State Budget

Bulgaria

Bulgarian government withdraws budget draft after mass protests

Wednesday's protest in Sofia against Bulgaria's draft budget plan for 2026 drew an estimated 20,000 people, who demonstrated against a potential increase in social security contributions and the doubling of the dividend tax.

27 November 2025

Bulgaria

Thousands protest new budget plans in Bulgaria ahead of final approval

Thousands of protesters staged a major demonstration outside the parliament building in the capital, Sofia, to denounce the steep taxes announced in next year’s budget draft. Protesters formed a human chain around the building to prevent MPs from exiting.

27 November 2025

Economy

UK budget: Record-high tax measures see positive market reaction

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced tax-raising measures, including new duties on high-value properties, dividends, and savings, in the state budget presented on Wednesday.

26 November 2025

Economy

What’s at stake in the UK Autumn Budget? Here are the points to watch

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces the challenge of raising an estimated £20-30bn, with both her and the government’s credibility on the line.

25 November 2025

Economy

French bond yields spike, stocks fall as another government collapses

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned less than a day after his cabinet was appointed, spooking already-wary investors.

6 October 2025

Economy

Italy eyes 3% EU deficit target this year, ahead of schedule

According to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, the public deficit is at 3% already this year, bringing the Italian budget back on track with the European Union's finance rules.

3 October 2025

Economy

French billionaire Bernard Arnault slams wealth tax as 'deadly'

Politicians in France reacted to heated comments from the country’s richest man after Arnault called the Zucman tax a way to "destroy the French economy".

22 September 2025

wellbeing

Loneliness linked to worse health and higher medical costs, study says

Four in 10 Britons said they were lonely at least sometimes in a new survey tracking the health costs associated with loneliness.

4 September 2025

Economy

Senate votes to progress Trump's $9 billion spending cuts request

Senate Republicans voted to progress President Donald Trump's request to cancel $9 billion in previously approved spending on Tuesday, despite concerns.

16 July 2025

Economy

European Commission gives fiscal verdicts for member states

The economic update comes as the EU seeks to boost its competitiveness at a time of uncertainty, faced with Russian aggression and US protectionism.

4 June 2025

USA

Conservative lawmakers block Trump's tax-cut bill in major setback

A handful of hard-right lawmakers joined all Democrats in voting against a package of tax breaks and spending cuts, insisting on steeper cuts to Medicaid and green energy tax breaks.

17 May 2025

Economy

UK Spring Statement: Further budget cuts and halved economic growth

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has laid out the latest on UK public finances. Her statement arrives at a moment when the nation needs to find billions to boost defence spending against the backdrop of an ailing economy. Here are the key takeaways.

26 March 2025

Economy

French budget talks: Pension reform must remain, says business boss

The warning comes as France's government meets party representatives, hopeful of winning support for a new budget bill.

9 January 2025

Europe News

Portugal: State Budget for 2025 approved as Socialist Party abstains

Only PSD and CDS, the two parties supporting the government, voted in favour. With the exception of PS, all opposition parties voted against.

29 November 2024

Healthcare

Italy spent over €1 billion on dozens of ‘drugs to avoid’ in 2022

An independent researcher said the results should spark a re-evaluation of some medicines, but do not necessarily mean patients are being harmed.

20 November 2024

Economy

Italy's budget 2025: Breaks for low-income earners and bank levy

Presenting next year's budget, the Italian government seeks to honour election promises while also satisfying EU demands.

16 October 2024