European Union

Welcome to Euractiv’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU.

The EU Commission's recommendation to start accession talks with Kyiv despite the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to occupy Europe's press. The many reforms that Ukraine has yet to complete before joining are by no means the only hurdle, observers note. The status of other accession candidates is also discussed.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the socialist PSOE could be re-elected for another term in office as early as next week after reaching an agreement with the Catalan pro-independence party Junts on Thursday. This follows agreements with the left-wing alliance Sumar and the Catalan ERC party. Commentators are at odds over potential consequences, in particular as regards the planned amnesty.

According to a New York Times poll, Donald Trump would win a presidential election against incumbent US President Joe Biden in five out of six swing states - states with no clear preference for Democrats or Republicans - if it were held now. Europe's press discusses who should draw what conclusions here.

Former prime minister Boyko Borisov's Gerb party has suffered heavy losses in local elections in Bulgaria. In the run-off votes in the major cities of Sofia and Varna on Sunday, candidates from the reform alliance PP-DB won the mayoral posts. A warning signal for the coalition in Sofia?

Following a 2021 judgement by the EU’s top court, Germany has revamped its energy act to increase the independence of the federal grid agency, Bundesnetzagentur, a move heavily criticised by the opposition.