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Local Sweden
an hour ago
- Local Sweden
Why the Bridge Run between Sweden and Denmark meant so much to me
The Local Sweden's deputy editor Becky Waterton spent her Sunday running over the bridge between Sweden and Denmark in a half marathon to celebrate the bridge's 25th anniversary. She explains what the bridge means to her and to people in the Öresund region. Advertisement This weekend, I completed the Broloppet half marathon over the Öresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark. The organisers of the run made a big deal of the bridge (and the run) symbolising the connection between Denmark and Sweden. At first, that sounds quite cheesy, but life here in Malmö where I live would certainly be different if it didn't exist. It means that you can live in Malmö and commute to work in central Copenhagen in less than an hour, opening up Copenhagen to Swedes looking for new work or study opportunities. Swedes can head over to Louisiana or Tivoli for a day trip, and Danes can nip to Malmö or Lund to see the sights and make the most of the low Swedish krona for some cheap shopping. I hadn't even run 5km before I bought my ticket in February last year, but I just knew when I saw the run being advertised that I had to do it. This may sound odd, but the Öresund Bridge means a lot to me. I've lived and worked in both cities, speak both languages, and aside from the fact that I cross the bridge whenever I visit friends in Denmark or travel via Copenhagen Airport, it's played a central role in many important moments in my life. Advertisement I met my Swedish husband when I was living in Copenhagen and he was living in Malmö. I crossed the bridge when I caught the train to Malmö for our first date. I crossed it when we left Malmö for our wedding in Frederiksberg town hall, and I crossed it while in labour with our daughter, who was born in Denmark. I even crossed it mid-pandemic, when my parents were able to visit Copenhagen but not Malmö, so that my family could meet my daughter for the first time. On Sunday, I crossed it on foot with my dad (who, unlike me, is an avid runner) by my side. That was the culmination of over a year of training, much of which was done along the seafront in Ribersborg looking out at the bridge. Now when I look out at the bridge, I along with 40,000 other runners can say 'I ran over that'. The Öresund Bridge run also means a lot to people in southern Sweden and, I assume, Denmark too. Three generations of my daughter's family have done it now, including my father-in-law who skated over on roller blades (!) 25 years ago. I know that we have some readers who were there on Sunday with their own connections to the bridge, whether that's in their own lives or through their family history. Admittedly, the connection between Sweden and Denmark isn't always smooth. What was supposed to be temporary border checks at Hyllie are nearing their tenth anniversary this year, and non-EU citizens can't live in one country and work in the other without a work permit. It's also extremely expensive to cross it (at least for those of us who are paid in Swedish kronor), and the trains are often delayed or cancelled. Advertisement The bridge run itself didn't go completely smoothly either, to be fair. Long toilet queues before the run meant that many people didn't have time to go before they were due to start, and chaos with buses and bag pick-up afterwards meant that those heading back to Denmark had to wait in the finish area for hours. Many runners even had to queue in the last 200 metres before they could cross the finish line, which must have been frustrating to say the least after pushing yourself for 21 kilometres. For the most part though, I'd say that the bridge has clearly benefited both countries greatly, and has brought them closer together in the 25 years since it was built. I don't particularly fancy doing it again anytime soon, but who knows ‒ maybe I'll feel differently if another run is planned for the bridge's 50th anniversary in 2050. By then, there could even be a metro line stretching between both cities, bringing us even closer over national and geographical borders. I certainly feel closer to the other runners who spent a couple of hours (in my case, almost three) running under and over the Öresund from Denmark to Sweden on Sunday. Even considering the organisational chaos and the frankly terrible conditions, I doubt there are many people who regret they did it.
Irish Post
3 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Ireland is now officially one of the most expensive countries in the EU
IRELAND is the second most costly country in the EU for everyday goods and services, according to new figures from Eurostat. Prices are nearly 40% above the EU average, up from 28% in 2015, with only Denmark beating out Ireland to the top spot. Ireland is the most expensive in the EU for tobacco and alcohol – with prices more than double the average - driven by high taxes and minimum unit pricing. Alcohol overall is the second most expensive in the bloc, only behind Finland. Food and drinks cost nearly 15% more than the EU average, making Ireland the third most expensive, after Denmark and Luxembourg. However, this marks an improvement from 2020, when prices were 20% above the average. Hotel and restaurant prices are also high, ranking second in the EU at nearly 30% above the average. Communication costs are almost 40% higher, while electricity and gas are nearly 20% above the norm, placing Ireland third in energy costs. Although in contrast, clothing prices are 1% below the EU average and cheaper than many Baltic countries. The data also included non-EU nations like Iceland and Norway, which typically report even higher costs. Daragh Cassidy from the website Bonkers said the data confirms what many already know: Ireland is expensive. Businesses face high insurance and energy costs, which get passed on to consumers. Cassidy added that while Ireland is unlikely to ever be a cheap country, high costs often come with a high standard of living - as seen in places like Scandinavia. He suggested lowering the 23% VAT rate to help ease the burden, which remains one of the highest in the world. See More: Bonkers, Cost Of Living, Daragh Cassidy, EU, Eurostat
Qatar Tribune
16 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
EU increasingly resigned to 10% baseline reciprocal tariff in trade talks with US
Agencies Brussels European officials are increasingly resigned to a 10 percent rate on 'reciprocal' tariffs being the baseline in any trade deal between the United States and the European Union, five sources familiar with the negotiations said. President Donald Trump has announced wide-ranging tariffs on trade partners and wants to reduce the US goods trade deficit with the EU. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has ruled out going below a 10 percent baseline rate for the so-called reciprocal tariffs that cover most goods the EU exports to the US. EU neg are still pressing for the rate to be lower than 10 percent, said the European sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. But one of the sources, an EU official, said negotiating the level down had become harder since the US started drawing revenues from its global tariffs. 'The 10 percent is a sticky issue. We are pressing them but now they are getting revenues,' said the official. A second European source said there had been no acceptance by the EU of 10 percent as the baseline rate at talks, but acknowledged that it would be difficult to change or abolish that baseline. A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU's executive body which negotiates trade deals for the 27-nation bloc, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The US government also did not immediately comment. US officials have long worked on the assumption that America will end up with higher tariffs with its trading partners and do not expect to move away from the 10% tariff rate in talks with the EU. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the 'Pod Force One' podcast in an interview broadcast Wednesday that Trump's decision to double tariffs had spurred greater willingness on the part of European leaders to negotiate. The EU has said publicly it will not settle for a double-digit baseline rate - as did Britain, which agreed a limited trade deal in May that retains 10 percent tariffs on British exports while cutting higher rates for steel and cars. Notable orders included one for up to 150 planes for Vietnamese budget airline VietJet. Trump has hit Europe with a 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminium and a 25 percent levy on cars, and the EU is trying to secure a deal before July 9, when reciprocal tariffs on most other goods could rise from 10 percent to up to 50 percent. With an annual trade surplus of $236 billion with the US in 2024, the EU has more to lose from tariffs than non-EU member Britain, which runs a trade deficit with the US. Trump, who has said he wants to use tariff revenues to help finance his sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, said on Tuesday the EU was not offering a fair deal. Washington has sought to fold non-tariff barriers, such as digital services taxes and corporate sustainability reporting rules, as well as LNG sales and food standards into the talks. The US posted a $258-billion budget surplus for April, up 23 percent from a year earlier, and the Treasury Department said net customs duties in April more than doubled versus the same period last year. The sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump since early April and the subsequent pauses on some of them have generated upheaval for companies worldwide, causing some to withdraw or refrain from giving financial guidance. European automakers have been hit hard. Mercedes pulled its earnings guidance, Stellantis suspended its guidance and Volvo Cars withdrew its earnings forecasts for the next two years. One European car executive said premium carmakers could stomach a 10 percent tariff but that it would be much tougher for a mass-market producer. The tariffs targeting steel and aluminium, and cars and car parts, were applied on grounds of national security, with investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, timber and trucks possibly leading to further increased duties. EU officials say they are not willing to accept these. Trump said on Tuesday that pharma tariffs were 'coming very soon'. A pharma industry source said the European Commission was resisting sector-specific tariffs. The Commission has told the pharma industry that while it does not want the 10% baseline reciprocal tariffs, accepting a 10% base tariff may provide leverage in those negotiations, the source said. A European beverage industry source said the wine and spirits sector would rather have a deal at 10 percent than protracted negotiations. Not securing a deal would have a 'huge negative impact... on our market,' said Rob van Gils, CEO of Austrian company Hammerer Aluminium Industries. 'It can be 0 it can be 10 percent. If it's both ways that's all manageable. It will not kill business.'
Fashion Network
19 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
EU increasingly resigned to 10% baseline tariff in US trade talks, European sources say
European officials are increasingly resigned to a 10% rate on "reciprocal" tariffs, which are the baseline in any trade deal between the United States and the European Union, five sources familiar with the negotiations said. President Donald Trump has imposed broad tariffs on U.S. trade partners in an effort to reduce the trade deficit in goods with the EU. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has ruled out going below a 10% baseline rate for the so-called reciprocal tariffs that cover most goods the EU exports to the U.S. European sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said EU negotiators are still pressing for the rate to be lower than 10%. However, one of the sources, an EU official, said negotiating the level down had become harder since the U.S. started drawing revenues from its global tariffs. "The 10% rate has become a sticking point. We are applying pressure, but now they're collecting revenue," said the official. A second European source said the EU had not accepted 10% as the baseline rate at talks but acknowledged that it would be difficult to change or abolish that baseline. A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU's executive body that negotiates trade deals for the 27-nation bloc, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The U.S. government also did not immediately comment. The EU has publicly said it will not settle for a double-digit baseline rate—as did Britain, which agreed to a limited trade deal in May that retains 10% tariffs on British exports while cutting higher rates for steel and cars. Trump has hit Europe with a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, and a 25% levy on cars. The EU is trying to secure a deal before July 9, when reciprocal tariffs on most other goods could rise from 10% to up to 50%. With an annual trade surplus of $236 billion with the U.S. in 2024, the EU has more to lose from tariffs than non-EU member Britain, which runs a trade deficit with the U.S. Trump, who has said he plans to use tariff revenues to fund his sweeping tax cuts and spending package, stated on Tuesday that the EU was not offering a fair deal. Washington has sought to fold non-tariff barriers—such as digital services taxes, corporate sustainability reporting rules, LNG sales, and food standards—into the talks. The U.S. posted a $258 billion budget surplus for April, up 23% from a year earlier, and the Treasury Department said net customs duties in April more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Tariff impact Since early April, the sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump and the subsequent pauses on some of them have generated upheaval for companies worldwide, causing some to withdraw or refrain from giving financial guidance. European automakers have been hit hard. Mercedes pulled its earnings guidance, Stellantis suspended its guidance and Volvo Cars withdrew its earnings forecasts for the next two years. One European car executive said premium carmakers could stomach a 10% tariff but that it would be much tougher for a mass-market producer. The U.S. imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars, and car parts on national security grounds. Ongoing investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, timber, and trucks could trigger further duties, which EU officials say they will not accept. Trump said on Tuesday that pharma tariffs were "coming very soon." A pharma industry source said the European Commission was resisting sector-specific tariffs. The Commission has told the pharma industry that while it does not want the 10% baseline reciprocal tariffs, accepting a 10% base tariff may provide leverage in those negotiations, the source said. A European beverage industry source said the wine and spirits sector would rather have a deal at 10% than protracted negotiations. "Whether it's 0% or 10%, if applied both ways, it's manageable. It won't kill business," said Rob van Gils, CEO of Austrian company Hammerer Aluminium Industries. "Not securing a deal would have a huge negative impact on our market." One EU official said a 10% baseline rate would "not massively erode competitive positions, especially if others receive the same treatment." Based in Brussels, France Industries represents France's biggest companies, including L'Oréal and Airbus. The group said tariffs should not be viewed in isolation. "It's an additional burden on top of rising energy prices, inflation, regulatory pressure and global overcapacity," said its head, Alexandre Saubot. ($1 = 0.8672 euros)
Fashion Network
19 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
EU increasingly resigned to 10% baseline tariff in US trade talks, European sources say
European officials are increasingly resigned to a 10% rate on "reciprocal" tariffs, which are the baseline in any trade deal between the United States and the European Union, five sources familiar with the negotiations said. President Donald Trump has imposed broad tariffs on U.S. trade partners in an effort to reduce the trade deficit in goods with the EU. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has ruled out going below a 10% baseline rate for the so-called reciprocal tariffs that cover most goods the EU exports to the U.S. European sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said EU negotiators are still pressing for the rate to be lower than 10%. However, one of the sources, an EU official, said negotiating the level down had become harder since the U.S. started drawing revenues from its global tariffs. "The 10% rate has become a sticking point. We are applying pressure, but now they're collecting revenue," said the official. A second European source said the EU had not accepted 10% as the baseline rate at talks but acknowledged that it would be difficult to change or abolish that baseline. A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU's executive body that negotiates trade deals for the 27-nation bloc, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The U.S. government also did not immediately comment. The EU has publicly said it will not settle for a double-digit baseline rate—as did Britain, which agreed to a limited trade deal in May that retains 10% tariffs on British exports while cutting higher rates for steel and cars. Trump has hit Europe with a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, and a 25% levy on cars. The EU is trying to secure a deal before July 9, when reciprocal tariffs on most other goods could rise from 10% to up to 50%. With an annual trade surplus of $236 billion with the U.S. in 2024, the EU has more to lose from tariffs than non-EU member Britain, which runs a trade deficit with the U.S. Trump, who has said he plans to use tariff revenues to fund his sweeping tax cuts and spending package, stated on Tuesday that the EU was not offering a fair deal. Washington has sought to fold non-tariff barriers—such as digital services taxes, corporate sustainability reporting rules, LNG sales, and food standards—into the talks. The U.S. posted a $258 billion budget surplus for April, up 23% from a year earlier, and the Treasury Department said net customs duties in April more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Tariff impact Since early April, the sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump and the subsequent pauses on some of them have generated upheaval for companies worldwide, causing some to withdraw or refrain from giving financial guidance. European automakers have been hit hard. Mercedes pulled its earnings guidance, Stellantis suspended its guidance and Volvo Cars withdrew its earnings forecasts for the next two years. One European car executive said premium carmakers could stomach a 10% tariff but that it would be much tougher for a mass-market producer. The U.S. imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars, and car parts on national security grounds. Ongoing investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, timber, and trucks could trigger further duties, which EU officials say they will not accept. Trump said on Tuesday that pharma tariffs were "coming very soon." A pharma industry source said the European Commission was resisting sector-specific tariffs. The Commission has told the pharma industry that while it does not want the 10% baseline reciprocal tariffs, accepting a 10% base tariff may provide leverage in those negotiations, the source said. A European beverage industry source said the wine and spirits sector would rather have a deal at 10% than protracted negotiations. "Whether it's 0% or 10%, if applied both ways, it's manageable. It won't kill business," said Rob van Gils, CEO of Austrian company Hammerer Aluminium Industries. "Not securing a deal would have a huge negative impact on our market." One EU official said a 10% baseline rate would "not massively erode competitive positions, especially if others receive the same treatment." Based in Brussels, France Industries represents France's biggest companies, including L'Oréal and Airbus. The group said tariffs should not be viewed in isolation. "It's an additional burden on top of rising energy prices, inflation, regulatory pressure and global overcapacity," said its head, Alexandre Saubot. © Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.
