As Europe burns, member states are actually slashing the number of fire-fighters – thanks to EU deficit rules

As Europe burns, member states are actually slashing the number of fire-fighters – thanks to EU deficit rules

New EU data shows that in the worst year on record for wildfires, the number of professional firefighters in Europe fell by 18,000. That included a reduction of over 4,000 in France alone.

euobserver.com

🔴New EU data reveals the number of firefighters in the EU was cut by 18,000 last year - the worst year on record for wildfires "This is austerity setting fire to common sense and putting lives, livelihoods and homes at risk" - @estherlynch.bsky.social 📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...

If rules can be changed to protect footballers on the pitch, they can be changed to protect workers in every workplace. Sign now and tell the European Commission: protect workers by putting forward a binding EU law on maximum working temperatures. action-europe.org/stop-work-ex...

Almost a decade after Catalonia’s independence referendum, the country’s former president Carles Puigdemont is among exiled politicians who are one step closer to returning home after Europe’s highest court supported an amnesty✍️ Luke James wp.me/p8Mk4U-1pjQ

The Basque President has said Spain would be welcome to play at Bilbao’s San Mamés stadium during the next World Cup — but only against the Basque Country ✍️Luke James wp.me/p8Mk4U-1oq2

Diwrnod o haul ym Mhenarth! Dyma glawr arweinlyfr i Benarth cyhoeddwyd yn y 1960au Pwy na fyddai eisiau ymweld am dro ar hyd y promenâd a lawr y pier, ac efallai fordaith ar stemar olwyn?

As Ireland takes the EU helm, the Europe admired by many in Wales is quietly being reshaped✍️ Luke James wp.me/p8Mk4U-1onU

Many in Wales will look on with envy as Ireland takes the presidency of the EU but the policies that our neighbours are overseeing will do few favours for supporters of rejoining the EU nation.cymru/news/why-ire...

Why Ireland’s presidency of the EU spells bad news for Welsh rejoiners

Luke James, Brussels The day after the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum, the First Minister posted a photo of himself standing in front of the European Union flag with the Irish Foreign Mini...

nation.cymru

The First Minister following in the footsteps of Aneurin Bevan in opposing plans to increase defence spending Bevan said: "The defence programme must always be consistent with the maintenance of the standard of life of the British people and the maintenance of social services"

European trade unions call for World Cup-style ‘cooling breaks’ for workers as temperatures soar www.euronews.com/health/2026/...

World Cup cooling breaks: Unions say all workers deserve them, too

The European Trade Union Confederation is pressing the European Commission to set a maximum working temperature law, warning that extreme heat now poses a predictable and preventable threat to workers...

euronews.com

Good analysis of the deeper cultural changes which lay behind the Senedd result. While tactical voting was part of the story, Plaid Cymru won Gramsci's 'war of position' some time ago labourlist.org/2026/05/futu...

'Rebuilding and decoupling - the future of Welsh Labour' - LabourList

The next few years may determine not only the future of Labour in Wales, but the future direction of progressive politics across Britain.

labourlist.org

A FIRST DIVISION ONE WIN FOR GLAMMY IN 21 YEARS!!!!! 😍❤️ An innings win over Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl, dominating from start to finish. Wow!!!! 👏👏 #HAMvGLA #OhGlammyGlammy

“For the 9 exciting days of May, the Welsh miners - and most of the workers in Wales generally - were solid…It was in London, not in areas like south Wales, that the weakening of resolve came” Labour historian Kenneth Morgan on the general strike which began 100 years ago today

Big fight ongoing in Brussels over plans to strip devolved governments of control of EU funds Welsh Gov used to receive £400m a year. But the Commission wants money from the next budget to go to central governments nation.cymru/news/eu-face...

EU faces backlash for copying Westminster funding grab from devolved governments

Luke James, Brussels The European Commission is facing growing resistance to its plan to follow in the footsteps of the UK Government by stripping devolved governments of powers over regional aid spen...

nation.cymru

The European Commission is facing growing resistance to its plan to follow in the footsteps of the UK Government by stripping devolved governments of powers over regional aid spending✍️ Luke James wp.me/p8Mk4U-1jQ6

🌹📖 Us desitgem una molt bona Diada de Sant Jordi @ccoocatalunya.bsky.social @ugt.cat ! Si algu encara busques un llibre, la nostra secretaria general recomana 'The Common Good Economy' per @mazzucatom.bsky.social

The governments of countries from across the world are showing an ‘unprecedented’ level of interest in the upcoming Senedd elections✍️ Luke James wp.me/p8Mk4U-1j5t

Rhun ap Iorwerth wants to take the Welsh Government’s international work to a “new level” despite a “clampdown” from London I interviewed the Plaid Cymru leader in Brussels this week about what he says is the new “dividing line” in Welsh politics nation.cymru/news/rhun-ap...

Rhun ap Iorwerth warns of ‘clampdown’ on Wales’ international links

Luke James, Brussels Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth believes there is “no reason” for the UK Government to get involved in Wales’ relations with other countries – but said he will be “pragmatic” ...

nation.cymru

In an interview with NationCymru during a visit to the European Parliament this week, Rhun ap Iorwerth said he is braced for a ‘further clampdown’ on the Welsh Government’s international outreach✍️ Luke James wp.me/p8Mk4U-1hN1

I know Jesus turned water into wine but beer ads on the side of a parochial house is pushing it even in Belgium

Charleroi (a) pour la magie de la coupe

Noson arbennig yn dilyn Union Saint Gilloise yn yr Champions League dim ond 11 blwyddyn ar ôl gwylio nhw yn chwarae ar y trydydd lefel o bel droed Gwlad Belg

Christmas in Cardiff isn’t complete without a visit to Wally’s so enjoyed reading the new history of the shop over the holidays A really interesting social history of Cardiff and a timely reminder it’s a city built by migrants, in this case Polish Jews escaping the holocaust

Put all those Catalan lessons to good use by translating some interesting comments on May’s elections that the First Minister gave to Diari Ara during her visit to Barcelona nation.cymru/news/first-m...

First Minister blames UK Labour for party's woes in Wales

Luke James First Minister Eluned Morgan has blamed the unpopularity of the UK Labour government for the perilous position in which Welsh Labour finds itself ahead of May’s Senedd elections. Labour are...

nation.cymru

Doncaster home today for City, a fixture which has previously delivered our joint highest scoring win of the last 50 years I was taken to Ninian Park for the first time for the next league game, which inevitably ended 0-0 #Bluebirds

Gwarthus Labour ditches day-one protection from unfair dismissal in U-turn www.bbc.com/news/article...

Labour ditches day-one protection from unfair dismissal in U-turn

The right will now be introduced after six months, in a breach of Labour's election manifesto.

bbc.com

EXCL: Nathan Gill can start receiving a “generous” EU pension less than 2 months after completing his sentence for accepting Russian bribes Politicians and Transparency International told @NationCymru he should not receive more public money nation.cymru/news/nathan-...

Nathan Gill to pocket 'generous' EU pension after completing prison sentence for accepting Russian bribes

Luke James, Brussels The disgraced former leader of Reform UK in Wales, Nathan Gill, will remain eligible to start receiving a “generous” European Union pension less than two months after completing h...

nation.cymru

Following Nathan Gill’s guilty plea today, a reminder that @nation.cymru reported his links to Oleh Voloshyn back in March 2023 nation.cymru/news/welsh-p...

Welsh politician linked to men accused of being Kremlin agents

Luke James A Welsh politician met pro-Russian leaders in Ukraine and Moldova on multiple trips organised by men now accused of being Kremlin agents, Nation.Cymru can reveal. Nathan Gill was a member o...

nation.cymru

Dysgu pobl ieuanc Sbaen sut beth oedd unbennaeth. Dim ond hanner canrif ers marw Franco, mae’r rhai nad yw’n ei gofio yn closio at y syniad - am na chawson nhw erioed ddysgu amdano. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

‘Dangerous nostalgia’: did Spain’s ‘pact of forgetting’ after Franco leave new generation open to far right?

Events to mark the 50th anniversary of dictator’s death are intended to remind Spaniards, particularly the young, of the dangers of fascism

theguardian.com

Doedd hi ddim yn gêm clasurol ond neis i ddathlu fy 50fed #WalesAway gyda buddugoliaeth mewn lle arbennig