New European Union rules updating the lists of pollutants in surface and groundwaters entered into force across the 27 Member States on Monday 11 May 2026, introducing stricter limits on a range of chemical contaminants and bringing entirely new pollutant categories — including microplastics and antimicrobial-resistance markers — into the regulatory perimeter for the first…
The European Commission confirmed in early May 2026 over EUR 1 billion in funding for 9 hydrogen production projects across 7 EU countries, expected to produce more than 1.3 million tonnes of hydrogen over 10 years to decarbonise transport and chemical industries amid the Iran war energy shock.
Eurozone services PMI confirmed at 47.6 in April 2026, dropping into contraction. Germany 46.9, France 46.5, Spain crashed to 47.9 from 53.3. The energy shock is destroying consumer purchasing power across Europe’s largest economies.
Eurozone manufacturing PMI confirmed at 52.2 in April 2026, with Spain leading at 51.7, Italy at 52.1, France 52.8 and Germany 51.4. Defense procurement and auto orders are sustaining factory output even as consumer-facing services collapse.
The European Central Bank held its deposit rate at 2% on 30 April 2026 for the third consecutive meeting. Eurozone inflation jumped to 3% in April from 1.7% in February, driven by 10.9% energy price increase amid the Iran war.
ECB held deposit rate at 2% on 30 April for third consecutive meeting. Eurozone inflation 3% in April, Brent crude above $126, GDP growth slowed to 0.8% Q1 2026. Lagarde: ‘data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting’ approach.
Europe Day on 9 May 2026 marks the 76th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. As war returns to Europe, AI reshapes economies, and enlargement accelerates, what does Schuman still mean?
EUR/USD trades near 1.17 in early May 2026 as ECB holds steady while signalling June rate hike. Markets price in three hikes for 2026 amid Middle East tensions and US tariffs.
Hungary’s Article 7 procedure remains the EU’s longest-running rule-of-law deadlock. In 2026, the file is shaped by frozen EU funds, Article 6 hearings and the political momentum after Orbán’s electoral defeat.
Viktor Orbans electoral defeat in 2026 has revived a familiar question in Brussels: how and when to release the billions in EU funds frozen due to rule-of-law concerns over Hungary.