● LIVEECB RATE 2.4%·EUR/USD 1.1622·EUR/GBP 0.8590·BRUSSELS 15°C — OVERCAST·BOND YIELDS ARE SURGING GLOBALLY BUT WHY AREN’T EQUITIES FALLING?·FROM GIANT TVS TO 'JAMES BOND GLASSES': TCL'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE·BARDELLA SIGNS PACT WITH FARAGE TO STOP SMALL BOAT CROSSINGS 'FOREVER'·SENIOR EU OFFICIALS RETIERATE NEED FOR NEW EUROPE-WIDE TAXES IN NEXT BUDGET·PASSPORT FOR A NEWBORN: BIRTH TOURISM AS PART OF RUSSIA'S NEW EMIGRATION·INSIDE THE QUIET LUXURY REVIVAL OF THE VENICE LIDO – HOME TO THE GLITTERING FILM FESTIVAL·WEEK 38 · N°261·● LIVEECB RATE 2.4%·EUR/USD 1.1622·EUR/GBP 0.8590·BRUSSELS 15°C — OVERCAST·BOND YIELDS ARE SURGING GLOBALLY BUT WHY AREN’T EQUITIES FALLING?·FROM GIANT TVS TO 'JAMES BOND GLASSES': TCL'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE·BARDELLA SIGNS PACT WITH FARAGE TO STOP SMALL BOAT CROSSINGS 'FOREVER'·SENIOR EU OFFICIALS RETIERATE NEED FOR NEW EUROPE-WIDE TAXES IN NEXT BUDGET·PASSPORT FOR A NEWBORN: BIRTH TOURISM AS PART OF RUSSIA'S NEW EMIGRATION·INSIDE THE QUIET LUXURY REVIVAL OF THE VENICE LIDO – HOME TO THE GLITTERING FILM FESTIVAL·WEEK 38 · N°261·
Independent European journalism — politics, power, technology and public life
Brussels · Europe
N°261 · Week 38

The Debate.eu

Friday, 18 September 2026
Read across Europe
CONTRIBUTOR · 31 articles

Luca Bertuzzi

Luca Bertuzzi is a journalist whose reporting on Business, Politics, World and Technology appears on The Debate.

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Business · Politics · World · Technology

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31 articles
Senior EU officials retierate need for new Europe-wide taxes in next budget
Business

Senior EU officials retierate need for new Europe-wide taxes in next budget

The European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament representatives have said that an ambitious budget requires substantial resources.

By Luca Bertuzzi04 September 2026
EU tries to turn the page on enlargement after Iceland's vote against new talks
Politics

EU tries to turn the page on enlargement after Iceland's vote against new talks

Senior EU officials are downplaying the negative effect of Iceland's referendum as ministers meet in Dublin to keep enlargement momentum going for candidate countries, while discussions on democratic safeguards are ongoing and national elections loom.

By Luca Bertuzzi04 September 2026
The EU gave Iceland the silent treatment. It didn't work, again
Politics

The EU gave Iceland the silent treatment. It didn't work, again

Brussels stayed mostly silent during Iceland's referendum campaign, which ended with 52.8% voting against resuming EU accession talks, echoing its muted response to Brexit a decade earlier.

By Luca Bertuzzi01 September 2026
Montenegro is approaching EU membership. Serbia may try to stop it
Politics

Montenegro is approaching EU membership. Serbia may try to stop it

Montenegro leads the EU accession race, but Serbia may try to spoil the process to protect Belgrade's regional influence and avoid awkward questions about its own progress, officials tell The Debate.

By Luca Bertuzzi01 September 2026
Iceland’s 'no' vote deals a blow to Brussels’ security pitch to wealthy nations
Politics

Iceland’s 'no' vote deals a blow to Brussels’ security pitch to wealthy nations

Iceland rejected reopening EU membership, dealing a blow to Brussels' hope that security fears could draw wealthy neighbours closer to the bloc.

By Luca Bertuzzi31 August 2026
EU payers push for cuts but can’t agree on how much as budget talks enter key phase
Business

EU payers push for cuts but can’t agree on how much as budget talks enter key phase

The EU's frugals gathered in Berlin to push for cuts. But they still cannot agree on how much as European budget talks enter key phase.

By Luca Bertuzzi27 August 2026
If Iceland joins the EU, where does that leave Norway?
Politics

If Iceland joins the EU, where does that leave Norway?

On Saturday, Icelanders will vote on whether to resume negotiations to join the European Union.

By Luca Bertuzzi26 August 2026
Exclusive: France wants to limit Ukraine's non-European procurement with EU money
World

Exclusive: France wants to limit Ukraine's non-European procurement with EU money

France seeks time limits on Ukraine's derogations for non-EU defence purchases under €90bn loan, in push for European — and French — producers.

By Luca Bertuzzi25 August 2026
Kos sets out new path for EU enlargement: Internal reforms, safeguards and gradual integration to end impasse
Politics

Kos sets out new path for EU enlargement: Internal reforms, safeguards and gradual integration to end impasse

The EU enlargement boss sets out four areas for discussion: internal reforms without treaty changes, stronger democratic safeguards, a gradual integration methodology and encompassing transitional measures.

By Luca Bertuzzi25 August 2026
Meloni made migrant 'returns' popular in the EU. Now the policy is backfiring on her
Politics

Meloni made migrant 'returns' popular in the EU. Now the policy is backfiring on her

Meloni championed irregular migrant “returns” in a hardline push to externalise EU borders.

By Luca Bertuzzi24 August 2026
Exclusive: EU to boost funding for Morocco’s migration management after Ceuta crisis
Politics

Exclusive: EU to boost funding for Morocco’s migration management after Ceuta crisis

The Ceuta crisis is affecting the EU’s long-awaited partnership deal with Morocco, prompting Brussels to increase funding for border control as it seeks to finalise the agreement by the end of the year.

By Luca Bertuzzi20 August 2026
Overcome market fragmentation or miss the AI train, Lagarde warns the EU
Technology

Overcome market fragmentation or miss the AI train, Lagarde warns the EU

An overly fragmented single market cannot support Europe’s top priority of competing globally in the AI race, European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde warns.

By Luca Bertuzzi20 August 2026
European socialists head towards showdown over divergences on migration policy
Politics

European socialists head towards showdown over divergences on migration policy

The Party of European Socialists faces an internal rift as Italian and Spanish MEPs accuse Denmark's Frederiksen of "selective solidarity" for aligning with Meloni against Spain over Ceuta, while the Danish Social Democrats maintain their line on a strict…

By Luca Bertuzzi19 August 2026
EU budget: Sweden, part of the 'frugal' camp, is about to turn even more hawkish
Business

EU budget: Sweden, part of the 'frugal' camp, is about to turn even more hawkish

Sweden is part of the EU's so-called "frugal" bloc, alongside Germany and the Netherlands - net contributors pushing to rein in the bloc's next long-term budget and limit the cost for national taxpayers.

By Luca Bertuzzi13 August 2026
Which way for EU enlargement? Brussels faces moment of truth over bloc's expansion
Politics

Which way for EU enlargement? Brussels faces moment of truth over bloc's expansion

EU enlargement is set to face its moment of truth in the coming months as Montenegro and Albania near membership, Ukraine and Moldova advance, and Brussels weighs reforms needed to absorb a bigger, more complex Union.

By Luca Bertuzzi13 August 2026
EU's centrist coalition might fall short of a majority for the first time
Politics

EU's centrist coalition might fall short of a majority for the first time

A new Europe Elects projection suggests Europe’s mainstream parties could lose their EU-level majority, reflecting the growing strength of right-wing and populist forces.

By Luca Bertuzzi12 August 2026
Security at the border: How the securitarian agenda came to dominate EU migration policy
Politics

Security at the border: How the securitarian agenda came to dominate EU migration policy

The Ceuta migrant influx exposed how the political right-wing now dominates EU migration policy, with even left-wing leaders adopting a security-first approach as progressive policies are increasingly isolated.

By Luca Bertuzzi11 August 2026
Italy-Spain fallout: United by geography, divided by politics
Politics

Italy-Spain fallout: United by geography, divided by politics

Italy and Spain's Schengen border spat over Ceuta has exposed a deeper migration rift, as domestic politics and rising far-right rivals harden both sides' positions.

By Luca Bertuzzi10 August 2026
Hungry for cash: where will the EU find the money?
Politics

Hungry for cash: where will the EU find the money?

The EU's next long-term budget needs to be organised ahead of critical elections in several member states next year – and at the centre of the debate is the question of where the bloc should get fresh money.

By Luca Bertuzzi06 August 2026
EU rules on AI models become enforceable. What's going to change?
Technology

EU rules on AI models become enforceable. What's going to change?

EU AI Act rules on AI models become enforceable today, making Brussels the world's top AI regulator.

By Luca Bertuzzi02 August 2026
Ceuta migrant surge reignites Europe's right-wing assault on Spain's migration policy
Politics

Ceuta migrant surge reignites Europe's right-wing assault on Spain's migration policy

Migrants storming Spain's north African enclave have sparked right-wing attacks on the Sánchez government's mass migrant regularisation.

By Luca Bertuzzi31 July 2026
Time is running out: what trade concessions can the EU win from China?
World

Time is running out: what trade concessions can the EU win from China?

With an October deadline unlikely to yield major concessions from Beijing given structural and leverage imbalances, EU-China trade tensions look set to keep escalating.

By Luca Bertuzzi31 July 2026
EU opens call for seven 'gigafactories' to train next-generation AI technologies
Technology

EU opens call for seven 'gigafactories' to train next-generation AI technologies

With concerns about digital dependency growing fast, the European Commission is pursuing "sovereign" AI infrastructure to become operational by mid-2028.

By Luca Bertuzzi30 July 2026
Who started the fire? Inside Europe's arson intelligence gap
Politics

Who started the fire? Inside Europe's arson intelligence gap

Europe has built advanced systems to detect wildfires and coordinate emergency response.

By Luca Bertuzzi29 July 2026
Devastating wildfires expose Europe’s fragile response to a new climate reality
Politics

Devastating wildfires expose Europe’s fragile response to a new climate reality

As Spain and France battle devastating fires, Brussels is expanding its civil protection efforts – but the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are raising questions over who is responsible for Europe's lack of preparedness.

By Luca Bertuzzi28 July 2026
The EU is forcing tech companies to label deepfakes. Will it work?
Technology

The EU is forcing tech companies to label deepfakes. Will it work?

From this week, the EU AI Act requires deepfakes and AI-generated content to be labelled.

By Luca Bertuzzi28 July 2026
How Serbia could further complicate Ukraine's EU accession bid
World

How Serbia could further complicate Ukraine's EU accession bid

Serbia's stalled EU accession bid risks becoming entangled with Ukraine's, as Western Balkans-friendly states push to maintain geographical balance and equality of treatment.

By Luca Bertuzzi27 July 2026
Google fine 'creates uncertainty' for EU-US trade deal, US Trade Representative says
World

Google fine 'creates uncertainty' for EU-US trade deal, US Trade Representative says

Washington says the EU's €890m fine against Google under the Digital Markets Act jeopardises the EU-US trade deal, calling it "massive uncertainty" for US exporters.

By Luca Bertuzzi23 July 2026
Brussels slaps €890 million fine on Google despite looming new US tariffs
World

Brussels slaps €890 million fine on Google despite looming new US tariffs

Brussels fined Google €890 million under its Big Tech rulebook for favouring its own services in search results and restricting app developers, despite Washington preparing a fresh set of trade tariffs as current ones are expiring.

By Luca Bertuzzi23 July 2026
How Montenegro might complicate the EU's already tense budget talks
Business

How Montenegro might complicate the EU's already tense budget talks

Montenegro's €3.2 billion EU accession package is small change for the bloc's taxpayers, but it could set a precedent for how future enlargements are funded.

By Luca Bertuzzi21 July 2026
EU institutions pile on pressure for 'ambitious' budget with new resources
Business

EU institutions pile on pressure for 'ambitious' budget with new resources

As member states negotiate a €2 trillion long-term budget, the European Commission is advocating for tangible proposals on new revenues, known as "own resources".

By Luca Bertuzzi02 July 2026