In very concrete terms, Germany is demonstrating leadership of Europe and the larger Atlantic area alliance in creating the path to greater defense spending.

Overly loosening rules around public subsidies and mergers could put European companies at an international disadvantage, the former Italian prime minister told POLITICO.

For Gundbert Scherf - the co-founder of Germany's Helsing, Europe's most valuable defence start-up - Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed everything.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accepted US accusations that Europe was doing too little to fund its own defence and security, but now believes they are on the same page. "We know we have to do more on our own and we have been free-riders in the past," he told the BBC's Today Programme, "they're asking us to do more and we are doing more."

A new tripartite alliance between Germany, France and the UK has emerged in response to the threat from Russia and doubts about US support for European security.Germany has had an official friendship with France for more than 60 years in the form of the Elysee Treaty.

Ann-Katrin Berger pulled out all the heroics for Germany on Saturday. She had the save of the tournament so far, two stops in the penalty shootout and a successful spot kick of her own.

Germany, France and the United Kingdom will hold talks with Iran in Istanbul Friday, just days after the three European nations warned they would reimpose stiff sanctions on Tehran.

Whether in restaurants or in shops, booze is eye-wateringly expensive: in Sweden drinking serves both to numb the senses and lighten the wallet. Across Europe such “behavioural taxes” have become mainstream,

The U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced Specialist Jaylin Perez, 32, died from injuries sustained in a railway incident near Berlin, Germany.

Heartbroken France were left lamenting another European exit at the hands of Germany on Saturday in a stunning 6-5 penalty shootout loss in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals, leaving Les Bleues still searching for their first major tournament title.