Eurotopics.net

The European Commission's Digital Omnibus legislative package aims to simplify EU regulations in the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data protection and data management in response to tech industry demands. Commentators discuss whether the legislation is detrimental to civil rights.

The ratification process for the EU-Mercosur trade agreement has triggered protests by citizens and farmers' associations, as well as in the European Parliament, where 145 MEPs had planned to challenge the deal in court until this was blocked on procedural grounds. The Parliament is due to vote on the agreement in December. Commentators see criticism of the deal as justified to a certain degree.

Slovenians rejected a new law on assisted dying in a referendum on Sunday. With a turnout of 41 percent, around 53 percent of those who cast their ballots voted against it. The law would have legalised assisted dying for terminally ill patients in certain circumstances. Conservative and religious groups campaigned against it.

At a meeting in Geneva, representatives from Ukraine, the European Commission and several European countries negotiated with US officials over changes to the 28-point plan. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke of a "tremendous amount of progress". Now the presidents in Washington and Kyiv must reach a decision, explained Ukrainian negotiator Andriy Yermak. The press debates how much clout Europe has – and how it should be used.

The 30th World Climate Conference (COP30) ended on Saturday in Belém, Brazil. A voluntary platform outside the COP committees to speed up progress on climate protection and a new rainforest protection fund were set up, but no consensus on an action plan was reached. Concrete targets for moving away from coal, oil and gas also failed to materialise. Europe's press takes stock.