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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to major Western and Northern European markets have recorded negative growth in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared with a year ago, despite the continuation of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status, raising concerns about weakening demand for Pakistani goods. The development comes against the backdrop of a shifting global trade environment, as the US-Iran conflict sends shockwaves through the Middle East, impacting global goods transport, accelerating the fall in exports to European markets. Additionally, earlier this year, European Union preferential market access was offered to India, one of Pakistan’s key competitors in textiles. Earlier this month, the EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis also warned Pakistan that access to the GSP+ — which allows duty-free entry into most European markets — was neither guaranteed nor automatic, signalling a more conditional approach from Brussels reliant on Islamabad’s progress on human rights iss...

Europe already has its own army – this is the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other European militaries should learn from it.

A survey by Börse Stuttgart Digital shows that 35% of European investors would switch to banks with better crypto offerings, but regulatory uncertainty remains an issue. Cryptocurrency offerings are starting to influence how European investors are choosing their bank providers, but regulatory uncertainty continues to hinder mainstream adoption, according to a new survey. A Börse Stuttgart Digital survey released Tuesday found that 35% of European investors would consider switching banks if another institution offered better cryptocurrency investment options, suggesting crypto is starting to influence how some customers choose financial providers. Nearly one in five respondents said they expect their main bank to offer crypto access within the next three years, according to the survey, which covered about 6,000 investors in Germany, Italy, Spain and France. The findings suggest crypto is moving closer to the mainstream banking relationship, at least among investors already open to digital assets. Read more

A new study found that while European investors find crypto complex, they are increasingly willing to switch banks to find a trusted partner that offers secure and regulated digital asset services.

A 12-bank European consortium led by Qivalis is partnering with Fireblocks to develop a regulated euro stablecoin under MiCA, targeting launch in the second half of 2026. A consortium of 12 European banks led by Qivalis has selected digital asset custody provider Fireblocks to provide infrastructure for a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA)-compliant euro stablecoin, according to a Tuesday release shared with Cointelegraph.  Qivalis’s stablecoin is intended to support institutional use cases such as settlement, treasury and tokenized assets. Fireblocks said it will provide tokenization technology, wallet infrastructure, custody, and other important tools and features to support compliance, such as identity verification and sanctions screening. Qivalis, launched in 2025, is a Netherlands-based venture backed by major banks including BBVA, BNP Paribas, ING and UniCredit, which plans to issue a fully regulated, 1:1-backed euro token structured as an electronic money institution under Dutch supervision. Th...

European allies are worried that an inexperienced U.S. negotiating team is pushing for a quick, high-profile framework agreement with Iran that could deepen, rather than resolve, existing issues between the sides.

Only 4% of Danish citizens own crypto, far below other European countries, as banks, taxes and risk fears limit adoption, according to a new staff paper from the country's central bank. Only 4% of Danish citizens own cryptocurrencies, a figure that has remained unchanged since 2023 despite the global growth of the sector across Europe and other jurisdictions, according to a new staff paper from the country’s central bank published Wednesday. The Danmarks Nationalbank staff paper, based on a survey conducted by Epinion, revealed that among those who do hold crypto, most maintain relatively small positions. The majority reported holdings below 10,000 Danish kroner (around $1,570), with total national holdings estimated between $317 million and $847 million. The survey is based on responses from 3,013 citizens aged 15 and above. The data was gathered between October and November 2025 through Denmark’s Digital Post system, with options to respond online or by phone. The sample was weighted to reflect national dem...

The Ukrainian side will hold talks with European partners as early as this week on the creation of a joint air defense system.

Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is maintaining constant contact with the American side and preparing for intensified cooperation with European partners to advance negotiations and strengthen security guarantees.

Preparations for the upcoming winter are currently being conducted exclusively with domestic resources because European funding has been blocked.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in the coming weeks Ukraine will work with European partners on joint production and coordination in security actions.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is actively working with reliable European partners to expand joint weapons production projects, primarily focusing on drones, and is preparing new agreements.

Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov met with Honorary President of the Pan-European Movement of Austria Karl von Habsburg to discuss deepening cooperation within European institutions and presented him with the Order of Merit III degree.

Diplomats from 13 European countries and Canada on Saturday slammed growing “terror” by settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, after a surge in deadly attacks. Since the start of March, six Palestinians have been shot dead in settler attacks in the West Bank, according to a tally of data from the health ministry. “We strongly condemn increasing settler terror and violence by the Israeli security forces inflicted upon Palestinian communities,” said a joint statement from the diplomatic missions of countries including France, Spain and Britain. “We are especially appalled by the killings of Palestinians over these past weeks. This violence by settler militias, aimed at taking over land and creating a coercive environment, forcing Palestinians to leave their homes, must end.” The statement called on the Israeli authorities to “prevent and prosecute the lethal violence, raids and attacks”. Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, on Wednesday criticised the increase in settler att...

Head of latest Dutch coalition tells European leaders to ‘stop complaining’ and ‘maybe just do a better job’

In Luxembourg, the civic organization LUkraine Association, together with several European embassies and the European Commission, has launched an advocacy coalition in support of Ukraine titled "Defending Our Future Now."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no confirmed information about the arrival in Ukraine of a delegation of European engineers to examine sections of the Druzhba pipeline damaged by Russian shelling, and decisions on allowing foreigners access to strategic facilities during martial law are made by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).

Coinbase launched regulated crypto and equity index futures for Advanced users in 26 European countries as ESMA sharpens scrutiny of perpetual-style products. Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has launched new futures offerings in Europe, expanding its push to give users access to both crypto and traditional market exposure through regulated products. Coinbase said Monday the contracts are being rolled out to Coinbase Advanced users in 26 European countries, including Germany, France and the Netherlands, through its Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or MiFID, entity. The new lineup includes crypto futures tied to assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Solana (SOL), along with an equity-index product called the Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index Futures. Coinbase said that contract combines exposure to the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks of Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta and Tesla, with crypto-linked equities and BlackRock iShares exchange-traded funds tied to BTC and Ether (ETH). Read more

European countries are beginning to adapt their statistical systems to respond rapidly to emergencies, including those related to war.

Virtually the entire coming week will be devoted to joint work with European partners so that the decisions needed for Ukraine’s defense actually begin to work.