Since 2000, potato production in the EU has fallen by 36.7%, or 27.9 million tons.
The online agricultural magazine Lantbruksnytt, citing Eurostat statistics, notes that the area under cultivation has not fallen to the same extent, and that potato growers are instead seeing a sharp drop in yields, which it attributes to an increased frequency of both drought and longer periods of rain than before.
“It is therefore a worsening climate for potato production in Europe”, it says.
Other problems faced by potato growers include late blight – which leads to lower yields – and the fact that harvested potatoes are often affected by brown rot due to too much rain “at sensitive times”.
Germany grows the most potatoes
In addition, “several good products” are no longer allowed to be used by potato growers – including the pesticide Reglone, which was previously used to protect crops from pests but will be banned in the EU from 2020 on the grounds that it is much more dangerous than previously thought – not least to aquatic organisms.
Germany and France are the two largest producers of potatoes in the EU, accounting for 24% and 18% of the total, respectively. In the Nordic countries, however, Denmark grows the most potatoes, with Danish potatoes accounting for about 5% of total EU production.
We don’t have a billionaire owner, and our unique reader-funded model keeps us free from political or corporate influence. This means we can fearlessly report the facts and shine a light on the misdeeds of those in power.
Consider a donation to keep our independent journalism running…
The Christian Democrats’ new chancellor in Germany, former BlackRock executive Friedrich Merz, has set the tone for his government by declaring the goal of making the Bundeswehr Europe’s strongest army.
In his first speech to the Bundestag, he emphasized the need for increased military spending – and at the same time opened the door to reintroducing conscription in Germany.
When Merz recently took over as Germany’s chancellor, he quickly made it clear that the military is high on his political agenda, according to reports by Euroactiv, among others. In his first speech to the German Bundestag, Merz emphasized that Germany must “take greater responsibility” for Europe’s security and that the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, should become the continent’s most powerful force.
Merz explained that the government is prepared to allocate more resources where he believes Germany can no longer rely on other countries’ military protection.
– The federal government will provide all financial resources that the German Armed Forces need to become the strongest military in Europe in conventional terms, the new chancellor said in his speech.
Borrowed money to finance
To enable the increased defense spending, Merz’s government has decided to reform the so-called debt brake, a rule that previously limited the state’s ability to borrow money.
Easing these restrictions opens the door to significant investments in both equipment and personnel for the Bundeswehr.
Social Democrat Defense Minister Boris Pistorius welcomed the new investments but warned that the biggest bottleneck now is the shortage of soldiers. The Bundeswehr has struggled for several years to fill its ranks, and recruitment has not kept pace with ambitions.
If it is not possible to attract enough volunteers to the armed forces, the reintroduction of conscription may become a possibility – something that the Merz government is now investigating in more detail.
Speaking in the Bundestag, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to build the biggest army in the EU.
However, the defense spending plans have met with some resistance from critics who argue that increased military spending risks crowding out other important areas of society, such as healthcare, education, and social security. Others warn that rearmament could lead to increased tensions in Europe and that Germany should prioritize diplomacy and cooperation over military spending.
Merz and his government, however, argue that a strong defense force is essential to safeguarding both the country’s security and its independence.
France is prepared to begin discussions with other European countries about deploying French fighter jets armed with nuclear weapons on their territory – similar to what the US already does in certain countries. This was confirmed by President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
– The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Macron said in an interview with TF1. The US is believed to have around 50 nuclear weapons stored at the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey.
– We are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come.
Macron also mentioned three conditions for such a step: that France will not pay for the security of other countries, that it will not be at the expense of the country’s own needs, and that the final decision will always rest with the President of the French Republic in his capacity as commander-in-chief.
France is the EU’s only nuclear power, and since the war in Ukraine broke out, there has been growing debate about extending the French nuclear umbrella to include the Union’s partners.
Poland, which like France is a key ally of Ukraine and a growing force within the EU, has already expressed a desire to be covered by the French deterrent.
– There has always been a European dimension in the consideration of what we call vital interests. We do not elaborate on this because ambiguity goes hand in hand with the deterrent,said Macron.
Concerns about nuclear war
Plans to deploy French nuclear weapons in other European countries have raised concerns among experts and security analysts. Critics argue that such a move risks further inflaming tensions between NATO and Russia and could be perceived as a strategic escalation rather than defensive protection.
In the long run, there are fears that it could contribute to increased militarization and raise the risk of misunderstandings or misjudgments that could, in the worst case, lead to a large-scale nuclear conflict in Europe with devastating consequences – something that several analysts have warned about since the war in Ukraine broke out.
Others are more positive and argue that European countries must face the harsh reality that the major powers already have extensive nuclear arsenals that they have no plans to give up, and that deterrence with their own nuclear weapons is not only necessary but also the most effective way to prevent future attacks.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, France currently has just under 300 nuclear weapons, compared to Russia’s approximately 5,900 and the US’s 5,300. However, it is emphasized that these are qualified estimates and that there is rarely any public data on countries’ nuclear arsenals.
Grzegorz Braun, Polish presidential candidate and Member of the European Parliament, burned the EU flag outside the historic Wujek coal mine in Katowice last week.
The action, which was shared on social media, was carried out as a dramatic protest against what Braun calls the EU’s “bureaucratic tyranny” and “ideological occupation” of Poland.
In a video posted on Braun’s official channels, he is first seen tearing down an EU flag inside Poland’s Ministry of Industry in Katowice, wiping his shoes on it, and then setting it on fire outside the building. In the text accompanying the video, he wrote: “Down with Eurocommunism! This is Poland”.
– We will never in Poland exhibit signs against us of an enemy organization. This organization has led to the liquidation of Poland, such emblems are not surrounded by any protection of rights in Poland, he declared.
According to Braun, the flag burning is a symbol of resistance to the EU’s environmental policy, which he believes threatens Polish industry.
– This is Poland, not Brussels! We will not tolerate symbols of hostile structures, the politician shouted during the protest.
During a press conference, Braun argued that the EU is forcing political measures on Poles that are killing the country’s traditional industries and attempting to erase Poland’s national identity. The Wujek coal mine, a symbol of Polish labor and energy, was deliberately chosen as the setting to highlight the historical contrast with the EU’s climate agenda.
A controversial figure
Braun’s action is part of his Eurosceptic campaign ahead of the Polish presidential election, in which he continues to describe the EU as an “occupying power” and focuses particularly on attacking what he sees as supranational interference in national decisions. However, Braun only has between 1 and 3 percent of voter support in opinion polls, making his chances of becoming president highly unlikely.
– Nie po to ginęli górnicy Kopalni Wujek i inni polegli z rąk władzy sowieckiej, żeby dzisiaj utwierdzany był na ziemiach polskich reżim eurosowiecki❗️
Płonie tutaj kawałek materii z emblematem nieistniejącego państwa, które rości sobie pretensje do zarządzania i pomiatania… pic.twitter.com/ON1NrLacsy
The incident occurred after the European Parliament decided to lift his parliamentary immunity, allowing him to be prosecuted for an incident in December 2023. At that time, Braun used a fire extinguisher to extinguish Jewish Hanukkah candles in the Polish parliament – an act that attracted a great deal of attention.
– The people participating in the Satanic cult should be ashamed, he declared in connection with the incident.
The Nordic Times also drew attention to Braun earlier this year when, during the European Parliament’s annual memorial service for the victims of the Holocaust, he chose instead to focus on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, but was shortly thereafter escorted out of the chamber.
The US military alliance NATO is currently building a number of new bases and strengthening its military presence along Europe’s eastern flank – from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In Romania, an entire military city is emerging with space for tens of thousands of soldiers and their families. In response to NATO’s expansion, Russia is also further expanding its military infrastructure along its western border.
While the expansion of military bases continues, the number of so-called multinational combat groups continues to increase, as do demands for higher defense spending among NATO member states. Some describe this development as a new iron curtain – this time in the form of military infrastructure.
One of the most extensive projects is taking place in Cincu in central Romania, where a whole new military community is now emerging. According to information from the state channel SVT, NATO is building a base there with space for up to 10,000 soldiers and their families.
The area includes new runways, roads, schools, housing, and shops – with the aim of supporting a long-term presence in the region. The construction, which began shortly after the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, is part of a larger pattern in which NATO has gradually strengthened its presence in the east.
Das Video zeigt eine militärische Kolonne, die am 3. April 2025 durch die Valea Oltului fährt. Es handelt sich vermutlich um eine portugiesische Einheit, die auf dem Weg zu einer Übung in Cincu ist.
Critics, however, argue that the rapid militarization in Europe risks exacerbating an already tense situation. Instead of diplomatic solutions and détente, Western countries are choosing to respond with more soldiers, more weapons, and more bases.
At the same time, NATO’s incoming Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed that member states should spend up to 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. This should include not only increased spending on weapons and troops, but also extensive investments in new infrastructure, digital security, and logistics.
– There are no alternatives. We must prepare ourselves for a more unpredictable security situation, Rutte said recently in a statement.
Mark Rutte, right, wants NATO member countries to significantly increase their defense spending. Photo: NATO/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Russia reinforces
Across the border, Russia is reportedly increasing its military activity near Finland, where Russian bases in Kamenka and Petrozavodsk, among other places, are reportedly being upgraded. The Kremlin has also responded with its own military exercises and a stronger presence in areas close to NATO countries.
Both East and West thus appear to be in a period of significantly increased military build-up. Official sources describe this as defensive measures, but critical voices warn that this is rather a mutual arms race, with Europe as the main arena.
Representatives of peace organizations argue that military walls have never been a recipe for stability and long-term peace. Instead, they believe that diplomacy and security guarantees should be the focus – not permanent troop deployments and military cities.
Battle groups since 2017 - NATO has had four permanent multinational battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland since 2017.
Expansion after 2022 - Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, four additional teams have been established in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.
Cincu base in Romania - One of the largest new facilities is being built in Cincu, accommodating 10,000 soldiers and dependants. The area will have housing, schools, shops and airstrips.
Rotating forces - Troops from countries including France, Belgium and the Netherlands will regularly rotate through the bases, with support from the US.
NATO member states are expected to increase their defense spending in the future, according to a proposal by incoming Secretary-General Mark Rutte, to a total of 5% of GDP (3.5% for military defense and 1.5% for related infrastructure and cybersecurity). However, this is not yet decided.
