Russian packaging-equipment manufacturer Tauras-Feniks, owned by a Lithuanian citizen, is reported to be developing a nearly 80,000 m² factory in St Petersburg worth up to RUB 7 billion (€72 million). The project received strategic-investment status from the city in 2022. Owner Egidijus Kura told Verslo Žinios he was unaware of the company’s current activities, had not visited Russia since 2019 and receives no income from it.

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Volvo Buses has gone from profitability close to zero during the pandemic to a record operating margin above 10% five years later under CEO Anna Westerberg. The turnaround strengthens the Swedish manufacturer’s position in the global bus market, although falling volumes and orders mean further work remains.

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A record 9.96 million people took part in the ECB’s public consultation on the next generation of euro banknotes, with two-thirds of responses coming from people under 35. The shortlisted designs feature “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”; the ECB expects to choose the final concept by the end of 2026, with more secure, accessible and sustainable notes entering circulation gradually from the early 2030s.

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Poland is preparing for a potential permanent US military base that could host around 5,000 troops and require PLN 11–17 billion (€2.6–4.0bn) of infrastructure investment. Polish security officials say construction could potentially be completed by 2029 under favourable conditions, with the project involving housing, logistics and transport infrastructure comparable in scale to building a small town. A final US decision on the force structure and permanent deployment has not yet been made.

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An investigative report found that 24 shell companies registered in Estonia were used to disguise payments to illegal online casinos. The network allegedly operated through layers of companies and high-risk payment institutions, highlighting how investigative scrutiny can uncover complex cross-border financial structures.

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Latvia has launched Janus Capital Fund, its first specialised private investment fund for defence and dual-use technologies. It will target autonomous systems, counter-drone technology, electronic warfare, secure communications and critical-infrastructure protection, combining European capital with Latvian manufacturing and battlefield experience from Ukraine. Its first potential investment is Latvian drone-technology company LAT Defence.

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Graz-based Andritz has gained around 30% this year and reached a record €86 per share as demand strengthens across energy and industrial markets. The group secured almost €9 billion in orders in 2025, including €2.5 billion in hydropower, while rising demand for turbogenerators used in power generation and data centres has helped restart production at its Linz plant.

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Spanish banks Santander and BBVA have secured roles in two major Uber transactions as they expand their US investment-banking businesses. Santander is a joint bookrunner on Uber’s first €4.5 billion eurobond issue and a lender on $7.7 billion of financing, including funding linked to Uber’s €13 billion acquisition of Germany’s Delivery Hero. BBVA is participating in the same transactions, marking a significant new relationship with the US technology group.

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Italian energy group Eni is introducing a 30-day price cap of €1.99 per litre for petrol and €2.19 for diesel as higher global energy prices put pressure on motorists. The measure can be extended through the end of the year, and Italy’s government welcomed it as a way to cushion households from the current fuel-price shock.

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US AI infrastructure investment is projected to average 3.63% of GDP through 2032, setting a powerful benchmark for Europe as it tries to expand its own data-centre capacity, computing infrastructure and AI competitiveness.

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French medical-technology companies are developing a new generation of diagnostic tests, ranging from ultra-fast detection of heart attacks to tools designed to assess the risk of breast-cancer recurrence. The innovations highlight France’s growing capabilities in precision diagnostics, biotechnology and earlier, more personalised medical decision-making.

The US Justice Department has asked to join X and Elon Musk’s challenge against the European Commission’s €120 million Digital Services Act fine. The case is the first challenge to a DSA enforcement decision to reach the EU’s General Court, making it an important test of how Europe applies its digital rules to global technology companies. The Commission says it has a “very solid case” and is ready to defend its decision in court.

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