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Denmark

Denmark to boost defence spending by €6.7bn over next two years

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Wednesday that defence cuts "must never happen again".

Europe News

EU Commission to propose a simpler, policy-focused long-term budget

“The status quo is not an option,” the European Commission said in a communication laying the groundwork for the upcoming proposal on the next long-term budget (2028-34).

Culture news

Budget cuts spark stern response from France's Académie des beaux-arts

With severe budget cuts hitting France’s arts sector, the Académie des beaux-arts warns of threats to creativity and democratic freedoms.

Culture news

Tate Liverpool renovation plans delay opening to 2027

Closed in 2023 for massive renovations, the reopening date for the Tate Liverpool has been pushed back two years until 2027.

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Culture news

'Stand up for culture!': French artists unite against budget cuts

Protests have spread across France after the government's forced budget announced severe cuts to the culture and arts sector.

Economy

UK inheritance tax receipts hit record levels after threshold freezes

The amount of money collected through inheritance tax is likely to rise further in the UK due to recent policy changes.

Europe News

New French PM aims to please all sides and avoid no-confidence vote

After getting the nod in December, Bayrou became France's fourth prime minister in just one year. He now faces a major challenge to pass the long-overdue 2025 budget plan.

Culture news

Actor Michael Sheen to fund new national theatre in Wales

Actor Michael Sheen is funding a new theatre company to replace the National Theatre Wales.

Economy

Austrian far-right party and conservatives reach budget agreement

Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl and his prospective coalition partners said on Monday that they have reached an agreement to bring down the budget deficit, an important first step toward what would be the country's first post-World War II government led by the far-right.

Culture news

Berlin moves ahead with €130 million culture budget cuts amid protests

Berlin's government has approved a €130 million cut to its cultural budget for 2025, defying weeks of protests and warnings from the arts sector about potential closures and the city’s cultural standing.

Healthcare

Italy unveils plans for €4.2 million fund to target obesity

The creation of the fund is viewed as a small but meaningful step to address Italy’s looming obesity problem but critics remain unconvinced of its impact.

Culture news

Investment in UK arts and culture sector suffers alarming 15% fall

Shocking figures reveal the state of freefall for the culture and entertainment sector in terms of the UK's GDP.

France

French parliament adopts special law to prevent government shutdown

France's parliament has adopted a special law to prevent a government shutdown as a temporary measure to maintain core state functions. The country's Senate passed the law on Wednesday after it went through the National Assembly on Monday.

Healthcare

Are new, expensive drugs worth it? Not if you're not a recipient

A new study has found that the approval of new drugs in England has come at a heavy cost to the health of many others due to a loss of funding.

Europe News

Macron seeks new PM as special budget bill is introduced to avoid government 'shutdown'

Outgoing French PM Michel Barnier's cabinet held its last meeting Wednesday, proposing a "special bill" to maintain government operations into 2025. The bill will be debated next week.

Economy

EU budget: Who pays the most into the EU, and who gains the most?

In the EU budget, wealthier western and northern European nations predominantly serve as net contributors, while central and eastern European members are mainly net recipients.

Economy

What next for France's finances after the government's collapse?

Without a new budget, the country is facing a deficit of up to 6.6% of the GDP in 2025, more than double the European Union's standard.

Europe News

Budget crisis and political turmoil: France under EU's close watch

European institutions in Brussels are paying attention not only to the financial discussions but also to the political challenges that are unfolding in France.

Europe News

Le Pen says no-confidence vote will save France from 'unjust' budget

France's Prime Minister Michel Barnier is set to be ousted after his social security budget failed to receive backing from Marine Le Pen's National Rally.

Europe News

Russian defence spending rises to record high - a third of the budget

Next year, Moscow's spending on the military and security forces will exceed spending on health care, education and social policy combined