In brief | 14 March '25

Economist: Can Europe cope with a free-spending Germany? 

Bombshell fiscal package—currently under negotiation—represents more than just the start of deficit spending on defence. It is the beginning of a new European growth model.

Bloomberg: What it will take for rich countries to reach net zero: You 

Many rich economies have made big strides in cleaning up their power supply, but their populations still live high-carbon lifestyles.

Financial Times: Spain’s Pedro Sánchez calls for cyber and climate to count as defence spending 

Prime Minister says ‘our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees’.

Politico: German defense giant Rheinmetall overtakes VW valuation

Germany’s economic agenda is shifting from cars to defense as the United States retreats and Russia threatens.

Bloomberg: German top court rebuffs BSW bid for recount of election votes

Germany’s top court rejected a suit brought by the populist left-wing party BSW seeking a recount of the votes cast in last month’s national election.

Reuters: Uniper repays 2.6 bln euros to German government 

State-owned company, which was bailed out during Europe's energy crisis, says that it has repaid the German government around 2.6 billion euros.