PARIS: Sales of new cars jumped last month in the European Union as consumers turned to electric vehicles amid soaring petrol prices driven by the war in the Middle East, data showed Thursday. Overall sales rose 12.5% in March from the same month last year to 1.16 million vehicles, according to registration data from the European Automobile Manufacturers&#39; Association (ACEA). That jump helped the market achieve a 4% rise in the first quarter, following declines in January and February. Sales of fully electric vehicles soared by 49%, with plug-in hybrids also jumping 20%. Over the first quarter, hybrids were the top choice of European consumers, accounting for 37% of overall sales. Plug-in hybrids accounted for another 10% of market share. The market share of simple petrol motor vehicles slumped to 23% in the quarter, down from 28% a year earlier. Fully electric vehicles accounted for just over 19% of overall sales. The ACEA noted that electric vehicle sales performance varied widely by country, with Italy, France and Germany posting strong gains. Petrol prices spiked throughout Europe after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, resulting in a near block on oil exports from the Gulf and leading Iran to retaliate by attacking energy facilities throughout the region. Meanwhile, sales in Belgium and the Netherlands fell. The Volkswagen Group maintained its top spot in the EU market in the first quarter, with its market share dipping to 26.4% despite sales edging higher. That was primarily due to Stellantis, whose Fiat, Citroen and Opel brands saw sales surge, boosting the group&#39;s market share. Another major European car manufacturer, Renault, saw sales slide in the first quarter due to transportation problems affecting its low-cost Dacia brand. Sales of Teslas jumped nearly 60% from the first quarter of last year, when Elon Musk&#39;s involvement in the Trump administration turned off European consumers.

Electric car charging (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Business

Sales of fully electric vehicles soar by 49%, with plug-in hybrids also jumping 20%.

Electric vehicles supercharge EU car sales

PARIS: A study commissioned by Greenpeace said on Wednesday that oil companies have been making more than 80 million euros a day in &quot;war profits&quot; in the European Union since the start of the war in the Middle East. &quot;If this level persists, the oil companies can expect additional operating profits of approximately 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) for the month of March alone,&quot; the study said. The study examined the difference between the price of crude oil and the price of fuel at the pump between January and February 2026, and the first three weeks of the war in March. &quot;The report shows that the rise in prices at the pump is far greater than that of underlying crude oil prices,&quot; Greenpeace said in a statement. The increase in margins was much greater for diesel fuel than for petrol. &quot;Compared with the pre-war months, the oil companies earned a daily excess profit of 75.3 million euros from the sale of diesel fuel to cars and trucks,&quot; the report said. &quot;Petrol sales contributed 6.1 million euros per day.&quot; Margins were expanded predominantly in countries with high purchasing power such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Germany, the report said. In Germany, excess profits stood at 23.8 million euros per day, followed by France, at 11.6 million euros per day. &quot;Greenpeace France is calling on European governments to introduce permanent additional taxes on the profits of oil and gas companies, the proceeds of which would be used to reduce energy bills and accelerate European energy independence,&quot; the environmental group said. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering a regional conflict that has caused global oil and gas prices to surge and sparked fears of fuel shortages, especially in import-reliant Asia. Last week, the price of diesel in France hit its highest level since 1985, surpassing the peaks reached after Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Under increasing pressure, many governments have rolled out measures to limit the impact of supply difficulties and soaring energy prices.

A Greenpeace-commissioned study said oil companies in the EU are making over 80 million euros a day in excess profits during the Middle East war, driven mainly by sharply higher diesel margins.

Greenpeace accuses oil companies of reaping Mideast 'war profits'

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh has strengthened its position in the European Union (EU) garment market over the past five years, recording faster growth than major competitors despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/mired-in-economic-trouble-bangladesh-pins-hopes-on-election-boost" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent economic challenges</a>, Bangladeshi media reported Sunday. Citing Eurostat data, Dhaka Tribune reported that EU garment exports rose from &euro;72.25 billion (about $78.9 billion) in 2021 to &euro;90 billion (around $98.3 billion) in 2025, an increase of 24.56%.&nbsp;During the same period, Bangladesh&rsquo;s ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the bloc grew by 35.81%, rising from &euro;14.30 billion (approximately $15.6 billion) to &euro;19.41 billion (about $21.2 billion).&nbsp;China&rsquo;s exports increased by 21.48%, while India posted 33.18% growth. Turkey&rsquo;s exports declined by 9.48%.&nbsp;Between 2024 and 2025, EU exports grew by only 2.10% amid inflation and weak consumer demand. Despite the slowdown, Bangladesh recorded 5.97% growth, outperforming China and Turkey.&nbsp;Although price pressures and weaker demand affected exports in the latter half of 2025, Bangladesh maintained volume growth and strengthened its market share.

Bangladesh

Data from Eurostat shows EU garment exports rose from €72.25 billion (about $78.9 billion) in 2021 to €90 billion (around $98.3 billion) in 2025, marking an overall increase of 24.56%.

Bangladesh leads garments exports to EU for five straight years: Report

BEIJING: China&#39;s foreign minister told his French and German counterparts that Beijing was not to blame for Europe&#39;s economic and security problems as he pushed for more cooperation at a summit in Munich, a foreign ministry statement said Saturday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-hails-coming-of-multipolar-world-ahead-of-trumpxi-talks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wang Yi</a> made the comments at a meeting with France&#39;s Jean-Noel Barrot and Germany&#39;s Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday.&nbsp;He sought to promote China as a reliable partner of the European Union at a time when the bloc is trying to reduce its dependence on both Beijing and an increasingly unpredictable Washington.&nbsp;&quot;China&#39;s development is an opportunity for Europe, and Europe&#39;s challenges do not come from China,&quot; Wang said, according to the statement.&nbsp;Warning that &quot;unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics&quot; were on the rise globally, he said he hoped Europe would &quot;pursue a rational and pragmatic policy towards China&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;The two sides are partners, not adversaries; interdependence is not a risk; intertwined interests are not a threat; and open cooperation will not harm security.&quot;&nbsp;The meeting came against the backdrop of trade tensions between the two giant economies and disputes over what the EU sees as China&#39;s support for Russia&#39;s war in Ukraine.&nbsp;The EU is seeking to cut its reliance on China for strategic goods like rare earths while also rebalancing a trade relationship that sees it run a large deficit with the world&#39;s second-largest economy.&nbsp;In recent years, the two sides have clashed over Chinese electric-vehicle exports, which Brussels argues are based on unfair subsidies and threaten Europe&#39;s car industry, and Chinese tariffs on EU goods ranging from cheese to cognac.&nbsp;Wang urged&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/germany-blames-russia-for-cyberattack-on-air-safety-election-interference" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Germany</a>&nbsp;and France to help &quot;give a clear direction for the development of China-Europe relations&quot;.&nbsp;In a separate meeting with Wadephul, also on Friday, Wang touted economic and trade cooperation as &quot;the cornerstone of China-Germany ties&quot;, according to a foreign ministry readout.&nbsp;Wang also met Britain&#39;s foreign minister, Yvette Cooper, telling her that Beijing and London should &quot;explore more potential for cooperation&quot;, while the two sides also discussed Ukraine and Iran.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) attends a bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of State (not in picture) in Munich, on February 13, 2026, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC). (Photo: AFP)China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) at

Asia

Wang Yi makes the comments at a meeting with France's Jean-Noel Barrot and Germany's Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday.


China FM tells EU diplomats not to blame Beijing for bloc's problems

ISLAMABAD: Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) Ivars Ijabs on Friday said the European Union wants Bangladesh&rsquo;s upcoming national election to be free, fair, and peaceful, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) News. He made the remarks at a briefing at the Sylhet Press Club, attended by Press Club President Muktabis Un Nur and EU-EOM Press Officer Eberhard Laue. Ijabs said the EU-EOM will observe the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-army-chief-calls-for-neutrality-ahead-of-2026-general-election" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Feb. 12 election</a> in line with the principles of independence, impartiality, and non-interference, but will not certify the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-election-commission-says-poll-preparations-complete" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">election </a>results.&nbsp;Around 200 observers&nbsp;He said around 200 observers are involved in the mission, including long-term observers deployed across all 64 districts, as well as analysts, diplomats and a delegation from the European Parliament. The chief observer said the mission will assess the participation of women, young people, and vulnerable groups in the electoral process, as well as the role of traditional and social media in helping voters make informed choices. The EU-EOM began its work in late Dec. 2025 and is the first full-scale European Union election observation mission in Bangladesh since 2008.

Says around 200 observers are involved in the mission, including long-term observers deployed across all 64 districts, as well as analysts, diplomats and a delegation from the European Parliament.

EU seeks free, fair, peaceful Bangladesh election: Chief observer

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Sunday called for an early start to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union, stressing the need to safeguard Bangladesh&rsquo;s trade preferences in its largest export market once the current duty-free access expires in the coming years. The chief adviser made the remarks during a courtesy call by Nuria Lopez, chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (EuroCham), at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, said a statement shared on the X handle of the Chief Adviser of the Government of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/imf-sees-bangladesh-growth-rebounding-to-47-in-fy2627" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bangladesh </a>on Sunday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2017890775955075249&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=ccaa7f3de308f028f70a5d39aca6fce34b32a1a9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2017890775955075249"></iframe></div></div>Michael Miller, the European Union&rsquo;s Ambassador to Bangladesh, took part in the meeting.&nbsp;European investment&nbsp;&ldquo;During the discussion, they discussed the need to accelerate European investment in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-remittance-inflow-surges-51-in-january" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bangladesh</a>, how to ensure smooth trade relations between Bangladesh and the EU, and the need for further reforms to improve the country&rsquo;s business climate,&rdquo; the statement said. The two sides also discussed the upcoming elections and the deployment of international observers to monitor the polls.&nbsp;Partnership with Japan&nbsp;The chief adviser said the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/mired-in-economic-trouble-bangladesh-pins-hopes-on-election-boost" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Interim Government</a> has recently concluded an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, paving the way for duty-free access for more than 7,300 Bangladeshi products to the world&rsquo;s fourth-largest economy. He added that Bangladesh is preparing to hold similar negotiations with other countries, including the European Union, to ensure continued duty-free access for its products&mdash;particularly ready-made garments&mdash;to the EU market for the foreseeable future. &ldquo;The EPA with Japan has opened doors for us. It gives renewed hope to our export items. We definitely hope to sign an FTA with the EU to expand our market,&rdquo; Yunus said.&nbsp;FTA negotiations&nbsp;EuroCham Chairperson Lopez said Bangladesh needs to begin FTA negotiations urgently, as the country may lose its existing trade preferences in the EU&mdash;its largest export destination&mdash;after graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the statement said. She noted that an FTA would attract more European investment to Bangladesh, create jobs, and boost exports to advanced Western markets.&nbsp;European investment&nbsp;&ldquo;We are advocating for an FTA. I will go to Europe to encourage private companies to invest in Bangladesh,&rdquo; Lopez said. EU Ambassador Miller said that the commercial relationship with Bangladesh will evolve after graduation, but not before 2029.&nbsp;EU/Bangladesh Business ForumHe underlined the EU&rsquo;s strong interest in bringing European investment and technology to the country - an important market with a population of nearly 200 million - and spoke about the EU&#39;s readiness to organize an EU/Bangladesh Business Forum in 2026. &ldquo;We are looking for early political signals that EU companies will be encouraged to come and will enjoy a level playing field,&rdquo; he said. The chief adviser also emphasized the relocation of factories to Bangladesh, noting that European firms can take advantage of the country&rsquo;s large pool of skilled labor at competitive costs.&nbsp;Free trade zone&nbsp;&ldquo;We are building a free trade zone. Our aim is to turn Bangladesh into a manufacturing hub for global businesses. We want more European investment in Bangladesh,&rdquo; Yunus said. The chief adviser expressed satisfaction over the EU&rsquo;s decision to deploy a large contingent of election observers to Bangladesh for the upcoming general elections and referendum. &ldquo;It is important that EU election observers are here. It is a huge vote of confidence in revitalizing our democracy,&rdquo; he said, adding that the overall picture of the election campaign was &ldquo;very positive.&rdquo;

The two sides discuss the need to accelerate European investment in Bangladesh, how to ensure smooth trade relations between Bangladesh and the EU, and the need for further reforms to improve the country’s business climate.

Bangladesh chief adviser calls for early FTA talks with EU

ISLAMABAD: Iran has declared European countries&#39; armies &quot;terrorist groups,&quot; the parliament speaker said Sunday, following the EU&#39;s decision to apply the same designation to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, AFP reported on Sunday. Dressed in a Guards uniform in a show of solidarity, speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that under &quot;Article 7 of the Law on Countermeasures Against the Declaration of the IRGC as a Terrorist Organization, the armies of European countries are considered terrorist groups.&quot; It remained unclear what immediate impact the decision would have. &lsquo;Shameful and irresponsible&rsquo;&nbsp;According to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iranian-president-says-war-neither-in-interest-of-iran-nor-us" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Iranian</a>&nbsp;state-run Press TV report published on Friday, Iran&rsquo;s Army has condemned the European Union&rsquo;s move to add the country&rsquo;s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps to its so-called terrorist list as &ldquo;shameful&rdquo; and &ldquo;irresponsible.&rdquo; &ldquo;This hostile action &hellip; adds another stain of shame to the black record of European colonialists,&quot; the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/qatar-says-its-fm-in-iran-to-reduce-tensions-in-region" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Iranian Army</a>&nbsp;said in a statement on Friday. Move aimed to &lsquo;please US president&rsquo;&nbsp;The statement noted that the action comes as &ldquo;today&rsquo;s Europe is divided&rdquo; and &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t play an important role in the current international system,&rdquo; adding that the move aims to please US President Donald Trump and gain his support in resolving Europe&rsquo;s problems, including the war in Ukraine, the issue of Greenland -- which Trump wants to take over -- and the weakening of NATO. According to another Press TV report, Iran&rsquo;s top security official, Ali Larijani, also quoted the same domestic law, saying the country considers the armed forces of European Union countries that have blacklisted the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as &ldquo;terrorist organizations.&rdquo;

Middle East

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf says under ‘Article 7 of the Law on Countermeasures Against the Declaration of the IRGC as a Terrorist Organization, the armies of European countries are considered terrorist groups.’

Iran declares European armies 'terrorist groups' after IRGC designation

BRUSSELS: European Union leaders on Saturday <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nato-ally-denmark-warns-us-against-taking-greenland-by-force" style="color:#0073e6;">warned</a> against US President Donald Trump&#39;s threat to impose tariffs on European countries until he has achieved his purchase of Greenland.&nbsp;Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Council, announced an extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels for Sunday afternoon.&nbsp;And one senior German MEP said Trump&#39;s latest threat <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-weighs-military-option-to-acquire-greenland-white-house" style="color:#0073e6;">raised</a> a question mark over the EU-US trade deal agreed last year.&nbsp;EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, issued the joint statement hours after Trump threatened multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 percent.&nbsp;&quot;Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,&quot; they wrote in a post on social media.&nbsp;&quot;Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty,&quot; they added.&nbsp;The statement came days after Danish and Greenlandic officials held talks in Washington over Trump&#39;s bid to acquire the territory, without reaching agreement.&nbsp;&quot;The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland,&quot; said the EU statement.&nbsp;&quot;Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US.&quot;&nbsp;Trump said that from February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10-percent tariff on all goods sent to the United States.&nbsp;German MEP Manfred Weber, head of the largest group in the European Parliament, the conservative EPP, said Trump&#39;s latest remarks called into question the EU-US trade deal negotiated last year.&nbsp;&quot;The EPP is in favour of the EU&ndash;U.S. trade deal, but given Donald Trump&rsquo;s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage,&quot; he posted on X.&nbsp;&quot;The 0% tariffs on U.S. products must be put on hold,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Brussels and Washington clinched a deal in July for most EU exports to face a 15-percent US levy, but both sides are still pushing for additional trade concessions.

Europe

EU leaders warned against Trump’s Greenland-related tariff threats, calling them a risk to transatlantic relations. They emphasized unity, sovereignty, and dialogue, while German MEP Manfred Weber questioned the EU-US trade deal amid potential 10-percent tariffs.

EU warns against Trump's tariffs threat over Greenland

ISLAMABAD: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 56 long-term observers (LTOs) across all 64 districts of Bangladesh to monitor the parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 12, state media reported Saturday. The state-run news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), reported that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/eu-to-deploy-large-election-observation-mission-to-bangladesh-state-media" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">observers</a>&nbsp;were deployed following a brief ceremony held at a city hotel, where Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase underscored their role in assessing the electoral process. &ldquo;The long-term observers are a critical element of our mission. Their observations and insights will ground our impartial and fact-based evaluation of the electoral process,&rdquo; Lase said at the ceremony, according to the report. The EU EOM is following a robust and well-established methodology of long-term, nationwide observation to ensure a balanced and thorough assessment of the electoral process, the state news agency said. Long-term observers According to BSS, the long-term observers will closely monitor key aspects of the election at the regional level and support the analysis of the core expert team based in Dhaka. &ldquo;Our observers will work in teams of two and in their areas of observation, they will meet voters, election officials, candidates, and political parties, as well as citizen observers and youth activists, not only in the cities, but also in small towns and villages,&rdquo; Lase said. The observers have been drawn from European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland. Before deployment, they received extensive briefings on the electoral process, political environment, legal framework, and the media and social landscapes in Bangladesh, BSS reported. The mission was deployed following an invitation from the authorities of Bangladesh and is led by Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, a member of the European Parliament. He officially launched the mission at a press conference on Jan. 11 in Dhaka. Short-term observers As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-interim-government-promises-credible-polls-amid-regional-diplomacy-focus" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">election day approaches</a>, the mission will be reinforced by 90 short-term observers, along with observers from diplomatic missions of European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, to observe voting, counting, and tabulation processes. A delegation of members of the European Parliament will also join the mission. At full strength, the European Union Election Observation Mission will comprise about 200 observers from all 27 European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, BSS reported. According to BSS, the mission is expected to present its preliminary findings at a press conference in Dhaka on Feb. 14. A final report with recommendations for future electoral processes will be submitted to the authorities after completion of the entire electoral process and will be made public. European Union officials said the mission operates under a strict code of conduct requiring neutrality and non-interference and conducts its activities in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation endorsed under United Nations auspices in 2005.

As election day approaches, the mission will be reinforced by 90 short-term observers, along with observers from diplomatic missions of European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, to observe voting, counting, and tabulation processes.

European Union deploys 56 long-term observers across Bangladesh

BRUSSELS:&nbsp;The European Union &quot;strongly condemns&quot; US sanctions imposed on five European figures involved in regulating tech companies, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the Commission said Wednesday. The US State Department announced Tuesday it would deny visas to Breton and four activists, accusing them of seeking to &quot;coerce&quot; American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose. &quot;We have requested clarifications from the US authorities and remain engaged. If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures,&quot; said a statement from the Commission. &quot;Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination.&quot; The statement also said: &quot;Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic world. &quot;The EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments,&quot; the Commission said. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced US decision to deny visas to five European figures involved in regulating tech companies, saying the move amounted to &quot;intimidation&quot; and &quot;coercion&quot;. &quot;France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures,&quot; Macron wrote on X. &quot;These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty,&quot; he added, saying Europe would defend its &quot;regulatory autonomy&quot;.

The European Union strongly condemned the US sanctions imposed on five European figures. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the US decision, saying the move amounted to intimidation and coercion

Articles tagged with "European Union"