In Italy, budget cuts and targeted taxes to reduce abysmal public debt
Giorgia Meloni’s government, which is looking for โฌ25 billion in savings, must present its draft budget for 2025 by October 20.
Italy
Italyโs offshore detention centers in Albania open for business
Rights watchdogs have raised strong concerns about the centers, with one lawyer describing them as โan Italian Guantanamo.โ
France, Italy summon Israeli ambassadors after UN peacekeepers struck by Israeli forces
French Ministry for Foreign Affairs says Israel’s targeting of UNIFIL troops was “deliberate.”
Germanyโs Scholz offers โฌ1.4B in fresh military aid for Ukraine during Zelenskyy visit
The Ukrainian leader visited Berlin to present his peace plan to the German chancellor.
Rewriting Alzheimerโs future together โ a call to action for G7 countries
Treatments for this disease have already advanced dramatically, but there is much further to go. We must take this historic opportunity to usher in a new era
Italian migration centres open in Albania under controversial deal
Fears agreement will set dangerous EU precedent with up to 3,000 men a month held during asylum processingItalyโs government has formally opened two centres in Albania where it plans to process men who are intercepted in international waters while tryi…
Zelenskyy outlines โvictory planโ with the leaders of UK, France Italy
With a US election less than a month away and winter set to arrive in Ukraine amid a barrage of Russian strikes on key energy infrastructure, the Ukrainian leader needs all the support he can get.
Italy strongly condemns Israeli strikes in Lebanon targeting Italian bases
The actions “could constitute war crimes”
Bella Ciao: a brief history of the resistance anthem sung to Viktor Orbรกn
A look at the origins and appeal off the song MEPs used to serenade the Hungarian PM in StrasbourgโThis is not Eurovision,โ said the speaker of the European parliament, Roberta Metsola, as she tried to silence leftwing MEPs greeting the visiting Hungar…
The shapeshifter: who is the real Giorgia Meloni? โ podcast
Sheโs been called a neo-fascist and a danger to Italy. But she has won over many heads of Europe, including the UK prime minister. Should we be worried? By Alexander Stille Continue reading…
European Mediterranean states to meet in Cyprus over Middle East, migration
Leaders from nine Mediterranean nations, joined by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, will meet in Cyprus on Friday to discuss Middle East conflicts and migrant flows. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia, and Croatia will focus on …
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy presents โvictory planโ to European allies as long-range strikes discussed
UK says no change to position on Storm Shadow missiles; Ukrainian journalist dies in Russian detention. What we know on day 961See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said a ceasefire with Russia is not under discussion with Euro…
Italy to host 2025 Ukraine reconstruction conference in July
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that Rome will host the next Ukraine Recovery Conference on July 10-11, 2025, following discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meloni affirmed Italy’s support for Ukraine during Zelensky’s visit …
Zelenskyyโs 5 asks on his Europe tour (and the odds heโll get them)
The Ukrainian president is racing across Europe to lock in support for Kyiv. We rate his chances of success.
Israeli tank fire injures peacekeepers in Lebanon, UN says
The United Nations said Israeli forces have “repeatedly hit” its positions in recent days.
Danish family seek to return Etruscan objects bought from boot of car in Italy
Bent Sรธndergaardโs children say they want to carry out โhis final wishesโ and send back antiquities he bought in 1960sTheir father bought the antiquities, a haul of dirt-encrusted Etruscan objects handed to him from the boot of a car, while on holiday …
Leaked: Tense correspondence between EU commissioner hopefuls and Parliament
Still, the 23 nominees were cleared by the institution’s legal committee for hearings in early November.
Hereโs the final schedule for commissioner hearings in November
MEPs will grill all executive vice presidents on Nov. 12 after a weeklong hearing marathon in the Parliament.
Italyโs seven-year budget plan approved amid criticism
Italy’s public debt stands at โฌ2.946.6 trillion.
Zelenskyy heads for talks with UKโs Starmer after Biden summit axed
London trip comes just after key meeting at which Ukraine was set to present a โvictory planโ was postponed.
French interior minister announces new measures to reduce immigration
Citing Italy’s far-right leader Giorgia Meloni as a model, Bruno Retailleau wants to deport more undocumented people and regularize fewer of them.
Italyโs single women fight for the right to IVF
Currently the government only permits heterosexual, married women to undergo treatment
โI hope God gives me the strength to make more moviesโ: Scorsese addresses retirement rumours
Director tells press conference he has โmore films to makeโ after long-planned Frank Sinatra biopic and adaptation of Shลซsaku Endลโs A Life of Jesus both get delayedMartin Scorsese has denied he is planning to retire, telling a press conference in Ital…
Polish ruling party opts for early review of combustion engine ban
Polish MEPs from the Civic Coalition (KO, EPP) alliance pushed for an earlier review of the 2035 ban on new combustion car selling, a proposal put forward by Italy.
Europeโs privacy patrol is spoiling Big Techโs AI party
New leadership in Dublin has put the EUโs privacy regulators on a collision course with Big Tech.
Southern Europe’s economic revenge
Growth in Greece and Spain is expected to exceed 2% this year and in Italy by 1%, while Germany’s economy is stagnating and French GDP is struggling to grow.
Two proposed timetables put forward for commissioner hearings
See who’s up for a grilling in the European Parliament on which days.
Interpol campaign to identify remains of women in Europe expands to 46 cases
Police forces in France, Italy and Spain join cold-case initiative after launch last year of Operation Identify MePolice have expanded a cold-case campaign aimed at identifying dozens of women who were murdered or who died in suspicious circumstances a…
Europe’s radical rights celebrate at League party rally in Italy
Far-right leaders took turns on Sunday to hammer home their message about the ‘invasion of migrants’ and ‘Islamist extremism’ lurking in Europe.
China slaps provisional duties on EU brandy in retaliatory trade strike
Beijing’s move mainly targets French luxury cognac brands.
European countries change course over their military support to Israel
One year into the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, European countries remain divided over their military support for Israel. Despite international efforts to broker peace, arms exports have continued to play a critical role in the conflict…
Asteroid mission aims to save humans from the fate of the dinosaurs
Europe’s Hera mission will help figure out how to deflect an asteroid before it hits Earth.
Salvini hailed by fellow Patriots for Europe allies at rally in Italy
Leaders of the far-right Patriots for Europe gathered in the northern Italian town of Pontida for the annual rally of Lega, of which the leader, Matteo Salvini, received praise for combatting irregular migration.
Far-right leaders gather in northern Italy for League Party rally
Far-right European leaders attended a rally by Italy’s far-right League party in its northern heartland in Pontida on Sunday.
Thousands worldwide protest Mideast war ahead of 1-year mark
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators were marching in cities across the globe to demand an end to the conflict.
EU needs faster migrant returns, say 17 countries including Germany, France: Report
The push comes amid a rightward and anti-immigration shift in multiple EU countries.
Mike Lynch died from drowning, Bayesian yacht inquest hears
Tycoonโs daughterโs cause of death still under investigation after vessel sank in AugustThe millionaire tech tycoon Mike Lynchโs cause of death has been recorded as drowning after the Bayesian superyacht disaster but his daughterโs cause of death is st…
EUโs three biggest countries push for bank deregulation
Request comes amid Macron’s warning that the EU “could die” if its economy falls behind global rivals.
Italy warns G7 summit of rising terror risk threat due to global conflicts
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi opened the G7 Interior Ministers’ Summit by warning his G7 counterparts that international conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine, are increasing the risk of terrorist attacks.
Italyโs largest lobby group to push for EU policy U-turn on CO2 emission trading system
Experts warn that recent and hefty investments risk becoming almost worthless because stringent ETS rules will swallow all the profits.
Giorgia Meloni pushes Italy’s migration strategy as a model
The head of Italy’s post-fascist government is working to outsource European border control to countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean, particularly Tunisia, at the cost of serious human rights violations.
Europe has a real defense commissionerย โ just not one appointed by Ursula von der Leyen
The boss of Germany’s largest arms producer is a power player in Europe’s scramble to rearm.
You could kill the EU, says France. No, you could, Germany replies.
Macron and Scholz clash again over how to counter protectionist America and Chinese power.
Tunisian President Saied, the embarrassing ally of European migration policy, is ready for re-election
Since the start of 2024, arrivals in Italy from Tunisia have fallen by 82%, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Although he denies it, Saied, the favorite in the October 6 elections, has become Europe’s brutal border guard.
Italy seeks to raise more windfall taxes from companies
Finance minister says โeveryone must contributeโ, not just banks
How a law on truck movements divided the EU
The EU’s top court delivers a ruling on an exceptionally fierce legal fight this week.
Leaked documents: Which EU commissioners have the most property, money and influence
POLITICO has reviewed the declarations of interest of every European Commission nominee.
Italian coastal town grapples with โout of controlโ number of dengue cases
Italian scientists are sounding an alarm over a surge in cases of dengue fever cases in the country’s central Marche region, as high temperatures have encouraged the spread of the virus.
G7 leaders still hope for diplomatic solution in Middle East, Italy says
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urgently convened a phone conference with G7 leaders on Wednesday in response to the escalating Middle East crisis, resulting in a strong condemnation of Iran’s attack on Israel.
Italy is all smoke and no roast on CO2 car emissions review
Rome claims to have the support of member countries for an earlier review of the policy, but EU diplomats tell a different story.
Swine fever threatens Italy’s prized prosciutto production
Italian authorities were forced to cull nearly 120,000 pigs since swine fever appeared in the country back in January 2022. Now, they have slaughtered three-quarters of those over the past two months.
Vatican bank fires man and woman who flouted staff marriage ban
Newlyweds nicknamed โRomeo and Julietโ by Italian media had both refused to resign so other could keep jobA man and woman have been fired from their jobs at the Vatican bank because they flouted a ban on marriage between employees.The young couple, nic…
Once upon a time in Brussels: EU picks Tarantino for top competition job
Academic becomes the third Italian to take influential post after a previous U.S. pick was forced out.
โTidal waveโ: Europeโs populists push for migrant clampdown as Trump cranks up rhetoric
France and Germany have joined calls for a tougher EU migration policy following a series of far-right election wins.
The Guardian view on Austriaโs election: yet another wake-up call | Editorial
The Freedom partyโs first ever victory is the latest in a string of far-right triumphs in Europe. Business as usual is not a credible mainstream responseThe sequence has become dismally familiar. Piling up votes in provincial and rural areas at the exp…
EU cross-border bank mergers pose real risks, Nagel warns
Key among the risks is the lack of a common deposit guarantee scheme, which could leave customers exposed.
Harryโs Bar owner sues Venice city council over waves from speeding boats
Arrigo Cipriani says waves from vessels that ignore speed limits on Giudecca canal are leaving diners with wet feetThe Harryโs Bar culinary empire is as synonymous with Venice as its canals, inventing the bellini cocktail and hosting noted guests inclu…
โGo while you still canโ: EU countries urge citizens to flee Lebanon
While some governments organize charter flights, others advise taking commercial ones out of Beirut as Israel launches ground offensive.
Portugalโs ex-PM Costa will meet with Orbรกn
Antรณnio Costa, Portugal’s former prime minister and future president of the European Council, will meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกn in Budapest on Tuesday, continuing a tour of EU capitals that began in Italy.
Polandโs Duda faces backlash over participation in Zemanโs birthday
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about Poland’s Duda facing backlash for attending Zeman’s 80th birthday party, the parties in Italy’s coalition at odds following the far right election win in Austria, and so much more.ย
Italian government divided over Austrian election winner
As the official results from Austriaโs general election have confirmed a win for Herbert Kicklโs far-right FPร party, the ruling coalition in Italy is divided over what to think of the victor.
Meloniโs street protest crackdown prompts concerns of growing repression in Italy
Beefed-up anti-protest laws take aim at climate activists and allow nonviolent protesters to be jailed.
Brussels yawns as Europeโs populists notch yet another win
How many far-right governments need to be elected before the EU admits it has a problem?
Prosecutors say Italian football scene has been at risk of ‘mafia-type influence’ for some time
19 people were arrested in Italy on Monday accused of forming mafia groups connected with the football business. Prosecutors say there have been risks for some time now of a drift towards criminal activities carried out in Italian football stadiums.
Milan police arrest 19 people in operation against football ultras
Leading figures Luca Lucci and Renato Bosetti among those detained, with most accused of having mafia linksPolice in Milan have arrested 19 people as part of an operation against hardcore โultraโ football fans, most of whom were accused of having links…
Orbรกn, Le Pen and Wilders are buzzing over Austriaโs far right winning election
Russia-friendly Austrian Freedom Party wins big in national vote triggering delight in conservative circles.
Switzerland and Italy redraw border due to melting glaciers
Glacier ridgelines marking the border near the Matterhorn mountain are shifting as ice continues to melt.
Switzerland and Italy redraw border due to melting glaciers
Glacier ridgelines marking the border near the Matterhorn mountain are shifting as ice continues to melt.
Presidents of Italy, Germany send strong messages to the far-right
Italian President Sergio Mattarella and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who ended a three-day meeting with a ceremony commemorating a Nazi-fascist massacre, have sent a strong message to the far right.
After months of waiting, Gaza girls make it to Italy for burns treatment
Zeina and Alaa both suffered terrible burns in Gaza, but had to wait months to get out for treatment.
After months of waiting, Gaza girls make it to Italy for burns treatment
Zeina and Alaa both suffered terrible burns in Gaza, but had to wait months to get out for treatment.
EU ministers scramble to find a response to Middle East carnage
Also in this newsletter: how pro-Russia sentiment is spreading in Italy โ and elsewhere in Europe
What a Trump victory would really mean for Europe
A win for the former president would surely further galvanize the bloc’s populist parties and encourage their normalization โ much as it did in the US.
Aleksandar Vuฤiฤโs diplomacy ร la carte
The Serbian leader has proved adept at balancing the West versus China and Russia.
Franceโs new Europe ministerย will push Brussels to take โnext stepโ in tightening migration rules
The new French government has vowed a tougher approach on migration.
Valentino steals the show in Paris with Alessandro Michele at the helm
Ex-Gucci star brings 70s haute bourgeoisie ladies in trailing chiffons and Gen Z boys in tattoos and pearls to the runwayValentino was the hottest ticket of this Paris fashion week, and the show had a sense of occasion to match.A vast floor was laid wi…
Melting glaciers force Switzerland and Italy to redraw part of Alpine border
Two countries agree to modifications beneath Matterhorn peak, one of Europeโs highest summitsSwitzerland and Italy have redrawn a border that traverses an Alpine peak as melting glaciers shift the historically defined frontier.The two countries agreed …
Breton slams โempressโ von der Leyenโs power grab and Franceโs loss of influence in EU
Former French commissioner tells Le Monde that France has lost power in the new European Commission setup.
Milan appeals against โgrotesqueโ move to rename airport after Berlusconi
City authorities take case to Lombardy regional court in effort to block initiative by Matteo SalviniMilan council has appealed against a โgrotesqueโ move to rename the cityโs main airport after the scandal-tainted late former prime minister Silvio Ber…
Italy prepares new crackdown on migrant rescue efforts
New legislation targets planes working with NGO vessels.
Cinema in mafia bossโs Sicily hometown refuses to show film of his life
Venue owner says Sicilian Letters, about the Cosa Nostra leader Matteo Messina Denaro, โdoesnโt interest meโThe owner of the only cinema in Castelvetrano, the Sicilian hometown of the notorious Cosa Nostra mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, has refused …
Civil society prompts Italy citizenship referendum, amid diverging trends in Europe
On Tuesday (24 September), the petition to change Italy’s citizenship law hit its target of 500,000 signatures in under a month, paving the way for a national referendum, bypassing the Parliament.
Anti-immigration mood sweeping EU capitals puts strain on blocโs unity
From Germanyโs border checks to Franceโs vow to restore order, rejection of open borders could threaten Schengen zoneIn 2015, when more than 1.3 million people headed to Europe, mostly fleeing a brutal war in Syria, the response of Germanyโs then chanc…
Italy says enough EU countries ready to back call for early emissions review
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about the coalition of Prime Minister Robert Fico facing internal, parties in the Bulgarian parliament expressing satisfaction with Brussels’ decision to block North Macedonia’s EU accession, and so muc…
Italy says enough EU countries ready to back call for early emissions review
Italy has secured the support of nine EU countries for Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Ursoโs proposal to bring forward the revision of EU car emissions legislation from 2026 to 2025, with the minister saying there are now enough EU member s…
The uncertain future of the European Green Deal
The European right, along with Italy and Germany, is leading the offensive against two emblematic bills: one against deforestation and the other to ban the sell of internal combustion engine cars after 2035.
Popeโs convoy crashed by anti-bullfighting protesters
Activist jumps in front of pontiff’s car, urges him to “stop torturing bulls.”
Italy revives policy of failing badly behaved pupils to โbring back respectโ
โGrades for conductโ, similar to a law introduced by Mussolini, aims to tackle rising aggression towards teachersItaly has reinstated a measure to fail badly behaved pupils as concerns grow over aggression directed at teachers.The โgrades for conductโ …
UK leader Keir Starmer to meet Ursula von der Leyen to โresetโ post-Brexit relationship
The Commission president welcomed formal talks next week that signal a new phase in Britain’s fraught relationship with the EU.
Italyโs Urso on 2035 zero CO2 emissions quest to get support for early review of cars rules
Italyโs Minister for Enterprises Adolfo Urso will seek a broad alliance with other industry ministers on Thursday (26 September) to move the review of EUโs Co2 reduction targets for cars forward but shield the blocโs 2035 zero-Co2 emissions goal – as l…
โAll must be beheadedโ: Revelations of atrocities at French energy giantโs African stronghold
Mozambican soldiers operating out of TotalEnergies’ natural gas plant abducted, raped and killed dozens of civilians.
Italy, Germany join carmakers in call to rethink internal combustion engine ban
Rome and Berlin are siding with the European automotive industry in calling for the EU to relax CO2 emissions standards for cars as the bloc aims to end the sale of new petrol and diesel models by 2035.
Demonstrations being held in Italy against โrepressiveโ security bill
Bill by Giorgia Meloniโs far-right government comes down hard on climate activists and migrantsDemonstrations are being held across Italy on Wednesday evening in protest against a new security bill described as โrepressiveโ and โdangerous for the count…
Austrian election offers far right a springboard back to power
A win for the Freedom Party Sunday would expand Central Europe’s Putin-friendly bloc.
Elon Musk denies โromantic relationshipโ with Giorgia Meloni after New York lovefest
Tech billionaire had said Italy’s PM was “even more beautiful inside than outside.” She hailed him as a โprecious genius.โ
EU countries agree to downgrade the protection status of the wolf
A political win for von der Leyen.
UK economy to grow faster than Japan, Italy and Germany this year, says OECD
Forecast upgrades UK to joint second after US but it is still expected to have highest inflation among G7 countriesBusiness live โ latest updatesThe global economy is โturning a cornerโ, according to the latest outlook from the Organisation for Economi…
Romania, other member states, seek greater flexibility in implementing recovery plan
Romania is working with other EU member states, such as France, Spain and Italy, to negotiate more flexible rules for the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to ensure the successful absorption of funds and the smooth implementa…
Italyโs M5S calls for boycott on made in Italy ministerโs car proposal
The Five Star Movement (the Left) will urge EU countries to reject Italian Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso’s plan to bring forward the review of the EU’s 2026 deadline for electric vehicles to 2025, which he will present in Brussels on …
Silence over Kosovoโs stalled Council of Europe bid as France, Italy dig in their heels
As momentum around Kosovoโs bid to join the Council of Europe stagnates, stakeholders have refused to comment on reports suggesting the process is being hampered by France and Italy, two previously staunch supporters of their accession.