Παρασκευή 12 Ιουνίου 2026
8 άρθρα
ECB raises deposit rate to 2.25% amid inflation
The ECB raised its deposit rate to 2.25% in its first hike since 2023, responding to a 3.2% inflation rate that is spreading beyond energy costs. The move puts immediate pressure on variable-rate mortgage holders in Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, while Danish authorities followed suit to protect their currency peg. The central bank is tightening policy despite a weak 0.8% growth forecast for 2026.
Hormuz closure triggers 12.5% energy inflation spike
While the physical status of the Strait remains disputed, the ECB is already pricing in a massive energy shock for the euro area. Energy inflation is projected to hit 12.5% by late 2026, forcing a 25-basis-point rate hike as officials warn that governments cannot simultaneously protect budgets, incomes, and price stability. The crisis hits Germany hardest, where gas storage sits 25 points below historical averages.
New EU rules mandate 24-week asylum fast-tracks
The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is now in effect, introducing a shared screening system and biometric tracking through Eurodac. While the law mandates a 24-week window for processing and returns, success depends on national staffing levels in countries like Greece and Italy. The real test is the 600 million euro solidarity pool, which allows states to pay instead of accepting relocations.
Russia revives military districts near Finland
Moscow is restructuring its northwestern command to counter Finland’s NATO accession, deploying permanent units to previously demilitarized frontier zones. The shift ends decades of low-tension status along the 1,340-kilometer border as Russia scales up hardware in the Karelia region. Helsinki is countering by reinforcing physical barriers and increasing joint surveillance with Western allies to monitor the new permanent Russian presence.
Capitals clash over €2tn budget draft
The European Commission’s push for a nearly €2 trillion budget faces a multi-front rebellion as Germany and Sweden demand a lower ceiling while Spain and Romania refuse to cut farm and regional aid. With debt repayments from the pandemic recovery already eating into usable funds, member states must decide if defense and Ukraine support require new revenue or the gutting of traditional programs.
Russian satellites linked to European jamming
New research from UT-Stanford identifies Russian early-warning satellites as the likely source of brief, continental-scale GPS disruptions across Europe, Greenland, and Canada. While ground-based jammers create local interference, these orbital signals affect vast areas simultaneously for seconds at a time. The trend has triggered a 220% surge in aviation signal-loss reports, forcing the EU to accelerate encrypted navigation services and backup monitoring systems.
Paris and Berlin scrap FCAS fighter program
Following a breakdown in talks between Dassault and Airbus over industrial command, France and Germany have officially halted the Future Combat Air System. While Berlin explores a Team Gen 6 alternative with Airbus and potentially Saab, Spain’s defense sector faces a critical capability gap. The collapse underscores the limits of EU subsidies when national sovereignty and industrial control collide.
MEPs demand air-defense shield for Romania’s border
The European Parliament is preparing a resolution on Russian drone incursions, aiming to turn local border incidents into a common security priority. While MEPs cannot order drones to be shot down, they are pushing for a shared monitoring system, anti-drone procurement, and compensation for debris damage. The move tests whether Brussels can bridge the gap between national military command and EU-funded hardware.