Germany pressed on tanks for Ukraine; Kyiv airs frustration
Germany faces mounting pressure to supply battle tanks to Kyiv and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is airing frustration about not obtaining enough weaponry as Western allies confer on how best to support Ukraine nearly 11 months into Russia’s invasion.
Dutch nitrogen mediator advises buying out biggest polluters
An independent expert appointed to mediate in the bitter dispute between the Dutch government and the nation’s farmers over plans to drastically slash emissions of nitrogen and ammonia has presented a report that includes a suggestion that the government buy out hundreds of the heaviest polluters.
Dutch government under fire in debate over emissions cuts
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says that members of his Cabinet have enough confidence in each other to keep working together as Dutch lawmakers broke into their summer vacations to debate the government’s contentious plans to slash nitrogen emissions that have sparked angry protests by farmers.
Farmers' group: Talks with Dutch govt delivered 'too little'
The leader of the Netherlands’ top agricultural lobby group says a first round of talks with a delegation led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte about the government’s nitrogen emissions reduction goals delivered “too little” for thousands of farmers living in uncertainty.
'Teflon' Mark Rutte is longest-serving Dutch prime minister
Mark Rutte has become the longest-serving Dutch prime minister and the 55-year-old leader known by some as “Teflon Mark” because scandals don’t stick to him is showing no sign of slowing despite unrest gripping his nation and his party’s popularity sliding in polls.
New Dutch coalition vows to spend big on broad reforms
The leaders of four political parties set to join forces in the next Dutch ruling coalition have pledged to tackle thorny problems including climate change and housing shortages and to strengthen education and a health care system that has been stretched almost to breaking point by the COVID-19 pandemic.
EU unconvinced by Polish arguments on rule of law changes
Key European Union leaders are unconvinced by Polish arguments that fundamental judicial changes the country has made would not undermine the bloc and said that the withholding of billions in EU recovery funds would likely continue unless Warsaw falls back into line.
Going Dutch: Look out, German coalition talks could be long
As Europe’s economic powerhouse Germany embarks on the task of piecing together a new ruling coalition after Sunday’s knife-edge election, observers need only look to its neighbors, Belgium and the Netherlands, to see how tricky the process can be.