Europe
European politics, security, economics, and cross-border developments.
Germany’s Brandleitetunnel to close for three months for modernization
Deutsche Bahn will shut the Brandleitetunnel in Thuringia from July 11 for about three months to upgrade safety and communications systems, disrupting regional rail services and triggering replacement buses.
ECDC Vibrio viewer highlights elevated summer risk at parts of UK and European coasts
The ECDC’s Vibrio Viewer is flagging elevated summer suitability for Vibrio growth across parts of Europe’s coastal waters, including areas near the UK, France and the Netherlands. Officials say the map is an environmental model, not a disease-risk forecast, but it highlights where warm, brackish seas and low salinity can raise concern for wound infections and contaminated shellfish.
c2c cancels South Essex routes as heatwave strains rail infrastructure
c2c has cancelled some South Essex services on Thursday and Friday because extreme heat is increasing the risk of rail disruption. The operator warned that heat-related speed restrictions can trigger sagging overhead lines, buckled rails and lineside fires.
EU border checks draw overhaul calls as Greek airports warn of queues
Fraport Greece chief Alexander Zinell is urging the EU to overhaul its new Entry/Exit System after reports of queues, heat exposure and delays at Greek airports. EU officials have resisted a suspension, while airport and airline critics say the rollout needs redesign.
Eurostar upgrades new trains to run in 55C heat
Eurostar has raised the heat tolerance for its new Alstom trains to 55C, up from 45C, as it plans for hotter European summers and trains that could remain in service into the 2060s.
Greek airports chief calls for overhaul of EU border checks
Fraport Greece CEO Alexander Zinell says the EU's biometric Entry/Exit System needs a complete overhaul after reports of long queues and technical failures at busy Greek airports during the summer peak.
Marine Le Pen presses ahead with 2027 run as conviction appeal keeps campaign in legal limbo
Marine Le Pen has confirmed she will run in France’s 2027 presidential election despite her embezzlement conviction. A Paris appeals court reduced part of her punishment, but her appeal to France’s highest court leaves key penalties unresolved.
Le Pen ruling keeps 2027 presidential bid alive as France enters unusual legal-political campaign
Marine Le Pen remains able to campaign for France’s 2027 presidential election after a Paris appeals court reduced part of her sentence in a misuse-of-funds case and paused enforcement of the monitoring requirement while her appeal continues.
Port of Dover faces 'utter chaos' under struggling EU entry system, MPs say
UK MPs have warned that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System could cause severe congestion at the Port of Dover during the summer peak, as the port’s dedicated border facility remains unusable and pressure grows for operational changes.
Telstra outage continues to disrupt triple-zero calls and regional trains on July 9
Telstra said a secondary issue was still affecting some triple-zero calls on July 9 after its major outage, while Victoria and NSW regional rail services remained disrupted.
European unions push for legally binding workplace heat protections
European trade unions are pressing the EU to adopt legally binding workplace heat rules, including mandatory risk assessments, enforceable thermal limits and rights to breaks, shade and water.
German auto industry warns of job collapse as Volkswagen weighs deeper cuts
Germany’s auto industry is warning that jobs could collapse unless policymakers and manufacturers make painful structural changes. The warning from the VDA comes as Volkswagen prepares a major restructuring plan that could include up to 100,000 job losses and possible plant closures or downsizing.
FCA appoints new secondary-markets advisory committee
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has named 27 members to its Secondary Markets Advisory Committee for 2026-2028, expanding the panel from 25 seats and adding executives from JPMorgan, BlackRock, LSEG, Rokos Capital Management, Optiver and BP. The committee will advise the FCA on equities, fixed income, foreign exchange and commodities reform.
Reform UK-led Nottinghamshire council fails to find sponsors for union flag scheme
Nottinghamshire County Council, led by Reform UK, says it has found no sponsors for its £75,000 union-flag scheme and is paying for it itself. The result undercuts earlier claims from Lee Anderson that local businesses would fund the project and taxpayers would not be left with the bill.
Burnham's devolution push to boost Treasury's northern outpost
Andy Burnham is expected to push ministers to use regional government offices more often, with the Darlington Economic Campus emerging as the clearest test of whether Whitehall power can move beyond London.
Lagarde doesn’t rule out leaving ECB early, reviving French political speculation
Christine Lagarde said in a Les Echos interview that she would not rule out leaving the European Central Bank before her term ends in October 2027, renewing speculation that she could return to French politics.
No 10 accepts all recommendations in Southport attack inquiry
Downing Street has accepted all recommendations from the first phase of the Southport attack inquiry, after the report found the 2024 killings of three girls could and should have been prevented. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government will implement the findings in full, while families’ lawyers pressed for timelines and accountability.
Vatican excommunicates SSPX clergy and formal adherents after unauthorized bishop ordinations
The Vatican said the Society of Saint Pius X entered schism after ordaining four bishops without papal approval, excommunicating the new bishops and warning that priests and formal adherents also face penalties.
China and EU set regular ministerial trade talks amid pressure to rebalance trade
China and the European Union will hold ministerial-level trade talks once or twice a year, China said, formalizing a channel aimed at narrowing the bloc’s trade deficit and easing tensions over industrial policy.
Vatican declares SSPX in schism and excommunicates clergy
The Vatican declared the Society of St. Pius X in schism after unauthorized bishop consecrations in Switzerland and excommunicated the new bishops, two existing SSPX bishops and the society’s priests. The decree also warned that Catholics who formally align themselves with SSPX could face excommunication, while distinguishing them from people who attend its Masses without rejecting papal authority.
Vatican excommunicates schismatic bishops and priests, and warns their followers
The Vatican declared the Society of St. Pius X in schism after it consecrated four bishops without papal approval in Écône, Switzerland, and said clergy and formally affiliated followers could also face excommunication. The action follows a last-minute appeal from Pope Leo XIV and echoes the church’s response to similar consecrations in 1988.
Starmer apologizes over forced adoption scandal and announces support measures
Keir Starmer has formally apologized in Parliament for the British state’s role in historical forced adoptions in England and Wales, and the government has announced new support measures including records access help, mental health support and a £4 million package.
Russia 'mounted drone surveillance of European nuclear sites over 18 months'
An IISS analysis published July 2 says Russia likely ran a long drone-surveillance campaign across Europe, including flights near nuclear and military sites, with suspected links to shadow-fleet vessels.
Kyiv death toll rises to 20 after overnight Russian missile and drone attack
Russia’s overnight missile-and-drone attack on Kyiv killed at least 20 civilians and injured more than 90, according to updated reporting. Rescue work continued across the capital as EU officials renewed calls for tougher sanctions and stronger air defenses.