The Local

Which European countries have the toughest rules for citizenship in 2026? Many countries across Europe have tightened citizenship rules in recent years, but which have the toughest for gaining citizenship in 2026?

Which European countries have the toughest rules for citizenship in 2026?

Inside France: Petrol prices and stuffed mushrooms From the French reaction to the war in Iraq and soaring petrol prices, via the local elections and French menus - plus an accidental smutty joke - Inside France is our weekly look at the news and talking points in France.

Inside France: Petrol prices and stuffed mushrooms

Greenland's Foreign Minister resigns as party quits ruling coalition Greenland's foreign minister has stepped down amid a political rift between her party and the ruling coalition, she told AFP on Friday.

Greenland's Foreign Minister resigns as party quits ruling coalition

Americans in Europe: US finally slashes citizenship renunciation fee Following a long campaign by Americans abroad, the US State Department has finally announced that it will soon slash the high the $2,350 citizenship renunciation fee by 80 percent.

Americans in Europe: US finally slashes citizenship renunciation fee

Why does north-east France have different laws and more holidays? The north-east France area of Alsace-Lorraine has a special exemption to a number of French laws, as well as having more public holidays per year - here's why.

Why does north-east France have different laws and more holidays?

REVEALED: Germany's 'Universities of Excellence' for science and research From Munich to Berlin, nine German universities and one consortium have been confirmed as 'Universities of Excellence'. Here’s what the title means – and what makes each institution stand out.

REVEALED: Germany's 'Universities of Excellence' for science and research

Spain had wettest January and February in nearly 50 years Spain endured its wettest January and February in almost half a century, with a string of deadly storms lashing the country, national weather agency Aemet said Thursday.

Spain had wettest January and February in nearly 50 years

'I chose my mental health': Indian entrepreneur leaves Sweden after deportation order Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya's circular-system hydroponics startup was already providing locally-grown produce to a major grocery store in Skellefteå, northern Sweden, when his business visa was denied by the Swedish Migration Agency. He has now left Sweden.

'I chose my mental health': Indian entrepreneur leaves Sweden after deportation order

The most unexpected foreign words in Swedish Every language borrows from its neighbours: English is a proper mongrel, with layers of German, Danish and Norman French interspersed with smatterings of Celtic. Swedish has borrowed liberally from German, French and English, but a few other languages have left their mark, often in a way that tells a story about Swedish history. Here are some of the best.

The most unexpected foreign words in Swedish

Which French figure has the most streets named after them? In French town after French town, you’ll see famous names from history honoured on street signs - but who wins the prize for the biggest number of streets, avenues and boulevards bearing their name?

Which French figure has the most streets named after them?

Three extra stops on new Paris Berlin night train Just over two weeks before a new Paris-Berlin overnight rail service starts, operators have confirmed the service’s route and three new stops.

Three extra stops on new Paris Berlin night train

Deutsche Bahn expands high speed train services between Cologne and Brussels Deutsche Bahn is growing its cross-border services to the west, with extra high speed rail links to Belgium this summer, as well as new connections later in the year from Cologne to Brussels Airport and the North Sea coast.

Deutsche Bahn expands high speed train services between Cologne and Brussels

OPINION: Local elections will show if France still has the will to resist the far-right As France prepares for key local elections, John Lichfield looks at what the results can tell us about the strength of the 'republican front', the pact that voters can make to keep out the far right.

OPINION: Local elections will show if France still has the will to resist the far-right

LATEST: Swiss police appeal for witnesses after 'deliberate' bus fire kills six A bus caught fire in western Switzerland on Tuesday killing at least six people and injuring five others in what police said may have been a deliberate act.

LATEST: Swiss police appeal for witnesses after 'deliberate' bus fire kills six

PODCAST: Why French local elections really matter and Macron walks Middle East tightrope The Talking France podcast is back after a two-week break looking at everything surrounding the upcoming French local elections, the rising petrol prices in the country, and why so many Americans are moving to Montpellier.

PODCAST: Why French local elections really matter and Macron walks Middle East tightrope

EU countries urged to lower energy taxes to reduce consumer bills EU's energy chief Dan Jorgensen called on member states to help consumers and businesses by lowering taxes on energy where possible, as war in the Middle East saw oil and gas prices surge.

EU countries urged to lower energy taxes to reduce consumer bills

Sweden's Eurovision entry in hot water after Israel comments Felicia, the pop star who will represent Sweden in Eurovision in Vienna in May, is in hot water after saying that she didn't think Israel should be in the competition.

Sweden's Eurovision entry in hot water after Israel comments

Why are Easyjet flights from Basel up to '1,682 percent' more expensive? In Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe, it is known as a ‘budget’ or ‘low-cost’ airline, but travellers booking tickets on easyJet out of Basel’s EuroAirport for April and May are paying exorbitantly high prices.

Why are Easyjet flights from Basel up to '1,682 percent' more expensive?

Volkswagen to cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 Volkswagen said Tuesday that it would cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 as its profit slid to its lowest level since 2016.

Volkswagen to cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030

Sweden developing state-issued alternative to BankID Both Swedish citizens and registered foreign residents of Sweden will be eligible for the planned government-issued electronic identification and verification service, which is currently being developed by the Swedish Police Agency.

Sweden developing state-issued alternative to BankID

No injuries reported after explosion hits US embassy in Oslo The US embassy in Oslo was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday, but no one was injured, police in the Norwegian capital said, adding that the cause of the blast was not immediately known.

No injuries reported after explosion hits US embassy in Oslo

Inside Spain: Sánchez didn’t kill the 'British expat dream', Brexit did In this week's edition we look at how recent articles in the British press claiming Spain is directly targeting UK retirees and dashing their hopes of owning a Spanish holiday home have failed to focus on the elephant in the room.

Inside Spain: Sánchez didn’t kill the 'British expat dream', Brexit did

Which countries in Europe impose language tests for residency permits? Certain countries across Europe demand foreign citizens pass a language test to qualify for certain residency permits. But how does each country compare and what level of language do they require?

Which countries in Europe impose language tests for residency permits?

Inside France: Middle East, Municipal elections and cross-Channel sporting banter From the ghost of Jacques Chirac to the local election hustings, via a bit of Communist history and some cross-Channel banter, Inside France is our weekly look at the latest news and talking points from France.

Inside France: Middle East, Municipal elections and cross-Channel sporting banter

No, the Pompidou Centre isn't being turned into migrant housing The French cybercrime authorities are investigating after the website of a Paris mayoral election candidate was spoofed, and false claims published that he intended to turn the Pompidou Centre into 'housing for migrants'.

No, the Pompidou Centre isn't being turned into migrant housing

LISTED: The cities in Spain where you can still buy a home for under €200K Property prices in Spain have risen so much over the last few years that it's no longer a country with bargain homes really. However, the data shows that there are plenty of cities - even on the coast - where you can buy for under €200,000.

LISTED: The cities in Spain where you can still buy a home for under €200K

Sweden Democrat leader calls for freeze on teen deportations Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson has called for the country’s controversial ‘teen deportations’ to be suspended with immediate effect until a solution has been found.

Sweden Democrat leader calls for freeze on teen deportations

Pollution exposure in Europe linked to mental health problems Environmental pollution is linked to several mental health disorders in Europe, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned, arguing that enforcing legislation would result in Europeans being both less depressed and less anxious.

Pollution exposure in Europe linked to mental health problems

Sweden to hand out first new repatriation grants Sweden’s Migration Agency has for the first time approved applications for the government’s controversial 350,000 kronor “repatriation grant” – money handed out to refugees who wish to return to their home countries, a scheme criticised by the government’s own inquiry.

Sweden to hand out first new repatriation grants

Does Sweden need an 'integration amnesty' to stop deportations? Few positions are more central on Sweden’s political right than the one Fredrik Kopsch holds as chief economist at Timbro. But as he launches a new book on deportations, Utvisad, which calls for an amnesty for integrated foreigners, he says his liberal views feel increasingly at out of place.

Does Sweden need an 'integration amnesty' to stop deportations?