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Germany, France agree to settle long-running nuke energy dispute

Germany, France agree to settle long-running nuke energy dispute

Germany and France have largely resolved their long-standing dispute over nuclear energy, as high-level ministers from both countries met in the southern French port of Toulon for joint consultations on Friday reported dpa. Under a framework agreement, the two countries will pursue a joint approach at the European level to achieve equal treatment of low-emission energy sources, including nuclear energy. While the two sides have taken differing strategies on energy policy, with Paris currently expanding its nuclear capacities while Berlin has shut down its nuclear power plants, the two neighbours intend to no longer obstruct each other in energy policy, instead offering mutual support. Germany will, for example, drop its opposition to France's use of nuclear energy in the context of European legislation. Paris is seeking EU funding for research projects to develop new, smaller reactors. The German government, in turn, has secured French support for the development of hydrogen connections to south-western Europe and for stronger integration of electricity grids between the two countries. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several of his top ministers are in Toulon for talks with their French counterparts, including President Emmanuel Macron. The agreement on nuclear energy with France suggests internal disagreement within Merz's coalition has been overcome, with the centre-left Social Democrats having previously opposed the classification of nuclear power as sustainable. Merz and Macron first outlined the new joint course in energy policy during the conservative's inaugural visit to Paris in May.

Germany, France agree to settle long-running nuclear energy dispute

Germany, France agree to settle long-running nuclear energy dispute

Germany and France have largely resolved their long-standing dispute over nuclear energy, as high-level ministers from both countries met in the southern French port of Toulon for joint consultations on Friday reported dpa. Under a framework agreement, the two countries will pursue a joint approach at the European level to achieve equal treatment of low-emission energy sources, including nuclear energy. While the two sides have taken differing strategies on energy policy, with Paris currently expanding its nuclear capacities while Berlin has shut down its nuclear power plants, the two neighbours intend to no longer obstruct each other in energy policy, instead offering mutual support. Germany will, for example, drop its opposition to France's use of nuclear energy in the context of European legislation. Paris is seeking EU funding for research projects to develop new, smaller reactors. The German government, in turn, has secured French support for the development of hydrogen connections to south-western Europe and for stronger integration of electricity grids between the two countries. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several of his top ministers are in Toulon for talks with their French counterparts, including President Emmanuel Macron. The agreement on nuclear energy with France suggests internal disagreement within Merz's coalition has been overcome, with the centre-left Social Democrats having previously opposed the classification of nuclear power as sustainable. Merz and Macron first outlined the new joint course in energy policy during the conservative's inaugural visit to Paris in May.

Russia's mineral fertilizer exports up 7% in Jan-July 2025

Russia's mineral fertilizer exports up 7% in Jan-July 2025

Russia's exports of mineral fertilizers increased by 7 percent to 26.1 million tonnes in the period of January-July 2025, Russian Fertilizer Producers Association President Andrey Guryev said Friday, reported Xinhua. "Based on our expert assessment, mineral fertilizer exports reached 26.1 million tonnes in January-July 2025, which is 7 percent higher than the figure for the same period last year," Guryev said. He noted that Russia currently holds an 18 percent share in the global fertilizer market. Since 2013, Russia's fertilizer exports have risen by 60 percent, hitting 42 million tonnes in 2024, and the country aims to boost exports further to 44 million tonnes in 2025.

Russia's mineral fertilizer exports up 7 pct in first 7 months of 2025

Russia's mineral fertilizer exports up 7 pct in first 7 months of 2025

Russia's exports of mineral fertilizers increased by 7 percent to 26.1 million tonnes in the period of January-July 2025, Russian Fertilizer Producers Association President Andrey Guryev said Friday, reported Xinhua. "Based on our expert assessment, mineral fertilizer exports reached 26.1 million tonnes in January-July 2025, which is 7 percent higher than the figure for the same period last year," Guryev said. He noted that Russia currently holds an 18 percent share in the global fertilizer market. Since 2013, Russia's fertilizer exports have risen by 60 percent, hitting 42 million tonnes in 2024, and the country aims to boost exports further to 44 million tonnes in 2025.

Finland's Q2 GDP falls 0.4%, annual growth forecast cut

Finland's Q2 GDP falls 0.4%, annual growth forecast cut

Finland's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.4 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from the previous quarter, Statistics Finland said in a press release on Friday, reported Xinhua. The working-day adjusted GDP remained unchanged from the same period last year, according to the statistical authority. "The development of GDP in April-June of this year was weighed down by decreases in both private and public consumption," said Antti Kosunen, a senior statistician at Statistics Finland. Public consumption expenditure fell by 1.0 percent and private consumption by 1.3 percent from the first quarter. Meanwhile, the volume of exports declined by 0.2 percent, while imports rose by 2.5 percent. Investment activity, however, continued to grow. Private investments increased by 2.9 percent and public investments by 5.1 percent. "The growth in investment is a good sign for the economic outlook," Kosunen noted. Jukka Appelqvist, chief economist of the Finland Chamber of Commerce, said the performance in the second quarter was clearly weaker than economists had expected. "The sign of the last three quarters is now negative, so technically Finland is in recession again," he said in a press release issued on Friday. Appelqvist highlighted private consumption as the clearest weakness, with its level falling to the lowest point in four years. However, statistics Finland reported that GDP in July grew by 0.4 percent from the previous month. Appelqvist added that the third quarter appears to have started better, and from an optimistic perspective, signs of recovery may be emerging. With GDP figures indicating Finland had entered a technical recession, commentators predicted growth forecasts would be revised down. Aki Kangasharju, CEO of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA), told business daily Kauppalehti on Friday that ETLA would lower its 1.2 percent growth forecast for this year, though it would maintain its 1.4 percent forecast for 2026. He said strengthened purchasing power and lower interest rates are expected to support the economy. The Finnish Ministry of Finance has recently predicted growth of 1.0 percent this year and 1.5 percent in 2026, while the Bank of Finland forecast 0.5 percent growth this year and 1.5 percent in 2026.