Europe
201 items · page 9 of 11
- Thursday, 20 August 2026 · Analysis
Germany, solar power surpasses 128 gigawatts: 2026 legal target met
In August, the country's installed solar capacity crossed the threshold set by law for this year. The industry association warns that reaching the 215 gigawatt-peak target for 2030 requires a pace of twenty gigawatts per year. The data comes from a single source.
- Thursday, 20 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
Jens Spahn told the "Westfälische Nachrichten" that he will not seek re-election as chairman of the CDU Münsterland district, a position for which he had instead announced in July 2026 that he intended to run again. The decision follows his departure from the leadership of the Union's parliamentary group in the Bundestag. Only source available: the interview reported by Epoch Times Deutschland.
- Thursday, 20 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
In August, the country's installed solar capacity exceeded 128 gigawatt-peak, meeting the expansion target set by the 2026 law; more than 6 million installations are currently in operation. To reach the 215 GWp planned for 2030, an average of 20 GWp of new capacity per year would be needed, and the industry association Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft believes that some draft laws put subsequent intermediate targets at risk (Epoch Times Deutschland, single source: association data).
- Thursday, 20 August 2026 · Analysis
NextGenerationEU heading towards closure: 31 August 2026 the deadline for targets and milestones
31 August 2026 is the deadline for achieving the milestones and targets of the national recovery and resilience plans. The Commission has published guidelines on winding down the €723.8 billion instrument. In parallel, the list of 22 measures eligible for the Stability Pact derogation.
- Thursday, 20 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
The European Commission has defined a list of 22 measures eligible for the exemption from the Stability Pact granted for energy security and autonomy, totaling €14.4 billion aimed at households, businesses, the public sector, and transport and energy infrastructure. The list includes nuclear power plants, solar installations, heat pumps, home batteries, building renovations and charging stations. The Commission itself estimates that around €275 billion a year in investment is needed for the energy transition of Europe's building stock. The report currently stems from a single source (Metropolitano.it); no independent confirmation is available.
- Thursday, 20 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
The Recovery and Resilience Facility, a pillar of NextGenerationEU with €723.8 billion in funding, is entering its final phase: the regulation sets August 31, 2026 as the deadline for achieving the milestones and targets of national plans. The European Commission has published technical guidance on closure, final payment requests, unmet milestones and possible revocations. In the communication adopted on June 4, it had already urged member states to keep in their plans only measures achievable by that date. Sources: European Commission, PNRR Mission Structure.
- Wednesday, 19 August 2026 · Analysis
European seas, a study attributes this summer's record temperatures to human-caused warming
The World Weather Attribution collective published an analysis on August 19 of sea temperatures recorded from the Irish Atlantic to the Mediterranean. In July, the Mediterranean average was 27 degrees, the highest ever recorded for that month.
- Wednesday, 19 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
The rollout of the European Union's new external border control system is causing serious disruption at ports and airports, with waits reported of up to five hours. On August 18 at Brussels Airport, European passengers with children waited more than two hours at checkpoints. The news currently comes from a single source (L'Avenir); no independent confirmation available.
- Wednesday, 19 August 2026 · Analysis
The judge removed by Orbán in 2011 becomes Hungary's president today
András Baka, 73, takes office on August 19 as Hungary's head of state. Elected on August 11 with 140 votes by the Tisza-majority Parliament, with Fidesz boycotting the vote.
- Wednesday, 19 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
The State Secretariat for Migration confirmed to public broadcaster SRF the resumption of transfers to Italy of asylum seekers under Italian jurisdiction, suspended for nearly four years. More than 600 people are expected to be affected starting at the end of August. Spokeswoman Magdalena Baker explained that the process will proceed gradually to avoid overloading reception facilities and to test new solidarity mechanisms. The news currently comes from a single source; no independent confirmation is available. (Domani)
- Tuesday, 18 August 2026 · Analysis
France: Lecornu launches mission on burned territories in Gironde
The prime minister was confronted in Le Porge, where the July fire destroyed 183 homes. On the 2027 budget, the possibility of a partial freeze on pensions resurfaces.
- Tuesday, 18 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
France, Germany and the United Kingdom are building their own format for future negotiations on Ukraine, with the stated goal of ensuring Europe a direct role in any peace process. The initiative is taking shape while talks between Moscow and Kyiv remain stalled. The news currently comes from a single source (ANSA agency); no independent confirmation available. (ANSA)
- Tuesday, 18 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
On August 16, a Spanish fighter jet engaged in the Nato air policing mission shot down an unmanned aircraft that had entered Romanian airspace. According to the Alliance's military headquarters, the drone "appears to be Russian," with checks ongoing: the conditional wording remains the official one, and no definitive attribution has been communicated. (L'Unione Sarda)
- Monday, 17 August 2026 · Analysis
Spain: August poll average gives PP and Vox an absolute majority
Surveys place the Partido Popular at 32.3%, the PSOE at 27.1% and Vox at 17.1%. An Ipsos poll for La Vanguardia assigns 196 seats to the combined right. A new story: in Europe, the morning edition had Ceuta.
- Monday, 17 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
Italian front pages on August 17 report the downing in Romania, as part of NATO activities, of a drone of Russian origin, linking it to a night of attacks between Ukraine and Russia (Sky TG24). Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta reported on Sunday, August 16, the deployment of two Spanish fighter jets stationed in the country (Electomanía).
- Monday, 17 August 2026 · Analysis
Ceuta, fourth visit by the Spanish government and two irreconcilable counts
Minister Elma Saiz meets on Monday morning with the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas. Madrid speaks of around 5,000 foreign nationals still present, Vivas counts 9,000: the gap between the two figures is the political crisis.
- Monday, 17 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
Spain's Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, meets Monday at 10:30 with the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, at the Palacio de la Asamblea, to assess the humanitarian response set up after July 30 and 31. Madrid's executive puts at 72,000 the number of people who entered irregularly over those two days and maintains that most had returned within 24-48 hours. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska speaks of about 5,000 foreigners still in the city, Vivas of 9,000. It is the fourth visit by a member of the Spanish government (Infobae, El Constitucional, Moncloa.com).
- Sunday, 16 August 2026 · Analysis
France, a stopgap budget law and 124 billion to recover by 2030
The French government is working on the 2027 budget, the last before the presidential election: spending growth limited to 0.4% and ministries split between increases and cuts. A mission of independent experts puts the correction needed over the coming years at 124 billion euros.
- Sunday, 16 August 2026 · From Zero's Briefs
Following arrivals in Ceuta from Morocco, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sent a letter to European Union leadership and requested an urgent extraordinary videoconference of Interior ministers. Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska claimed credit for the handling of the situation and thanked Moroccan cooperation; the government has begun installing a containment barrier on the Ceuta spit and allocated an additional 25 million for the reception of minors. According to the toll reported on August 1, 67 people have died attempting to reach the enclave. The news currently comes from a single source (elDiario.es, based on a letter from La Moncloa and statements from the Spanish Interior Ministry); no independent confirmation available.
- Saturday, 15 August 2026 · Analysis
Internal borders: Spanish checks on travellers from Italy in force until 7 September
Madrid's measure, published in the Official Gazette, covers flights and maritime links and took effect on 8 August. 15 August is the date indicated by Palazzo Chigi for a possible review of Italy's suspension: no decisions have been announced in the material available.
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