The mayor of Greenland’s capital has urged media professionals and content creators to act responsibly after a German comedian attempted to hoist the US flag in Nuuk, drawing outrage from local residents.

Bavarian comedian Maxi Schafroth, 41, tried to raise the Stars and Stripes near the city’s cultural centre on Thursday. Passers-by confronted him after he claimed to be a US official. Witnesses reported that locals reacted angrily, and Schafroth left the scene amid disapproving looks. Local authorities subsequently fined him, according to reports.

Avaaraq Olsen, mayor of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, the district that includes Nuuk, described the stunt as “immensely harmful.” She said the incident was particularly upsetting for children and families, who have already been anxious over US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to seize Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

“Raising a flag at our capital cultural centre, the flag of a military superpower that for weeks has been implying military force against our country, is not a joke,” Olsen said in a statement. “When you amplify those fears for content, clicks, or laughs, you are not being bold or creative. You are adding to the distress of an already vulnerable population. So, pause before you film. Think before you stage something ‘funny.’ Consider whether your next question or stunt will inform the world or simply make a child cry or a family feel less safe in their own country.”

Schafroth is known in Germany for his work on the satirical programme “Extra Drei,” broadcast by the regional NDR channel, which attracts over one million viewers. NDR expressed regret over the incident in statements to Germany’s Der Spiegel and the Ritzau news agency.

The stunt comes amid heightened international attention on Greenland following Trump’s long-standing territorial interest in the Arctic territory. Trump described owning Greenland as essential to US national security, claiming without evidence that Russia or China would otherwise seize control. His statements sparked a serious diplomatic crisis, considered the most severe in NATO’s history since the alliance was established in 1949.

Although the US president later backtracked on threats to use force, discussions between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk are ongoing. Greenland’s government has been working to manage the stress and anxiety caused by the situation and to reassure its population that their safety remains a priority.

Local authorities stressed that Greenlanders, particularly children, remain worried over the uncertainty surrounding the territory’s international status. Olsen said the flag stunt, though intended as a humorous act, highlighted the need for content creators to consider the real-world impact of their actions on communities already facing heightened tension.

The incident underscores the lingering sensitivity in Greenland following months of international attention, and the city’s leadership has called for respect and caution in public displays that could inflame fear or insecurity among residents.

Lorry drivers from four Western Balkan countries blocked more than 20 European Union border crossings on Monday, protesting strict enforcement of Schengen travel rules that limit non-EU nationals to 90 days within any 180-day period. Officials estimate the blockade is causing daily export losses of around €100 million.

The protest halted freight operations in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, affecting key trade routes connecting the EU with Turkey and the Middle East. Montenegro’s Adriatic port of Bar was also disrupted.

Vesko Šljivančanin, director of the Association of International Hauliers of Montenegro, told Euronews that drivers are “fighting for our companies to be competitive within the region, fighting for our employees, for our families, for our very existence.”

Marko Čadež, president of Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce, said the direct damage to exports from blocked crossings amounts to roughly €100 million per day. He added that production companies face additional penalties for undelivered goods, ranging from €10,000 to €50,000 daily. “About 10,000 companies export from Serbia to the EU alone,” Čadež said, warning that total losses could grow rapidly.

The protest responds to tighter enforcement of Schengen rules under the Entry/Exit System (EES), which went into partial effect in October 2025. The electronic system replaces passport stamps with biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, and tracks stays in real time. Drivers say the measures treat professional hauliers the same as attempted migrants, effectively restricting their ability to work.

Mirko Ivanović, representing a Bosnian transport company, said: “We have reached the point where our drivers—and we ourselves—have effectively been deprived of the right to work, because our drivers are being arrested in the European Union.” Last year, over 100 drivers were deported for exceeding the 90-day limit, with another 100 deportations announced last week. Nine drivers were arrested in Germany alone in the past seven days.

At Gevgelija, the busiest crossing between Greece and North Macedonia, around 100 lorries bearing Macedonian flags blocked the cargo terminal. Drivers said they would allow the passage of medicine, live animals, ammunition, and explosives but would otherwise maintain the blockade. Protesters said the action would last at least seven days, with shifts organized to maintain continuous coverage.

Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce proposed solutions including a special visa for professional drivers valid across the Schengen Area, extending allowed stay periods, or exempting drivers from the EES system until a permanent resolution is found. Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut warned that failure to address the issue could “fully paralyse” transportation companies and harm Balkan economies.

European Commission spokesperson Marcus Lamert said the bloc is aware of concerns and closely monitoring the situation. “The EES does not introduce new rules on the length of short-term stays in the Schengen area, but allows better enforcement of the rules,” he said, noting that flexibility exists for certain professions requiring frequent cross-border travel.

The protests highlight tensions between the EU’s regulatory framework and the livelihoods of professional drivers in candidate countries seeking EU membership.

Artificial intelligence has moved from a specialized field to a central driver of global economic and technological power. The United States and China are leading the charge, investing tens of billions of dollars into AI development and rolling out powerful models supported by major tech companies and sprawling data centres.

Europe, despite its strong academic and research foundations, is struggling to transform its scientific expertise into globally competitive AI companies and technologies. Experts say the EU is falling behind, and the opportunity to dominate the AI space is narrowing.

Funding gaps are a key obstacle. US investment in AI dwarfs Europe’s, prompting many EU-trained engineers to leave the bloc for better-funded opportunities in Silicon Valley. While European startups are emerging, they remain largely reliant on US investors or face foreign acquisitions, limiting the region’s ability to grow homegrown AI champions.

The EU has chosen a different approach, emphasising regulation, ethics, and oversight through the AI Act and strict data protection rules. Proponents argue that Europe could become a global standard-setter, creating AI systems that are safe, transparent, and aligned with human rights. Critics, however, warn that this approach could slow innovation and allow other regions to pull ahead in commercial applications and technological scale.

Policymakers face a difficult balancing act between fostering innovation, ensuring safety, and maintaining ethical standards. The region’s ability to retain talent and encourage investment while enforcing strict rules is likely to shape its position in the global AI landscape over the next decade.

As AI continues to reshape industries, economies, and societies, the debate over Europe’s role grows more urgent. Has the EU already lost the AI battle, or can it still catch up? How much risk and disruption should Europe accept to stay competitive?

The public is being invited to weigh in. Take our poll and share your view. Your perspective is valuable: the survey is anonymous, takes just a few seconds to complete, and the results will be featured across EU.XL coverage in videos, articles, and newsletters. Insights from the poll will help shape reporting as the EU explores strategies to secure its place in the age of artificial intelligence.

Europe’s AI future will depend on the ability to balance regulation, innovation, investment, and talent retention. Decisions made today will determine whether the bloc can become a global AI leader or remain a follower in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.