The European Correspondent

Each story uncovers how Europeans are rethinking their environment, economies, and communities in the face of global pressures.

Europe’s biggest stories, told from the ground up. From water shortages in Southern Europe to new car-free streets in Paris, our correspondents explore how local changes shape a shared continent.

Introduced in the late 1990s by Sweden’s Home Baking Council, the day honours the long-standing fika tradition, the social coffee break at the heart of Swedish life. Sharing kanelbullar with colleagues, friends, or family is more than a treat.

Every 4 October, Sweden marks Kanelbullens dag — Cinnamon Roll Day — a celebration of one of the country’s most beloved baked goods.

Trust in the EU is on the rise. In 2025, fewer Europeans distrust the Union compared to 20 years ago — with Denmark leading the way in confidence. But not everyone’s convinced: countries like Greece, Croatia, and Cyprus still show more skepticism.

Visualised by Sebastian Gräff.

I ended up joining the biggest group I could find, but quickly realised there were hundreds more out there. That curiosity led me to dig deeper into the numbers and collect data from about 40,000 clubs across 300 European cities.

A data story by Sebastian Gräff.

After moving to a new city, one of the first things I did was join a running club. I’m not a dedicated runner, but it felt like a good way to meet people. Finding a club wasn’t difficult; I used Strava, the outdoor exercise app, to look up the nearby options.

Together, they highlight how domestic politics and Mediterranean priorities shape NATO’s southern flank.

A piece by Andrea Venzon and Carlos Caselles Calle.

Southern Europe is struggling to keep pace with NATO’s rising defence demands. Italy treads carefully, constrained by high debt and limited public support for military spending. Spain won an exception but still prefers cybersecurity and emergency management over tanks and jets.

Europe’s craving 20 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030, and half of that will be extracted from Africa. Click the link in our bio - OR HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE - for Energy Editor Eli Volencova’s full article on how Europe is turning to green colonialism to feed its hunger.

The folk festival there already takes place in July (summer!), and beers are at least €5 cheaper than in Munich. For me, those differences make it far more attractive.

A data story by Sebastian Gräff.

While the Oktoberfest remains out of reach for me, other festivals in Bavaria do seem more welcoming. So you might see me in Cham next year.

While I'm technically Bavarian, I have never been to Oktoberfest. One major reason is the price of everything: €15 for a beer, another €15 for food, plus extra for rides or entertainment. As a young person, that’s simply not something I’ve been able to afford.

This sense of security is the result of decades of feminist policies, pioneering institutions, and urban design shaped with women in mind. Umeå shows how equality and safety can be woven into the very fabric of a city.

A piece by Ida Ovesson.

In northern Sweden, the city of Umeå has built a reputation as one of the world’s most feminist cities. Despite long winters with little sunlight, women here report feeling significantly safer at night than the national and European averages.

Europe’s students don’t all pay the same way. In southern countries, family support dominates; in Scandinavia, public aid leads; in Germany and beyond, students work to get by. A patchwork system where how you fund your degree depends on where you study.

In 2023, the European Commission, therefore, proposed legally binding food waste reduction targets: a 10% cut in food waste in processing and manufacturing, and a 30% cut per capita in retail, food services, and households.

A data story by Mandy Spaltman.

The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, launched in 2020 as part of the European Green Deal, set a goal of halving per capita food waste by 2030. It also seeks to cut losses along the supply chain and better align national measures.

In 2022, EU citizens threw away an estimated 58 million tonnes of food – roughly half in households; the rest along the supply chain from farms to restaurants. Despite growing awareness of the issue, waste volumes barely changed between 2020 and 2022, showing that current measures have yet to bite.

Food waste remains a persistent challenge in Europe, a fact highlighted by today’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss.

From gripping murder trials in Italy to dynastic power struggles in Ireland, these are the binge-worthy dramas that captivated you this September, stories of crime, love, betrayal, and empire across Europe and beyond.

Images © respective rights holders, used for editorial purposes.

Together, they capture a continent caught between climate crises, cultural battles and geopolitical pressure.

Five stories shaping Europe this week, from burning seas to flooded fields. Rains are destroying harvests, heatwaves are emptying the seas, reindeer herders resist new mines, artists debate boycotts, and politicians push green defence spending.

A piece by Toyah Höher and Nathan Domon.

At the same time, the government is weighing stricter alcohol rules, potentially ending the famously permissive regime. For smaller breweries, shrinking demand and rising prices may threaten their survival, even as brands turn to lighter or non-alcoholic alternatives.

Oktoberfest opened in Munich last week, but Germany’s beer culture faces new challenges. While the country remains Europe’s largest beer producer, per-capita consumption has fallen to record lows as younger generations drink less.

Species are disappearing or moving away, invasive ones are spreading, and entire ecosystems are being thrown off balance. For fishermen like Jesmond Scicluna, this crisis is deeply personal – but it’s also a warning for all of Europe.

A piece by Belle de Jong, visualized by Sebastian Gräff.

Fishermen in Malta say that even with more nets, they now catch almost nothing – while one day at sea once earned them a week’s wage. Europe’s seas, especially the Mediterranean, are heating rapidly, threatening traditional livelihoods.

But shooting down cheap drones with costly fighter jets is unsustainable, raising urgent questions about strategy and escalation in crowded European airspace.

A piece by Minna Ålander.

A surge of Russian drone incursions and airspace violations has put Europe on high alert. NATO launched the Eastern Sentry mission and EU states are moving ahead with a “drone wall” to strengthen defenses.