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 Spain has been under attack from murky forces, from human trafficking gangs to Russian propagandists. So why did Sweden's government also turn its guns on Spain over the Ceuta crisis? https://www.thelocal.com/20260803/why-did-sweden-abandon-spain-over-ceuta Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:51:35 +0200 why-did-sweden-abandon-spain-over-ceuta If you’re planning on buying a property in Spain to rent out to tourists on platforms such as Airbnb, you need to think very carefully about where the property is located as many places have strict restrictions. https://www.thelocal.com/20260803/a-quick-guide-to-restrictions-on-airbnb-in-spains-main-cities-and-regions Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:14:28 +0200 a-quick-guide-to-restrictions-on-airbnb-in-spains-main-cities-and-regions Headlines in France in recent days have been dominated by a series of huge wildfires, with thousands of hectares burned, homes evacuated and others left without power. So is it still safe - and advisable - to holiday here? https://www.thelocal.com/20260722/is-it-safe-to-come-to-france-in-wildfire-season Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:58:35 +0200 is-it-safe-to-come-to-france-in-wildfire-season While Germany benefits from a surge of incoming students and skilled workers from South Asia, and especially India, many new arrivals end up in exploitative jobs. Immigration and labour researcher Aju John says that's not an accident, it's by design. https://www.thelocal.com/20260729/the-law-is-absent-how-indians-in-germany-are-exploited-in-the-workforce Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:37:39 +0200 the-law-is-absent-how-indians-in-germany-are-exploited-in-the-workforce Proof of knowledge of basic Swedish civics, history, geography, and culture will now be required to obtain Swedish citizenship. An official study booklet for the new test is now out. How well do you know the material? https://www.thelocal.com/20260512/quiz-can-you-pass-the-locals-mock-swedish-citizenship-test Tue, 12 May 2026 09:31:50 +0200 quiz-can-you-pass-the-locals-mock-swedish-citizenship-test Will this summer's repeated fatal heatwaves and enormous wildfires cause French politicians to get serious about tackling climate change? Don't bet on it, says John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.com/20260729/opinion-french-politicians-are-failing-their-trial-by-wildfire Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:26:19 +0200 opinion-french-politicians-are-failing-their-trial-by-wildfire The EU/Schengen area's '90-day' rule is a complicated one that causes much confusion for travellers - here we answer some of the most common questions from readers of The Local. https://www.thelocal.com/20230518/your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule Thu, 18 May 2023 11:19:22 +0200 your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule As Ceuta and Melilla are brought back into the international spotlight after thousands of Moroccans crossed their borders illegally, The Local considers how these two cities in North Africa became Spanish and why they remain so to this day. https://www.thelocal.com/20220328/why-are-ceuta-and-melilla-spanish Mon, 28 Mar 2022 13:35:45 +0200 why-are-ceuta-and-melilla-spanish More and more tourists from southern Europe – particularly France and Spain – are heading to Sweden to experience a cooler summer, according to new data from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development. https://www.thelocal.com/20260730/tourists-from-france-and-spain-flock-to-sweden-for-cooler-summer Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:55:23 +0200 tourists-from-france-and-spain-flock-to-sweden-for-cooler-summer If you're a remote worker or split time between your home country and Germany, you may be wondering which tax office you should be paying. https://www.thelocal.com/20241101/how-does-germany-decide-if-im-a-tax-resident-in-the-country Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:19:03 +0100 how-does-germany-decide-if-im-a-tax-resident-in-the-country Experts warn that Switzerland will continue to struggle with an inadequate supply of housing to meet the demands of an expanding population. These are the reasons why this is so. https://www.thelocal.com/20250422/why-is-switzerland-not-building-enough-housing-for-its-growing-population Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:17:59 +0200 why-is-switzerland-not-building-enough-housing-for-its-growing-population Germany's interior minister announced plans to toughen laws just two days after an extremist attack on Berlin's Pride parade. Within the justice system, voices warn against hasty action before a deeper investigation is concluded. https://www.thelocal.com/20260728/german-government-promises-tougher-laws-after-attack-on-berlins-pride Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:14:16 +0200 german-government-promises-tougher-laws-after-attack-on-berlins-pride Whether you prefer music festivals, jousting, e-sports or watching fireworks over the river with a glass of wine in hand, August in Germany offers something for everyone. Here are nine of the best events taking place across the country. https://www.thelocal.com/20250723/whats-on-in-germany-nine-unmissable-events-in-august-2026 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:35:24 +0200 whats-on-in-germany-nine-unmissable-events-in-august-2026 Planning a train trip in Sweden this summer but don't know where to start? Here are our top picks for railway travel across Sweden. https://www.thelocal.com/20240425/swedish-bucket-list-seven-train-trips-you-should-try-this-summer Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:18:53 +0200 swedish-bucket-list-seven-train-trips-you-should-try-this-summer Flying with children can be stressful at the best of times, so here are The Local’s best tips for departing from Copenhagen Airport with your kids in tow. https://www.thelocal.com/20230818/what-parents-need-to-know-about-travelling-through-copenhagen-airport-with-kids Fri, 18 Aug 2023 12:53:34 +0200 what-parents-need-to-know-about-travelling-through-copenhagen-airport-with-kids Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell speaks to The Local's Richard Orange about the personal attacks he's received in his role, and why he thinks immigration will play a significant role in the upcoming election. https://www.thelocal.com/20260630/swedish-migration-minister-one-day-youre-a-nazi-the-next-a-left-wing-activist Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:56:03 +0200 swedish-migration-minister-one-day-youre-a-nazi-the-next-a-left-wing-activist Marine Le Pen has appealed against her second conviction for fraud but the appeal is itself deceitful, writes John Lichfield. The high priestess of “anti-system” French politics is trying to game the system. https://www.thelocal.com/20260722/opinion-why-le-pen-may-lose-if-she-wins-but-could-win-if-she-loses Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:51:01 +0200 opinion-why-le-pen-may-lose-if-she-wins-but-could-win-if-she-loses Jens Spahn’s surrogacy scandal shines a light on a political class that has repeatedly shown contempt for the laws and standards it sets, argues columnist Brian Melican. Let it mark the beginning of more accountability in German public life. https://www.thelocal.com/20260724/opinion-spahns-resignation-is-a-rare-case-of-a-german-politician-facing-the-music Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:42:22 +0200 opinion-spahns-resignation-is-a-rare-case-of-a-german-politician-facing-the-music Germany's federal authorities had already reduced access to language and integration courses for immigrants. Now a draft budget for next year reveals that funding for the state-funded classes is being slashed. https://www.thelocal.com/20260721/germanys-draft-budget-halves-funding-for-integration-courses Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:18:35 +0200 germanys-draft-budget-halves-funding-for-integration-courses France, like its Mediterranean neighbours, is seeing an increasing number of severe wildfires, with thousands of hectares burned already this summer. https://www.thelocal.com/20230727/do-heatwaves-cause-wildfires-in-france Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:07:57 +0200 do-heatwaves-cause-wildfires-in-france