European Union

After the government in Helsinki, Sweden's Social Democratic government is now also seeking to join Nato. Both the Finnish and Swedish parliaments debated the issue on Monday. Moscow has called the plans a "grave mistake" and threatened consequences. Turkey has also voiced objections. Europe's press assesses the implications of the decision.

France will have a female prime minister for the second time in its history. President Emmanuel Macron has appointed former labour minister Elisabeth Borne to succeed Jean Castex in the post. The 61-year-old politician is among the handful of people who have been on Macron's governing team from the beginning. Commentators discuss the appointment.

The Spanish cabinet is today discussing a bill put forward by the leftist government that would entitle women to three additional sick days per month in cases of severe period pains. The announcement has triggered a debate about whether the law could have a negative impact on women's access to the labour market. The Spanish press argues against such reservations.

Russia will not get away with trying to redraw Ukraine's borders by creating facts on the ground, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on 16 May, insisting that the West would not stand for a "diktat," forced on the country.

Heating & cooling account for half of the final energy consumption in Europe, and most of this is still based on fossil fuels. Energy efficiency is the foundation for decarbonizing this essential sector. To make it happen, we need strong political signals – now – says Jürgen Fischer, President at Danfoss Climate Solutions.

The French Presidency has issued a new compromise text on the AI Act, proposing changes to the transparency obligations on different AI systems, amongst other measures. 

Find out how countries in the EU and the world are rated for press freedom in 2021 and how the situation evolved compared to previous years.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

Find out how countries in the EU and the world are rated for press freedom in 2021 and how the situation evolved compared to previous years.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP