The current political climate has made the relationship between the US and its European partners very tense and challenging. In an attempt to prevent misunderstandings from festering, Reddit user SprinklesNo164 asked people from the Old Continent to share the news they wish every American would know. Responses quickly poured in, highlighting a range of issues from travel to civil unrest and beyond.
#1
We are currently issuing travel warnings to the US. Secretly, a lot of Europeans hope we can have less dependencies and relationships with you - and hopefully not get nuked in the process.
Image credits: evidentlychickentown
#2
Lots of discussions about how the US now seems more aligned with Russia than NATO.
Image credits: kingvolcano_reborn
#3
Many European countries including the U.K. are issuing travel warnings for their citizens who plan to visit the US. .
Image credits: Grand-Cup-A-Tea
#4
Right now? Farmers are revolting all over Europe, protesting EU policies and climate regulations.
But Americans wouldn’t know, because they’re too busy arguing whether drag queens or vaccines are the real threat to democracy.
Meanwhile, half of Congress thinks Europe is a province in Canada.
Image credits: SnooCakes9395
#5
Everyone hates Russia, except the US right now and nobody knows why.
Image credits: TraditionalApricot60
#6
Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Georgia, and Turkey are all having protests against government corruption and have Anti-Russia sentiments, a "Balkan Spring" as you could call it.
Image credits: IndependentLanky6105
#7
We're all backing away from any dependence on the US as they have shown they're not reliable or friendly anymore - business deals & investments, defence spending, security, trade, etc. etc. everyone' rushing to cut dependence on America almost as fast as they dropped Russia after they invaded Ukraine.
Image credits: JCDU
#8
Let's not forget the IF Metall strike against Tesla in Sweden, which began on October 27, 2023, and has become one of the longest labor conflicts in Swedish history. The strike was initiated because Tesla refuses to sign a collective agreement with the union, challenging the Swedish labor model, where approximately 90% of the workforce is covered by collective agreements.
Image credits: Mjauritz
#9
There is a pre-war atmosphere in Europe. Last October, Sweden distributed a brochure to prepare its citizens for an imminent threat. Now, this summer, the French will receive a survival manual at home to know how to act in case of a national emergency or an “imminent threat”. In addition, news came out today that Brussels is calling for European households to stockpile emergency supplies in case of a climate crisis or war.
“Europe must prepare for a potential war, also for cyber-attacks, pandemics and the terrible effects of the climate crisis, warns the European Commission.... Brussels is calling for all European households to have stocks of water, medicines, batteries and food to subsist for 72 hours without outside help in the event of a crisis. It is one of the guidelines of the Union's Preparedness Strategy, which will be presented by the Community Executive on Wednesday”.
Image credits: armado2000
#10
Tesla's European sales drop only 45% amid disquiet over Musks Trump links.
Image credits: Scary_Marzipan_3475
#11
Similar to the US a whole ton of cuts are being made in the UK right now and it's causing a similar backlash. The people who will be most harmed are those who are most vulnerable, it is seen by many to be justifiable given the current circumstances of the war but I'd prefer we just hit the Americans with retaliatory tarrifs to pay for it instead.
Image credits: xslvtx
#12
There is going to be a new twist-off plastic bottle cap.
Image credits: watch-nerd
#13
The UK has emerged from the grey damp winter and it’s now sunny! Spring is here! Daffs are out in force! People are smiling.
Image credits: anon
#14
Turkey. Erdongan locking up his opponent and people taking to the streets.
Image credits: PhantomLamb
#15
Netherlands: We of all places have a drought, and badgers are trying to eat the railways.
Image credits: LaComtesseGonflable
#16
Germany relaxing its debt break to enable major investment in defence spending and infrastructure.
Image credits: WickhamMoriarty
#17
I'm saying Australia counts because of Eurovision.
We're about to have an election in the next month where it is literally a Republican vs Democrat election round 2: Electric Boogaloo. Our conservative (called the Liberal) party has started to spit Trumpist lines in his press conferences and our liberal/left (called Labor with no u) party is running a bump in healthcare funding.
The polls are so tight there is a massive chance of a hung parliament because of independents and the greens.
We are one election away from having a bald potato Trump.
Image credits: WoketrickStar
#18
Living in Sweden we're dealing with massive teacher strikes right now. Over 20,000 teachers walked out last week.
Image credits: HotNadorable
#19
Big news in Spain right now is the water crisis.
Image credits: Petite01Nbusty
#20
The two people that stole the Paddington Bear statue were sentenced today. They both got community service and a fine.
Both of them are RAF engineers and brought the statue back to base with them so I'm guessing they're in for a proper kicking off their Seniors.
Image credits: toon_84
#21
France here while everyone's focused on our pension protests there's actually a massive water crisis happening in some regions.
Image credits: Naughty-Sweetheart
#22
In France, the prime minister has lied about his knowledge and cover up of a violence scandal at a private catholic school, so the government is currently distracting the population by banning islamic veils from sports competitions. Just islamic veils, not crosses or whatever religious symbol under the name of laïcité.
Image credits: Kunstfr
#23
Preparation for the next Eurovision. It's all we Euros care about.
Image credits: abell_123
#24
I'm from a small town in England, according to the local Facebook group:
* Immigrants are ruining the town, or not ruining the town, nobody is really sure at this point. They're definitely up to something.
* Nigel Farange is either the devil or going to save the UK. Nobody can agree on that.
* The bypass they have been promising for 80 years hasn't been built yet, people are salty about that
* Some drama about a Primary school not having an Easter service this year.
Exciting stuff.
Image credits: zerbey
#25
The UK's National Health Service is in absolute chaos right now. I'm a nurse in London and we've had the longest strikes in NHS history.
Image credits: LovelyHoneybunzx
#26
The Netherlands (a small country (18 mio.) west of Germany) quickly wants to increase its army from 75.000 people to 200.000 people. They accept anyone now, so they claim.
Image credits: Leasealotje
#27
Asparagus season is coming early this year.
Image credits: cuevo_dog
#28
Here in Sweden we're dealing with this wild situation where our biggest grocery store chain ICA is in a massive fight with Coca Cola.
Image credits: Curvy-Doll8
#29
UK economy is in big trouble. Debt interest now huge- bigger than education budget. Debt aporoachimg 100% of GDP. Our crappy productivity per capita is depressing. Population due to reach 85m on a crowded island ( England 434 people per sq km) but we don't produce enough. 'Left' wing government needing to cut spending as we desperately need to up defence spending.
Gloomiest country in Europe just now?
Image credits: Firstpoet
