Europe continues to show stark contrasts when it comes to investment in rail infrastructure. At the top of the ranking are Luxembourg (€622 per capita), Switzerland (€504), Austria (€359) and Sweden (€295), all investing several times more per citizen than the countries at the bottom of the list.

Which design is your favourite? Tell us in the comments, then go vote. Story by Jonas Altmann

Swipe through all ten and see which one speaks to you. Then head to the ECB's public survey (open until 21 September) and cast your vote. Your feedback will directly feed into the Governing Council's final decision, expected by year's end.

The ECB just revealed the ten shortlisted designs for the next series of euro banknotes, and now it's your turn to weigh in. The proposals draw on two themes, "European culture" and "Rivers and birds," picked from over 1,200 design contest applications.

When it comes to alcoholic beverages, some countries are associated with a certain drink. Germany and the UK, for example, are known for their love of beer.

If the EU average is €100, how much does an alcoholic drink cost in Europe? As of 2025, the most expensive country for alcohol is Iceland, where people pay €298 for drinks that cost €100 on average in the EU. This puts prices 198 percent above the EU benchmark.

Romania, Spain and Sweden recorded the highest youth unemployment rates in the EU in 2025. This chart shows the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15–24. The values represent the average of all monthly youth unemployment rates throughout 2025.

Trust in the European Union has climbed back to one of its highest levels in almost two decades. In spring 2026, 51 percent of Europeans say they tend to trust the EU, up three points from last autumn and close to the record set in 2007.

Has Europe become more democratic since 1980? The short answer: yes, dramatically. But the trend has turned.

Ever wondered which foreign country you would actually reach first from where you are standing in Italy? This map shows the closest neighbour as the crow flies, and the answer changes surprisingly often as you move down the peninsula.

France and Spain meet tonight in the World Cup semi-final, but away from the pitch the scoreboard looks rather different.

The European Parliament has officially launched the procedure that could ban the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) as a European political party.

Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, new data showed progress toward the target set last year in The Hague: members should spend at least 3.5% of GDP on core defence by 2035. Across the alliance's 32 members, five countries already reach that level.

About a quarter of young Europeans aged 15 to 29 were working in 2024 while still in education, according to Eurostat. The Netherlands, Iceland and Switzerland recorded the highest shares of students combining work and study, while Romania, Greece and Croatia reported the lowest.

An Aperol Spritz can cost anywhere from €2 to more than €16 in Europe.

Two children, same grades, same ambition. Born in Denmark, their parents' education barely affects what they'll earn as adults. Born in Poland, it can decide almost everything.

The 2026 Tour de France kicks off tomorrow in Barcelona, only the third time the race has started in Spain and the 27th Grand Départ held outside France.

Many Europeans suffered severely during the recent heatwave. One aspect of climate adaptation that became a widely discussed topic in this context was air conditioning.

After what felt like an eternity, June’s heat wave is now finally over. But the next one isn't far behind.

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Europe after alcohol and tobacco, and among young people its reach is wide. Across the EU, around 15.3% of those aged 15 to 34, roughly 15.4 million, report using it in the past year, with men typically about twice as likely as women.

When you think about getting around in Naples, hopping on a Vespa and navigating through chaotic traffic might be the first thing that comes to mind.

As Europe braces for another summer of record heat, a quieter toll keeps climbing: across 854 European cities, an estimated 13,589 lives are lost to heat every year.

How many colonies did Europe have?

Would you work 10 more hours a week? According to the latest Eurostat data, average weekly working hours range from just 31.9 hours in the Netherlands to 42.4 hours in Türkiye. Bosnia and Herzegovina (40.9h) and Serbia (40.6h) also rank among the countries with the longest working weeks in Europe.

The tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum has arrived and it's worth understanding how the British people reflect on this impactful decision, arguably one of the most significant in EU history.

We are going to see a new person on this timeline soon.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is a village in Anglesey in Wales, which is credited with the title for longest town name in Europe.