https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you're renting in Germany, you may have heard about a tenants' association - or Mieterverein. But you may not be aware that joining one could help save you money in the long run. https://www.thelocal.com/20240910/how-a-german-mieterverein-can-help-you-reduce-your-rent Tue, 10 Sep 2024 11:17:51 +0200 how-a-german-mieterverein-can-help-you-reduce-your-rent From runaway caimans to lovestruck swans, and lions that turn out to be wild boars, Germany has elevated the slow-news-day animal story into an art form. https://www.thelocal.com/20260714/sommerlochtiere-germanys-wildest-summer-silly-season-stories Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:04:54 +0200 sommerlochtiere-germanys-wildest-summer-silly-season-stories Coming from North American work culture, where you're often expected to pretend to love your job, it can be a bit of a shock to find that, in Sweden, a common conversation in the workplace is how eager you are to get away from it for a whole month, writes The Local's Mandy Pipher. https://www.thelocal.com/20260612/snart-ar-det-semester-how-to-talk-about-summer-holidays-like-a-swede Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:56:35 +0200 snart-ar-det-semester-how-to-talk-about-summer-holidays-like-a-swede Paris and Berlin want to come up with a joint "roadmap" by September to tackle China's unfair trade practices, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. https://www.thelocal.com/20260718/france-and-germany-plan-roadmap-to-tackle-china-trade-imbalances Sat, 18 Jul 2026 09:06:38 +0200 france-and-germany-plan-roadmap-to-tackle-china-trade-imbalances With the rising cost of petrol and flight tickets, many people in Germany are opting to travel by train for a summer 'staycation'. Here are five destinations you should visit. https://www.thelocal.com/20260527/five-summer-holiday-destinations-in-germany-you-can-reach-by-train Wed, 27 May 2026 16:34:23 +0200 five-summer-holiday-destinations-in-germany-you-can-reach-by-train The rollout of Europe's EES biometric border system is supposed to be fully implemented, but for travellers heading between France and the UK via Dover, the Eurotunnel or Eurostar the situation is slightly different. https://www.thelocal.com/20260114/whats-the-latest-on-rollout-of-eurostar-eurotunnel-and-dover-ees-border-checks Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:28:48 +0100 whats-the-latest-on-rollout-of-eurostar-eurotunnel-and-dover-ees-border-checks France has already seen dozens of wildfires with a total of 25,000 hectares burned, among them one small commune in the French Alps - we spoke to local man Dominick Daul about the fire and its aftermath. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/wildfires-in-france-the-smoke-was-all-around-our-houses-it-was-scary-then-the-fire-exploded Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:06:05 +0200 wildfires-in-france-the-smoke-was-all-around-our-houses-it-was-scary-then-the-fire-exploded When heatwaves strike, Paris is not usually the hottest part of France - but the capital is over-represented when it comes to excess deaths during hot weather. Here's a look at what makes heat so dangerous in Paris. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/why-is-paris-so-dangerous-during-a-heatwave Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:39:22 +0200 why-is-paris-so-dangerous-during-a-heatwave A homeowners' association can't prevent apartment owners from installing an air conditioning unit, Germany's court of justice ruled on Wednesday, in a case seen as strengthening homeowners' right to cool their homes. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/court-affirms-german-homeowners-right-to-install-air-conditioning Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:42:28 +0200 court-affirms-german-homeowners-right-to-install-air-conditioning The end of a Brexit 'grace period' on university fees in 2028 means that British passport holders living in the EU will no longer qualify for home fees and could pay three times as much. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/eu-based-british-students-to-pay-international-fees-in-uk-from-2028 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:21:38 +0200 eu-based-british-students-to-pay-international-fees-in-uk-from-2028 After France adopted a bill to allow assisted dying on Wednesday, here's a look at which European countries already authorise the terminally ill to end their lives. https://www.thelocal.com/20260716/compare-which-european-countries-allow-assisted-dying Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:25:07 +0200 compare-which-european-countries-allow-assisted-dying A video has gone viral in France claiming that putting on make-up or nail polish while on either a French train or the Paris Metro can now land you a fine of €60 - there's just one small problem . . . https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/factcheck-is-it-really-illegal-to-put-on-make-up-on-a-french-train Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:40:50 +0200 factcheck-is-it-really-illegal-to-put-on-make-up-on-a-french-train The European Commission this week launched legal action against 17 member states over the application of the new directive on the single permit, a combined procedure that grants third country nationals both a work and residence permit instead of applying separately for them. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/eu-launches-legal-action-against-17-member-states-over-new-single-permit-rules Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:11:35 +0200 eu-launches-legal-action-against-17-member-states-over-new-single-permit-rules At least 12,000 excess deaths were recorded across nine European countries during June's heatwave, national statistics indicated, a toll that could yet rise as more data is released, according to an AFP analysis. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/at-least-12000-excess-deaths-in-europes-june-heatwave Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:43:23 +0200 at-least-12000-excess-deaths-in-europes-june-heatwave The warm and dry weather has led to a high or extremely high risk of ground and forest fires in large parts of the country. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/high-risk-of-fire-in-large-parts-of-sweden-as-heat-continues Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:07:18 +0200 high-risk-of-fire-in-large-parts-of-sweden-as-heat-continues The country may not be known as a surf destination, but that doesn't stop sporty Germans from hanging ten. https://www.thelocal.com/20240703/where-can-you-go-surfing-in-germany Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:38:25 +0200 where-can-you-go-surfing-in-germany The European Union demanded Thursday that Google share data with other search engines and open up its Android system to rival AI services, but the US giant said the measures would put privacy at risk. https://www.thelocal.com/20260716/google-accuses-eu-of-undermining-privacy-of-millions-of-europeans Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:10:36 +0200 google-accuses-eu-of-undermining-privacy-of-millions-of-europeans The EU has asked the US for tariff exemptions on more products, a spokesman said on Wednesday, including cheese and wine. https://www.thelocal.com/20260715/eu-seeks-trump-tariff-exemptions-on-wine-and-cheese Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:43:43 +0200 eu-seeks-trump-tariff-exemptions-on-wine-and-cheese As two non-EU countries with close ties to the bloc, Bern and London have bolstered relations in a new and wide-ranging agreement. https://www.thelocal.com/20260715/what-to-know-about-switzerlands-new-trade-deal-with-the-uk Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:00:31 +0200 what-to-know-about-switzerlands-new-trade-deal-with-the-uk Raising a child is expensive, but in Germany parents also get supportive benefits, as well as affordable childcare and health insurance. Here's a look at how much it really costs to raise a family here. https://www.thelocal.com/20260318/how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-children-in-germany Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:13:46 +0100 how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-children-in-germany