCERT OF CONTEMPORARY ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC. RE:VISION / DNIPRO, UKRAINE Music against war and freezing cold On January the 17th in Dnipro the minimum temperature was -15 degrees; in February, Ukraine will reach -30. The country, facing a brutal winter, is plagued by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure that leave homes and […]
Some ideas to survive the transatlantic divorce
The latest American actions, the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and the various threats—ranging from “purchasing” to invading—Greenland, haven’t gone down particularly well among European Trumpians. Nigel Farage, the British nationalist leader, gleeful and garrulous because his Reform UK could be crowned the first party in the Kingdom at the May local elections, said […]
Our internal market is the most strategic common good we have
As the European Commissioner responsible for industrial strategy and prosperity, my priority for the next four years is to put the internal market dossier back at the top of the agenda. In this work, I must acknowledge that Italy has been a unique source of inspiration. All the most beautiful recent declarations of love addressed […]
Three books, a music album and a drink. Some symbols of the European people
Christmas is coming, and we are surrounded by lists of possible presents for husbands, wives, parents, kids and dogs, just as we are with reviews of books, films and Tv shows that were loved in 2025. We also have a list, a list of European tips: we asked media personalities of the European landscape to […]
How the bikini sparked a cultural revolt in Franco’s Spain – and beyond
Sometime in July 1959, a young English woman named Judith Roberts was arrested at a beachfront bar in Benidorm for the crime of wearing a bikini. According to local law, her attire was allowed on the sand, but not in the bar. When a policeman ordered her to cover up, she refused. Fuelled by alcohol, […]
The gentle “Succession” of the Wallenberg family
Forget the Elkanns, forget the Del Vecchios, set aside the Benettons. The “Succession” without upheavals and without brawls doesn’t happen in Italy but in civilized Sweden, where the Wallenberg dynasty (pronunciation: Vallenberg) has just launched a generational handover plan without fanfare. Being Swedish, these Wallenbergs are semi-unknown, at least to us. They keep an extremely […]
How London became the European capital of luxury theft
I was outside my local Waitrose store in Holborn, in Central London, standing no more than 75 cms from the brightly lit glass double doors almost exactly three years ago, speaking on my brand new iPhone, which I was holding in my uplifted left hand. Suddenly, in a flash, my hand was empty, and I […]
Strolling around the Christmas market in Gdańsk, a most European city
The centre of Gdańsk is once again filled with the aroma of mulled wine and dishes from around the world, and festive music can be heard coming from the loudspeakers. The Gdańsk Christmas Market began on the penultimate weekend of November. Last year, it won the title of Best Christmas Market in Europe in the […]