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European Union
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European Union

European Union
European Union
The latest breaking news and stories on the European Union (EU), an economic and political union of 27 member states mainly located in Europe, which accounts for around a sixth of global economic output. Also covering the EU’s relationship with the UK (post Brexit), China and the US, plus commentary and updates on EU legislation, the euro and trade.
National Rally’s Marine Le Pen in Paris on Sunday. Photo: AGF via Zuma Press / dpa
France

Far-right makes major gains in French Senate as Le Pen eyes power

National Rally and allies form first-ever upper chamber group months before Emmanuel Macron steps down.

Britain

Britain’s Labour Party launches annual conference buoyed by Burnham

Switzerland

Swiss reject push to toughen neutrality amid debate over Russia

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Why Xi’s US trip leaves Europe relieved by trade truce – but wary of the future

The summit in Washington eases near-term uncertainty over rare earths, but analysts fear the bloc could have less say over decisions shaping its economic interests.

President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan as they leave the National Archives in Washington on Friday, alongside US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

After EU-Philippines trade breakthrough, is Asean-wide deal next?

A bloc-to-bloc free-trade agreement offers Asean real economic clout, but analysts warn there is still a ‘long way to go’.

China-Latin America relations

Exclusive | China-based Brics bank set for hunger alliance lead role this year, Brazil says

Brazilian minister Wellington Dias tells SCMP a fund to cut borrowing costs for the poor may launch by December as US marginalises the G20.

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Ukraine war

EU to release US$7.5 billion linked to Ukraine military aid

Money related to Ukraine had stuck in the fund for ⁠months, blocked by the previous Hungarian government under Viktor Orban.

A Ukrainian artilleryman fires a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a position on the front line in the Donetsk region on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Italy

Italy to ban burkas in schools, with 30% cap on pupils with poor Italian

The move comes ahead of Italy’s election next year, in which PM Meloni’s party faces pressure the even further right National Future party.

China-EU relations

China and EU deadlocked on medical devices, still talking on PHEV curbs: source

Sources on the Chinese side recently described the talks as difficult and expressed frustration over the EU’s inflexibility.

China trade

Chinese carmakers gain as high petrol prices boost European EV sales

Chinese brands’ share of plug-in hybrid registrations across Europe climbed from about 20 per cent in January to 35.3 per cent in August.

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A BYD electric car on display at Germany’s Essen Motor Show in December. Photo: AP
China trade

Opinion | China’s industrial strengths must also benefit its trading partners

By shifting towards domestic consumption and exporting industrial know-how, Beijing can give global partners a genuine stake in its growth.

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The workshop of a wind power equipment maker at the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in Qinzhou city, Guangxi autonomous region, on September 4. China’s partners must distinguish between genuine imbalances and the productive advantages that offer opportunities for cooperation. Photo: Xinhua
Ukraine war

Croatia clears extradition of Nord Stream blast suspect to Germany

German prosecutors have accused Ukrainian scuba diver of planting explosives on Baltic pipelines in 2022.

Spain

Spain’s housing crisis in spotlight with eviction of pensioner, 87

Thousands have protested in outrage at the eviction and a market widely denounced as unaffordable for renters and buyers.

US-China trade war

China is investing record amounts overseas. Why are US-bound flows plunging?

Chinese investment in the US has fallen to its lowest level since 2011 amid tighter scrutiny and trade tensions.

Chinese outbound direct investment was up 11.1 per cent in 2025 year on year, according to a new government report. Photo: Shutterstock
India

India backs new P4M forum, but can middle powers fix the UN?

Without early wins on climate or UN reform, analysts say the Partners for Multilateralism risks becoming a talking shop.

India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in September 2025. Photo: EPA
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong rejects EU report’s claims on freedoms as ‘unfounded and biased’

Hong Kong government says the report misrepresents national security laws, ignores protections for rights and applies double standards.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong on way to securing green fuel supply to safeguard aviation hub status

Policy chief notes city to consider sustainable aviation fuel mandate, saying clear targets are needed to draw investment and build supply.

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China-Germany relations

China seeks German help to stave off EU trade sanctions before Xi-Trump summit

Phone call between Wang Yi and Johann Wadephul underlines Beijing’s push to protect European partnerships alongside US relations.

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Wang Yi calls on Berlin to “maintain a rational and pragmatic approach” and play a positive role within the EU in “promoting the upholding of free trade and rejecting protectionism”, according to the foreign ministry. Photo: Reuters
Science

China starts on the world’s first supercritical CO2 and molten salt energy plant

Ruitan demonstration project in Shandong aims to reduce energy waste and stabilise grid electricity supply.

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China-EU relations

A shift by China towards service-based economy may realign trade, EU group says

The nation has seen little progress towards addressing ‘involution’, with output still growing beyond absorption rate, says an EU trade group.

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Canada

Southeast Asia supports multilateralism, wary of US or China leadership: survey

A recent Rockefeller Foundation survey shows strong regional belief in global cooperation and a reluctance to accept superpower dominance.

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The ASEAN flag flies alongside the flags of member countries ahead of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Langkawi, Malaysia in January 2025. Photo: Reuters
China-EU relations

Open Questions | ‘Trade is never free’: former WTO chief Pascal Lamy on the EU’s China challenge

He says Chinese authorities’ lack of interest in addressing structural macroeconomic imbalance a ‘huge problem’ for European Union.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Germany

‘Disaster’: Germany’s embattled chancellor suffers bruising election defeats

Friedrich Merz is under pressure as the far-right AfD party wins another vote and his conservatives crash out of a state parliament.

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Greenland

UK’s Burnham congratulates Trump and Danish PM on Greenland deal

British prime minister praises deal to bolster Arctic defence after Trump threatened to take island by force.

Italy

Meloni pushes for burka ban in Italy’s schools, cap on foreign students

Italian prime minister tells party rally that foreigners must ‘respect our rules’ under proposed integration package.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday. Photo: EPA
Canada

Macron, Carney pledge closer ties in Atlantic island meeting amid US strains

Ottawa has been seeking closer ties with the European Union amid an increasingly acrimonious trade war with the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron (right) and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands after their meeting in the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon off Canada’s Atlantic coast on Sunday. Photo: Canadian Press via Zuma Press / dpa
China exports

China’s trade limits continue to bite into Japan’s rare earth imports

Rare earth magnet imports fall 17 per cent, following a 52 per cent plunge in July, amid deteriorating ties between Beijing and Tokyo.

Denmark

Denmark cautiously optimistic over Trump’s Greenland deal

The Arctic island’s leaders have echoed that, saying the security agreement, which maintains Danish control, was long in coming.

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