Τετάρτη 12 Αυγούστου 2026
5 άρθρα
Cernavodă shutdown strains five power grids
Romania already imports 2,150 MW at peak demand, and the loss of its only operating nuclear reactor will deepen the evening shortfall. Cross-border trading can keep the system stable, but scarce power is driving up prices, exposing Hungary and Romania, and forcing Bucharest to weigh industrial curbs and extended coal generation against EU recovery commitments.
Hormuz premium lifts Europe’s energy prices 10%
Europe has enough fuel, but getting it to consumers is becoming markedly more expensive. War-risk insurance, wider refining margins and compliance checks are keeping pump prices elevated despite cheaper Brent crude, forcing governments to sacrifice tax revenue while the ECB watches for the shock to spread into wages and broader costs.
Spain gets €6.2bn, €537m stays frozen
Brussels approved Spain’s sixth recovery-fund payment after 73 milestones, but withheld €537 million over unverified training, telecare and support projects. Madrid has six months to secure the money, exposing the fund’s central weakness: it can enforce documentary compliance far more readily than prove that nearly €800 billion in EU investment improves people’s lives.
Rhine’s 17cm gauge triples freight costs
Barges at the Kaub bottleneck are carrying as little as a third of their capacity, pushing Rotterdam–Karlsruhe shipping rates from €45 to €150-160 per tonne. Rail maintenance and EU driver-rest rules leave few alternatives, exposing German factories to shortages and a potential €1-2 billion hit to third-quarter output.
Sweden expels three Russian intelligence operatives
Säpo says two SVR officers and a recruited embassy diplomat gathered intelligence on how Swedish political decisions are made, laying groundwork for future influence campaigns. Surveillance established the meetings and assigned tasks, but authorities have not identified the political targets or shown that the operation changed a decision, planted a narrative or affected a vote.