<p>To the west of Eurasia lays Europe, a region predisposed to division. It is surrounded on nearly all sides by islands and peninsulas that make it difficult for Europe to cohere. The northern half of the continent, moreover, sits on a plain whose short, meandering rivers tend to empower countries without forcing them to work with others. The southern half is situated on more mountainous terrain that has historically impeded the creation of strong, unified economies. As a result, Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.</p>

Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.

Europe

Belize

Andorra

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Holy See

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

North Macedonia

San Marino

Sweden

United Kingdom

Bulgaria

Portugal

Serbia

Croatia

Poland

Romania

Cyprus

Norway

Austria

Slovakia

Albania

Slovenia

Netherlands

Switzerland

Spain

Montenegro

Monaco

Italy

Ireland

Iceland

Hungary

Kosovo

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

Brexit

The Fate of the Eurozone

Banking

Crossing Borders

Globalization

European Disintegration

Echoes of the Cold War

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Assessments

United States

Turkey

An image of the Turkish flag. 

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Turkey Holds a Presidential Runoff, U.S. Debt Ceiling Talks Enter Crunch Time

U.S.-China Relations

Snapshots

The Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament, is seen at night.

Disputes over a new climate bill bode ill for the government's ability to negotiate a tight federal budget.

More Cracks Appear in Germany's Ruling Coalition

Leaders of the Council of the European Union, the bloc’s main decision-making body, hold a meeting in Brussels, Belgium in March 2017.

Spain's proposal to nix unanimity voting on strategic EU decisions will run up against resistance from smaller states that want to preserve their veto power.

In the EU, a New Push To Streamline Foreign Policy Decisions Emerges

India

Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal holds a press conference on EU-India trade relations at the European Commission’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on June 17, 2022.

A free trade agreement could help both sides reduce their respective dependencies on China, if disputes over issues like market access and tariffs don’t get in the way.

The Drivers and Challenges to an EU-India Trade Deal

China

The offices of U.S. semiconductor manufacturer Micron in Shanghai, China, are seen on May 22, 2023.

Military & Security

The partial ban on the U.S. firm's memory chips signals Beijing's willingness to use disruptive legal tools in the name of national security against Western companies amid the growing tech standoff.

By Banning U.S. Chipmaker Micron, China Hits Back at Western Tech Restrictions

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Taiwan

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (R) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hold talks Oct. 31, 2022, in Sochi, Russia.

The Weekly Rundown: Armenia's and Azerbaijan's Leaders Meet in Moscow, an APEC Summit in Detroit

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks at a campaign rally in Seville for his Socialist Party (PSOE) on May 13, 2023, ahead of the country's May 28 regional and municipal elections. 

The May 28 ballot will result in fragmented local legislatures and increase the far-right Vox party's influence ahead of the general election later this year.

Spain's Regional Elections Will Offer a Glimpse Into the Makeup of Its Next Government

Alexis Tsipras (left), who leads the left-wing Syriza party, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (right), who leads the right-wing New Democracy party, look in opposite directions during a televised debate in Athens on May 10, 2023. 

The May 21 ballot could yield a hung parliament, but despite potential policymaking delays, abrupt economic policy changes are improbable.

How Greece's Election Could Impact Its Economy

Columns

On Geopolitics

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (3rd from right), Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (4th from left) and members of their delegations meet in Oslo, Norway, on May 12, 2023. 

As the Arctic Council leadership transfers from Russia to Norway, China is positioning itself to play a greater role in Arctic matters.

In the Arctic, Russia's Geopolitical Isolation Opens New Doors for China

EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni holds a press conference in Brussels on April 26, 2023, after the European Commission presented a proposed overhaul of the bloc's economic governance rules. 

The changes would help avoid some of the problematic austerity measures of the past, but divides within the bloc may still emerge over reduced fiscal space to pursue key policy priorities.

Reviewing the EU's Proposed Reform to Its Debt and Deficit Rules

Energy

The European Commission approved Hungary's request to amend contracts with Russia's state-owned Rosatom to allow for the construction of two new 1.2-gigawatt water-water energetic reactors (VVERs) at its Paks nuclear power plant, Reuters reported on May 25.

Hungary, Russia: Brussels Greenlights Hungary's Nuclear Expansion Contract With Russia

German gross domestic product contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2023, putting the economy in a technical recession, according to revised estimates from Germany's Federal Statistics Office on May 25.

Germany: Country Enters Technical Recession as Finance Ministry Prepares Budget Cuts

Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced that he will submit his resignation on May 26 so the government coalition can appoint a new prime minister and Cabinet on May 29, Antena 3 reported on May 24.

Romania: Prime Minister to Resign on May 26 as Part of Coalition Agreement

Bulgaria's center-right GERB party and the pro-Western anti-corruption alliance led by We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria agreed to form a grand coalition government led by two rotating prime ministers for the next 18 months, Reuters reported on May 22.

Bulgaria: Largest Parties Agree to Form Coalition Government, Ending Two Years of Political Deadlock

Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein became Northern Ireland's largest local government party after securing six out of 11 councils at local elections and winning 31% of first preference votes, ahead of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) with 23%, Reuters reported on May 20.

U.K.: Irish Nationalist Sinn Fein Solidifies Position as Northern Ireland's Largest Party at Local Elections

South Korea

South Korea and the European Union released a joint statement agreeing on the North Korean nuclear threat, condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and agreeing to secure supply chains in key sectors, Yonhap News Agency reported on May 22.

South Korea, EU: Joint Statement Continues Seoul's Westward Lean

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' center-right New Democracy party won the May 21 general election in Greece with 41% of the vote, although the party still does not have enough seats in Parliament to govern alone, eKathimerini reported on May 22.

Greece: Conservatives Win General Election, But Will Seek Another Vote

Natural gas prices on the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF), Europe's price benchmark, fell below 30 euros ($32.44) per megawatt hour (Mwh) on May 18 -- their lowest level since June 2021 -- before rising slightly again on May 19 to 30.30 euros ($32.77) per Mwh, still very close to a two-year low, Reuters reported the same day.

EU: Europe's Natural Gas Prices Return to Pre-Crisis Levels

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Hungary, Russia: Brussels Greenlights Hungary's Nuclear Expansion Contract With Russia

Germany: Country Enters Technical Recession as Finance Ministry Prepares Budget Cuts

Romania: Prime Minister to Resign on May 26 as Part of Coalition Agreement

Bulgaria: Largest Parties Agree to Form Coalition Government, Ending Two Years of Political Deadlock

U.K.: Irish Nationalist Sinn Fein Solidifies Position as Northern Ireland's Largest Party at Local Elections

South Korea, EU: Joint Statement Continues Seoul's Westward Lean

Greece: Conservatives Win General Election, But Will Seek Another Vote

EU: Europe's Natural Gas Prices Return to Pre-Crisis Levels

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support