On January 1, 2007, when Romania joined the European Union, Brussels viewed the reform of its judicial system as one of the key tests of the country’s ability to become a full-fledged European democracy. Corruption in state institutions at the time was chronic, and according to Transparency International data, in...
How the nature of cyber warfare has changed in the EU
Over the past five years, the nature of cyber warfare in Europe has undergone a fundamental transformation. Before 2022, cyberattacks in the EU were primarily associated with criminal extortion, industrial espionage, and occasional state-sponsored operations. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they have become an integral part of hybrid warfare...
The MFS scandal and its consequences for the financial systems of the UK and Europe
At the beginning of 2026, a major financial scandal erupted in the United Kingdom involving the bankrupt mortgage lender Market Financial Solutions Ltd (MFS). It emerged that the company had borrowed more than £1.3 billion in total from major banks and hedge funds, then issued expensive mortgage loans to borrowers...
Wheat for loyalty — Russia’s “humanitarian” trap for Africa
When Russia solemnly promised "free" grain to six African countries in 2023, the Kremlin framed it as an act of humanity. Behind this "generosity," however, lies a calculated geopolitical game in which wheat is supplied in exchange for gold, uranium, loyalty in UN votes, and support for its aggressive war...
How Russia is making millions from illegal shipments of banned gases to the EU
On April 9, 2026, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) published a report on the scale of the black market for refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbon HFC gases) in Europe, stating that the volumes seized in the EU grew from 250 tonnes in 2023 to over 670 tonnes in 2024–2025. According to its findings,...
Who is profiting from the European migration crisis
A convenient but dangerous narrative has taken hold in European politics — that the migration crisis is primarily a problem of the migrants themselves. This is driven not only by the enormous sums the EU directs toward migration management, but also by growing political pressure from right-wing parties that exploit...
King Charles III’s visit to the US confirmed tensions in transatlantic relations
In late April 2026, King Charles III of the United Kingdom visited Washington, during which he affirmed the preservation of the "special relationship" between London and Washington. Yet behind this rhetoric, new geopolitical realities came sharply into focus: it is becoming increasingly difficult for the United Kingdom to maintain a...
Britain creates new Naval Alliance to counter Russia
Under British leadership, ten Northern European and Baltic nations are establishing new combined naval forces based on the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), aimed at countering Russian threats in strategically important northern waters. The new alliance will include the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and...
AfD uses broadcasting tax to destabilize democracy in Germany
To ensure the financial and political independence of media in Germany, there exists a mandatory contribution to support public broadcasting (Rundfunkbeitrag), whose roots stretch back to the 1920s. In its current form, it has existed since 2013 and requires every household or apartment to pay a fixed contribution of €18.36...
The green illusion: how the British waste recycling market became a factory for fake certificates
In February 2026, the UK Environment Agency (EA) announced a series of high-profile arrests in a packaging waste fraud case. Investigators suspect recycling market participants of manipulating Packaging Recovery Notes (PRN) — certificates confirming that packaging has been recycled. Yet the regulators themselves acknowledge that this is not an isolated...