Europe

[The Bread Guy]

A bit of leadership by example among some of Europe's royals.

Queen Maxima of Netherlands joins country’s army as reservist - National | Globalnews.ca

Footage shows the royal swimming in a pool wearing goggles that obscure her vision, as well as abseiling down scaffolding and descending a rock climbing wall.

globalnews.ca

Dutch Queen Máxima training to become army reservist

Expected to be sworn in later this month, the incoming Dutch coalition government has plans to boost the nation's military from some 80,000 to 122,000 personnel. And the Queen wants to help.

www.euronews.com

 

[Kirkhill]

I don't know if anyone has seen this yet

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/10/trump-gives-up-control-of-three-nato-bases/

Britain is taking over NATO's Atlantic Command HQ in Virginia, Italy is taking over the Naples office and Germany and Poland are jointly taking over Joint Force Brunssum in the Netherlands.

 

[Kirkhill]

The EU tightening the screws on Ireland.

They have decided that Eire's Border Counties aren't as hard done by as they used to was and don't need as much EU money.

Border counties to lose key EU supports despite low incomes

Border counties are set to lose out on favourable European Union funding available to other poorer districts because the European Commission is upgrading the wider northern and western region of Ireland to a “more developed region” from a “transition region” for the next EU funding period.

www.independent.ie

 

[daftandbarmy]

The EU tightening the screws on Ireland.

They have decided that Eire's Border Counties aren't as hard done by as they used to was and don't need as much EU money.

Border counties to lose key EU supports despite low incomes

Border counties are set to lose out on favourable European Union funding available to other poorer districts because the European Commission is upgrading the wider northern and western region of Ireland to a “more developed region” from a “transition region” for the next EU funding period.

www.independent.ie

It's almost as if they're deriving an economic benefit from being so close the colonial master they apparently dislike so much.

Ironic

 

[Kirkhill]

It's almost as if they're deriving an economic benefit from being so close the colonial master they apparently dislike so much.

Ironic

And the Brits didn't get much in the way of thanks when they bailed them out with the banks in 2008. Nor do they get much apprection for the RAF and the RN stooging around their waters to keep the unwanted at bay.