Talk of the Town • Table.Briefings

May 20th, 2026

EU-US trade deal: EU negotiators agree on implementation

The agreement ties tariff reductions on US imports to certain conditions. Members of the European Parliament were able to tighten some of those conditions.

By Antonia Zimmermann

Talk of the Town | Global economy

May 12th, 2026

Trade, Hormuz, semiconductors: The big bargaining in Beijing

The agenda for the summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump was already packed. But the war in Iran has reshuffled the deck and may have put China in a stronger position.

By Jörn Petring

Die Verhandler im Trilog zum KI-Omnibus.

Talk of the Town | Artificial intelligence

May 7th, 2026

AI Omnibus: Trilogue agreement

The Council and Parliament debated the treatment of industrial AI into the early morning hours. AI systems covered by the Machinery Regulation will no longer automatically be classified as high-risk. Nudifier apps will also be banned.

By Corinna Visser

Wirtschaftsministerin Reiche und Umweltminister Schneider bei der Vorstellung der Chemieagenda.

Talk of the Town | Chemical industry

March 31st, 2026

Chemical Industry Agenda: Why neither companies nor climate activists are satisfied

The German government’s new Chemical Industry Agenda has drawn criticism from industry and environmentalists. Businesses are calling for more relief. Climate activists criticize the inadequate framework for the transition. There are inconsistencies in the climate protection agreements.

By Nico Beckert

MARCH 5: Facilities of QatarEnergy are seen in the Mesaieed Industrial Area south of Doha, Qatar on March 5, 2026. QatarEnergy announced it had declared force majeure and suspended production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related products, informing its customers of the decision through a statement shared on the X platform.

Talk of the Town | Gas prices

March 10th, 2026

Iran war: How the US LNG industry is benefiting from the price shock

The war against Iran is pumping billions of USD into the coffers of the LNG industry in the US. The longer the conflict lasts, the greater the profits. In the short term, the shortage will lead to increased use of coal, and in the medium term, probably to more renewables.

By Kai Schöneberg

Talk of the Town | European Union

March 9th, 2026

EU institutions: Officials with German passports are underrepresented

In the European Parliament in particular, there are few officials with German passports in relation to the number of German members of parliament. The situation is particularly bad when it comes to young talent. A planned selection process exclusively for Germans has been put on hold.

By Markus Grabitz

Talk of the Town

March 8th, 2026

Wahlabend in Baden-Württemberg: Erfolg für Cem Özdemir, große Gewinner und schwere Verlierer in der Mitte

Cem Özdemir gewinnt mit den Grünen die Landtagswahl in Baden-Württemberg knapp vor der CDU um Manuel Hagel. SPD nur knapp im Landtag, FDP scheitert an der Fünf-Prozent-Hürde, AfD und Linke bleiben schwächer als erwartet.

By Stefan Braun and Sara Sievert

Katherina Reiche (CDU, hinten,M), Bundesministerin für Wirtschaft und Energie, eröffnet das Gipfeltreffen der Nordsee-Anrainerstaaten. Bei dem Treffen der Regierungschefs und Energieminister wird es vor allem um den Ausbau von Offshore-Windparks und andere Projekte im Energiebereich gehen.

Talk of the Town | Wind power

January 27th, 2026

North Sea Summit: Signal to Trump and success for Bornholm

At the North Sea Summit in Hamburg, the countries bordering the North Sea held out the prospect of closer cooperation in the financing of offshore wind farms. The industry responded with an investment pact.

By Manuel Berkel

Themenfoto Verbrenner-Aus. Autoabgase eines Verbrenners,PKW,Auto,Strassenverkehr, Verbrenner,Verbrenneraus,Verbrenner Aus.

Talk of the Town | Combustion engine off

December 12th, 2025

Phasing out the combustion engine: Commission wants to continue to allow plug-in hybrids after 2035

The 2035 ban on combustion engines is beginning to falter. The Commission is expected to propose on Tuesday that CO₂ emissions from new cars only have to be reduced by 90% in 2035.

By Markus Grabitz

Talk of the Town | Car industry

December 11th, 2025

Chinese car brands: Rising stars for Europe's dealers

Chinese car manufacturers are becoming stronger on the European market. Instead of direct sales as before, they are increasingly relying on the classic dealer model. Despite tariffs, they are particularly popular with first-time buyers of new cars.

By Christian Domke Seidel