Author: Euronews

ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasises caution on rate cuts after the central bank kept interest rates at record high on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENTSlower growth and a sharper decline in inflation in Europe – the European Central Bank (ECB) has just updated its previous economic forecast, released after the bank decided to maintain interest rates at record high.The ECB lowered its economic growth projection for 2024 from 0.8% to 0.6%. The expected GDP for 2025 remains at 1.5%, and the economic output for 2026 was adjusted upwards from 1.5% to 1.6%.Inflation is expected to decline, but the ECB is still cautiousThe ECB has…

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent in any way the editorial position of Euronews. To keep up with its climate ambitions, five priority areas must urgently be put at the forefront of the European green agenda, World Economic Forum’s Marushia Gislén and Emmy van Enk write. ADVERTISEMENTThe EU is a longstanding frontrunner in international efforts to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius. At COP28, the EU’s position was again crucial in setting the level of global ambition and the EU is now proposing to cut 90% of its emissions by 2040.At…

Ireland is currently facing a housing crisis due to decreasing investment and a rising population. ADVERTISEMENTIreland house prices could continue rising for the near future, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has warned the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight. This is mainly due to low investment and rapidly increasing population, causing demand to overtake supply. According to Ireland’s Central Statistics Office, only 66% of Irish houses are owner-occupied, a significant fall from about 79% in 1991. Data from the Residential Tenancies Board and ESRI estimate the average Dublin rent now to be about €2,102.In its opening statement, the ESRI, as…

Green hydrogen is predicted to be a leading renewable energy source in the future, but production in Europe must ramp up massively to hit targets. In this episode of Business Planet, Euronews reporter Andrea Bolitho travels to Spain to see how a global leader in the renewable energy sector is maximising green hydrogen’s potential.The EU’s regulatory advisor for renewable energy giant, Iberdrola, told Euronews that Europe can’t rely on just one method to decarbonise heavy industry and other polluting sectors.”Direct electrification is not always feasible or cost efficient so that’s where you need renewable hydrogen,” Blandine Malvault said.While the EU has pinned green…

Most cryptocurrencies have started 2024 off on the right foot. Check out where in Europe people are embracing crypto the most. ADVERTISEMENTCrypto, the buzzword in the world of finance. There are currently around 31 million users of these digital assets in Europe, according to estimations from cryptocurrency payment gateway TripleA.Asia is leading by 263 million users, followed by North America with 57 million, and Africa with 38 million.Within Europe, it varies widely depending on the country.According to the 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index from Chainalysis, a blockchain data platform based in New York, Eastern European countries are the biggest fans…

Annual inflation in the EU and eurozone continues to show signs of easing, with January figures showing a fall in 15 of the EU countries. However, the remaining 11 countries recorded a rise. ADVERTISEMENTInflation in the EU has been gradually and consistently falling since its peak at 11.5% in October 2022. In January 2024, the annual inflation in the EU was 3.1%, down from 3.4% in December according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. That was in sharp contrast to the same time last year when it was 10.0%.At the same time, the eurozone area annual inflation rate was…

The European elections will take place from 6 to 9 June, when EU citizens will vote for the members of the European Parliament. ADVERTISEMENTThe European elections are now only 100 days away. Between 6 to 9 June, EU citizens will be able to cast their vote for the next members of the European Parliament, who will then represent them for the next five years. The vote comes at a time when the 27-member bloc faces several crises, including the war in Ukraine, inflation, and energy policies. Voters have different priorities for what they expect from the next European Parliament. Euronews took to the…

Insee said the 1.1% decline was largely due to significantly lower output in the transportation and automotive sectors. ADVERTISEMENTFrance’s industrial production fell further than expected at the beginning of the year, as the country’s economy struggles to return to full strength amid the cost of living crisis.Total production across industries slumped by 1.1% in January compared to the previous month, according to new figures from Insee, France’s statistical office.This is after economists surveyed by Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal had forecast a drop of just 0.1%, as reported by both news outlets.Insee said the 1.1% decline was largely due…

Euronews Correspondent Aurora Velez lifts the veil on an EU-funded collaboration, treating and preventing infertility and related diseases. Reproductive challenges affect some 25 per cent of couples in Scandinavia, according to the ReproUnion Biobank and Infertility Cohort (RUBIC), a binational clinical foundation driving advances in infertility treatment.Copenhagen University Hospital and Skåne University Hospital are leading the initiative, projected to help 5,000 people in Denmark and Sweden who are struggling to conceive naturally over the next five to eight years. Some 2,000 people have already participated in the study.Euronews spoke with a Danish couple, Casper Havhøj Jensen and Gry Sloth Jørgensen, who availed of…

Jeremy Hunt, Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, has presented the Budget for his economic strategy – here are the key takeaways. ADVERTISEMENTJeremy Hunt delivered his Spring Budget to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons in London on Wednesday afternoon.Against a difficult economic backdrop, the announcement was devoid of major giveaways, with the Chancellor erring on the side of fiscal prudence.Cut to national insuranceHunt has committed to cutting National Insurance contributions by 2p from April, a measure that will affect 27 million workers.This follows an identical cut seen in November’s Autumn Statement and is part of a Conservative plan…