RE: European Stories - 2026 (2026)

Less and less wine is being consumed in Europe – and this is threatening our wine regions. Winemakers in Spain and Germany are looking for a way out of the crisis – by producing alcohol-free wine. New methods are constantly improving it. Winemaker Ivan from Castile and León is taking the plunge. Will he like his first dealcoholized red wine?

Malta – Europe's driest island and, at the same time, its driest country. The island nation is fighting for survival. While tourist numbers continue to grow, the water supply is dwindling, and the land is threatened with withering; farmers like Malcolm Borg are trying to make the impossible possible. Re: shows a Malta that must decide – between selling out and a new beginning.

With his reputation as a Nobel Prize winner, Bulgarian Teodosi Teodosiev is undoubtedly one of the best physics teachers in the world, and his students dominate international science competitions. For him, there is no science without conscience: to be a good teacher is to touch the soul of the students.

The Juan de la Cosa – one of the few civilian hospital ships in the world – is on a mission in the Atlantic. It is accompanying the fishing fleet in the Bay of Biscay, ready to intervene in case of emergency. A system that saves lives when medical care on land is unavailable.

Exotic spiders are increasingly common in Europe: some are imported by terrarium enthusiasts, while others, like the spiny-legged spider, are spreading due to climate change. Although most spiders are harmless, they inspire irrational fear in many. So much so that therapies are offered to overcome arachnophobia.

Pets are often full members of the family. But with rising veterinary and food costs, more and more homeowners are struggling to provide for their four-legged friends. Some find themselves forced to ask for help.

Panagiotis Souroukli was born in Georgia and sold for adoption in Cyprus as a newborn. It was only when he was looking for his biological parents that he discovered forged documents. The organization Vedzeb uncovers such cases and estimates that over 100,000 babies have been passed off as dead and sold in Georgian clinics. DNA tests are supposed to help with the search.

Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium for over twenty years. In France it remains banned – and very controversial. Numerous French patients with incurable degenerative diseases therefore turn to pro-death assistance activists and Belgian doctors for a dignified, self-determined end to their lives on the other side of the border.

With family, in nightclubs or after work, alcohol is often part of the party. According to the WHO, Europeans ingest on average 9.2 liters of ethanol per year: a world record. However, in Germany as in France, more and more people are choosing to do without it... without giving up partying!

In February 2025, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan called on his supporters to lay down their arms. In Diyarbakir, Turkey, the "mothers of peace" advocate dialogue with the Turkish state, hoping for an amnesty for PKK fighters and the return of their missing loved ones. Lasting peace remains uncertain.

Following four volunteers an artist, a sports journalist, an industrial climber, and a Catholic priest during their training in the Latvian National Guard. One enlisted well before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the others after the start of the war. They all share the same feeling: a sense of duty. Their personal stories intersect with the larger historical narrative as the small border state strives to preserve peace.

Most often of natural origin, methane contributes to global warming, far more than CO2. However, gas and oil infrastructure can be prone to methane leaks. In Croatia, an expert uses a special camera to document the numerous leaks affecting extraction sites and pipelines.

Melting glaciers, rockfalls, and landslides: these are the consequences of climate change in the mountains. Trails and routes that once seemed safe are no longer passable. When faced with unpredictable weather, heavy rainfall, and an altered environment, planning a safe hike becomes a real challenge for mountaineers.

Ghost cinemas, spa towns whose splendor is now just a distant memory, depopulated villages: photographer Alex Iacob explores the abandoned places of Romania. With his camera, he fights against oblivion and documents what remains of a bygone era.

In Ireland, cocaine is wreaking havoc. The drug arrives by sea and floods the market. With an exponential increase in consumption since 2017, this crisis is particularly affecting women. In Limerick, Nathalie O’Donoghue, a single mother, confronts her addiction to provide a better future for her children.

In Germany, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, mastectomy, hair loss: the treatments and their side effects leave their mark on patients, both physically and emotionally. So, how can they stay strong in the face of this ordeal that shakes their self-esteem?

Since the fall of the communist bloc, Romania has experienced a significant demographic decline. Millions of its citizens have emigrated to Western Europe in search of better career opportunities and a more prosperous life. Many have remained abroad despite homesickness, leaving behind loved ones who await their return.

Every year, demonic creatures called Krampus invade towns and villages in Austria on St. Nicholas' Day. These bogeymen with goat heads, dressed in animal skins, frighten onlookers, symbolically striking those who haven't been good with their canes. Recently, these parades have sometimes been marred by violent incidents.

Understanding the world through reading seemed to be off the table for a while. Now, reading is part of a new lifestyle: Young women between 18 and 30 are captivated by lavishly designed books – and inspired by bloggers like Jess. The focus is on New Adult literature with themes revolving around love and sex. Is Gen Z saving the book market?

In the mountains of northern Albania, German Capuchin friars care for the few remaining Christians. Brother Jeremias Borgards tends to the sick and elderly who live alone and have no one else. He has to drive for hours through the mountains to make his house calls. Eighteen-year-old Angelos Delija accompanies him.

Ninja – that means swinging, climbing, jumping, and constantly facing new challenges on obstacle courses. What began as a TV format is increasingly developing into an organized sport, from international competitions to its own national league. This report follows three people who embody the fascination and future potential of this young sport.

In Calabria, free-roaming herds of cattle terrorize entire communities. They are known as the "sacred cows" of the 'Ndrangheta. They are considered untouchable, as they still symbolize the power of the mafia. The danger is real, and the state is reacting sluggishly. Only a few truly courageous people are fighting back to protect their homeland.

For many women, menstruation represents a significant financial burden: often, girls and women don't have enough money to afford sufficient hygiene products. Re: accompanies those affected and activists in Germany and Poland who want to help and bring the issue of period poverty out of the shadows.

Many hospitals rely on foreign doctors to function. We meet Mohamed Cherbagi from Syria and Ina Viaroukina from Belarus, two examples among the tens of thousands of foreign doctors who keep the German healthcare system running.

Faced with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Europe, efforts are being made to mitigate torrential rains and storm surges. Residents along the Baltic coast are raising sea walls, restaurant owners are adapting their premises to rising sea levels, and major cities like Copenhagen are embracing the "sponge city" concept, which transforms parks into veritable rainwater storage basins.

In Iran, the crackdown on the latest wave of protests has undoubtedly been the bloodiest since the establishment of the Islamic Republic – human rights organizations report tens of thousands of deaths and injuries. "ARTE Regards" met with members of the Iranian diaspora who are following the events shaking their homeland with great emotion.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, waste is widely and uncontrollably dumped in nature. According to environmental authorities, there are over 1,000 illegal dumpsites, and the few public landfills are mostly overloaded or technically outdated. The consequences: untreated leachate and smog, which endanger not only the environment but also the health of local residents.

Every month, the entire European Parliament relocates. 720 members of parliament and thousands of staff members move from Brussels to Strasbourg, some 400 kilometers away, for almost four days – only to return again afterward. It's a practice that many no longer consider sensible. Can Europe really still afford this "traveling circus"?

Wikie and Keijo have gained notoriety for all the wrong reasons. After the closure of a water park on the French Riviera, the two orcas were left behind in the now dilapidated and algae-covered concrete pools. To this day, it remains unclear where the animals can be taken. While politicians, park operators, and animal rights activists struggle to find a solution, the orcas' situation continues to worsen.

More and more people are trying to achieve longevity. Some want to live to 120, others even dream of immortality. To achieve this, they endure temperatures as low as -110 degrees Celsius or seek biological rejuvenation through innovative therapies. For them, aging is a disease that can be overcome.

Pierogis, cottage cheese pancakes, tomato soup: in Poland, milk bars serve traditional dishes at very affordable prices. For many retirees, they embody the social policies of the communist era. Today, with the rising cost of living and more visible poverty, these establishments attract all segments of society.

Kai is searching for answers about the death of his brother Michael, who had volunteered for the Ukrainian army from Germany. The report shows what this decision means for those left behind – and how difficult it is for them to come to terms with what happened.

Persistent frost gripped northern Germany and Poland at the beginning of 2026. Nighttime temperatures plummeted to double-digit sub-zero levels, freezing lakes, rivers, and even parts of the Baltic Sea. In some places, even icebreakers could no longer navigate the frozen landscape. An arctic-like scene of ice and snow, which is not without its challenges.

More and more Britons are questioning the legitimacy of the monarchy today. While Elizabeth II was considered the mother of the nation during her reign, her death in 2022 and the accession of her son Charles III have awakened new doubts among the people. These days, almost four out of ten Britons would prefer to see an elected head of state instead of the king.

Former wartime commander Ivica wants to expand his hotel business, as Croatian tourism is booming. But the country and its people are still scarred by the war. The government plans to rid Croatia of all landmines by 2026. 38-year-old Čičak is one of the last landmine clearers and faces an uncertain future.