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 War in the Middle East has caused energy market volatility around the globe, forcing governments in Europe to intervene and keep fuel costs down for consumers. https://www.thelocal.com/20260328/what-are-european-countries-doing-to-keep-fuel-costs-down Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:13:15 +0100 what-are-european-countries-doing-to-keep-fuel-costs-down Slovakia’s decision to charge foreign drivers more for diesel is illegal under European Union law, the European Commission said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20260324/eu-says-slovakia-cannot-charge-foreign-drivers-more-for-diesel Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:39:08 +0100 eu-says-slovakia-cannot-charge-foreign-drivers-more-for-diesel The cost of petrol or diesel at the pump is starting to drop from Thursday as new measures to control pricing kick in. Here are the details of Italy’s plan to limit the price shock. https://www.thelocal.com/20260320/what-italy-is-doing-to-push-down-the-price-of-fuel Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:05:43 +0100 what-italy-is-doing-to-push-down-the-price-of-fuel Germany's BMW must recall more than 330,000 cars worldwide because of concerns over a fire risk, the KBA transport regulator said Friday, ordering a second recall for the brand in less than a month. https://www.thelocal.com/20260228/germany-orders-worldwide-recall-of-bmws-over-fire-risk Sat, 28 Feb 2026 08:36:46 +0100 germany-orders-worldwide-recall-of-bmws-over-fire-risk From frozen windows to ski boot rules, drivers in Austria need to follow the guidelines to stay safe over winter and avoid fines. https://www.thelocal.com/20251215/what-austrian-drivers-must-avoid-this-winter-to-stay-safe-and-avoid-expensive-fines Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:31:58 +0100 what-austrian-drivers-must-avoid-this-winter-to-stay-safe-and-avoid-expensive-fines A change to France's highway code means that drivers caught travelling at more than 50km/h above the speed limit can now be punished by up to three months in jail, a €3,750 fine, and a criminal record. https://www.thelocal.com/20251229/new-french-law-makes-speeding-punishable-by-jail-time Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:11:54 +0100 new-french-law-makes-speeding-punishable-by-jail-time Norway came close to its objective of selling only zero-emission cars in 2025, with electric vehicles accounting for 95.9 percent of new registrations. https://www.thelocal.com/20260102/norway-closes-in-on-goal-of-100-percent-electric-car-sales Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:34:22 +0100 norway-closes-in-on-goal-of-100-percent-electric-car-sales Some travellers won't have a problem renting a car in Germany with a driver's licence from their home country. But for visitors from some countries, and long-term residents it's a bit more complicated. Here are the rules to know. https://www.thelocal.com/20250930/can-i-rent-a-car-in-germany-with-my-foreign-drivers-licence Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:37:11 +0200 can-i-rent-a-car-in-germany-with-my-foreign-drivers-licence Planning on driving to Spain for a vacation or own a holiday home here and want to bring your car with you from abroad? Find out how the low emission zones work here for foreign-registered vehicles and if you need an environmental label. https://www.thelocal.com/20251209/can-i-get-a-low-emissions-sticker-for-my-car-when-im-visiting-spain Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:22:59 +0100 can-i-get-a-low-emissions-sticker-for-my-car-when-im-visiting-spain Tesla has sold more cars in Norway in 11 months than any other brand in a whole year, according to statistics published this week, in contrast to the rest of Europe where the electric car brand run by Elon Musk has faced headwinds. https://www.thelocal.com/20251202/norway-embraces-tesla-as-rest-of-europe-shuns-musk Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:04:33 +0100 norway-embraces-tesla-as-rest-of-europe-shuns-musk New driving license rules rolled out by the European Commission have apparently already entered 'into force', but closer inspection reveals that they will take years to make it onto the roads. https://www.thelocal.com/20251129/why-will-new-eu-driving-licence-rules-take-4-years-to-come-into-force Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:57:50 +0100 why-will-new-eu-driving-licence-rules-take-4-years-to-come-into-force The European parliament has adopted a new law making EU-issued driving licences valid for just 15 years, requiring drivers undergo a medical test before renewing. https://www.thelocal.com/20251025/driving-in-europe-new-eu-law-to-require-medical-tests-and-end-licences-for-life Sat, 25 Oct 2025 09:40:21 +0200 driving-in-europe-new-eu-law-to-require-medical-tests-and-end-licences-for-life It will be more difficult for drivers in Europe who committed serious traffic offences in another EU country to dodge a driving ban, as new rules adopted on Tuesday aim to ensure that disqualifications are recognised across the 27 member states. https://www.thelocal.com/20251021/this-will-save-lives-eu-adopts-new-rules-on-europe-wide-driving-bans Tue, 21 Oct 2025 18:10:23 +0200 this-will-save-lives-eu-adopts-new-rules-on-europe-wide-driving-bans Norway, the world leader in the adoption of electric cars, wants to completely phase out its sales tax (VAT) exemption for zero-emission vehicles by 2027, the government announced on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20251015/norway-plans-to-scrap-tax-exemption-for-electric-vehicles-by-2027 Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:29:42 +0200 norway-plans-to-scrap-tax-exemption-for-electric-vehicles-by-2027 Whether you drive every day in Germany or are just passing through on a cross-border road trip, there are several items you'll legally need to have in your vehicle at all times. https://www.thelocal.com/20250512/everything-you-need-to-carry-in-your-car-while-driving-in-germany Mon, 12 May 2025 19:25:04 +0200 everything-you-need-to-carry-in-your-car-while-driving-in-germany Heatwaves – like the one Europe is currently sweating through – can make driving more dangerous. To reduce the risk for drivers, Germany has introduced speed limits on certain motorways. https://www.thelocal.com/20250811/where-speed-limits-are-in-place-on-the-german-autobahn-due-to-the-heat Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:20:44 +0200 where-speed-limits-are-in-place-on-the-german-autobahn-due-to-the-heat Tollbooths are a feature of France's motorway network - but there have been a few changes to the system in recent years. https://www.thelocal.com/20250721/scams-badges-and-free-flow-what-to-know-about-the-peage-if-youre-driving-in-france-this-summer Mon, 21 Jul 2025 18:29:13 +0200 scams-badges-and-free-flow-what-to-know-about-the-peage-if-youre-driving-in-france-this-summer A warning has been circulated about a scam relating to the 'péage' tollbooths on French motorways, apparently targeting holidaymakers. https://www.thelocal.com/20250718/warning-of-french-motorway-peage-scam Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:17:19 +0200 warning-of-french-motorway-peage-scam Since its inception 40 years ago, the price of Switzerland’s obligatory motorway vignette has not budged. But there is a push in the parliament to change that. https://www.thelocal.com/20250623/could-switzerland-double-the-price-of-the-motorway-vignette Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:56:42 +0200 could-switzerland-double-the-price-of-the-motorway-vignette French carmaker Citroen has told owners of its C3 and DS3 models in Europe equipped with potentially faulty Takata airbags not to drive the vehicles, after a woman was killed in France this month. https://www.thelocal.com/20250618/citroen-tells-c3-and-ds3-owners-to-stop-driving-them-after-latest-airbag-death Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:32:02 +0200 citroen-tells-c3-and-ds3-owners-to-stop-driving-them-after-latest-airbag-death