Europe

World News

Ukraine Crisis, NSA Eavesdropping Dominate Summit Discussions

7:39am March 26, 2014

by Ari Shapiro

President Obama is in Brussels for meetings with NATO and the European Union. Events on the sideline of Tuesday's nuclear summit at The Hague have eclipsed the nuclear agenda itself.

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German Chemical Giant BASF Benefits From Cheap U.S. Natural Gas

7:39am March 26, 2014

by Jackie Northam

Thanks to fracking, there is an abundance of natural gas at about a quarter of the European price. This influx of business may be good for the U.S., but it's cause for concern for European leaders.

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World News

How Crimea's Annexation Plays To Russians' Soviet Nostalgia

9:13pm March 25, 2014

For those who viewed the end of the Soviet Union as a tragedy, Crimea was a chance to showcase Russia's strength. Now Russia may have changed its relationship with the outside world for years to come.

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At Nuclear Summit, Ukraine Questions Dominate The Day

7:28pm March 25, 2014

by Ari Shapiro

President Obama is holding a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders in The Hague. Although the event is focused on nuclear disarmament, international attention is dominated by events in Ukraine.

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World News

Strong Ties Mean Europeans Must Sacrifice For Sanctions

6:46pm March 24, 2014

Gary Hufbauer, senior researcher from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, discusses how Russia's trade relationships with Europe may complicate a sanctions regime.

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World News

U.S. Position On Crimea Music To Spain's Ears

8:47pm March 22, 2014

by Lauren Frayer

Spanish leaders say they're in the same situation as Ukraine. Spain's northeast region of Catalonia wants to break away from Madrid and plans to hold a referendum in November. The Spanish government says it is unconstitutional and refuses to recognize the result.

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World News

For Crimea, Split From Ukraine Would Be Complicated And Costly

6:37am March 20, 2014

by Eleanor Beardsley

Crimea is a poor region, heavily subsidized by Kiev, and gets all its gas, water and food from Ukraine. Russia doesn't even have a land link with the Crimean peninsula and absorbing it will affect banks, schools, tourism and pensions for residents.

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A bakery in Edinburgh recently launched an independence referendum poll using Yes, No and Undecided cupcakes.

World News

Will Scotland Go Independent? A Primer On The Secession Vote

11:06am March 18, 2014

by Ari Shapiro

Scotland will vote Sept. 18 on whether it wants to break away from the United Kingdom. NPR's Ari Shapiro provides the basics on the likelihood of secession and what it might mean.

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World News

The Ukrainian Reaction To Secession And Sanctions

6:33pm March 17, 2014

Following Sunday's referendum in Crimea, Robert Siegel speaks with the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, to find out his reaction to the vote in favor of secession.

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Tiny Italian Town Thumbs Its Nose At Lenten Abstinence

5:53pm March 16, 2014

by Christopher Livesay

The town of Poggio Mirteto celebrates its independence from papal rule with a Freedom Festival. But the hamlet is still religious, and some residents wish the revelers would just go away.

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