European Union

The move means Ireland’s Paschal Donohoe is almost certain to be re-elected president of the powerful group of eurozone finance ministers later on Monday.

“We're fully geared up to get an agreement in principle by Wednesday, and we're firing on all cylinders to that effect,” a European Commission spokesperson said on Monday.

“We're fully geared up to get an agreement in principle by Wednesday, and we're firing on all cylinders to that effect,” a European Commission spokesperson said on Monday.

Written by Andrés García Higuera

The European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) has a mission to bridge the gap between science and policy. To further this understanding, four Members of the STOA Panel visited leading research institutions in Barcelona on 27 June 2025. Ivar Ijabs (Renew, LV; Vice-Chair of STOA), Laura Ballarín Cereza (S&D, ES), Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, IT) and José Cepeda (S&D, ES) visited the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), the ALBA Synchrotron and the Institute for Photonics (ICFO).

With a staff of over 1 000 scientists and an overall budget of €70 million, the BSC specialises in high performance computing (HPC) and provides support services within the AI Factory EU programme to over 2 000 EU companies. The ALBA Synchrotron is a unique scientific infrastructure exploring the details of matter in a wide range of scientific fields. The Institute for Photonics (ICFO) conducts wide-scope, basic and applied research at the highest international level in several branches of the sciences and technologies of light.

The delegation was hosted by the Department of Research and Universities of the Local Government of Catalunya under counsellor Núria Montserrat, who was represented by General Manager Josep-Oriol Escardíbul Ferra. Eva Ortega-Paíno, General Manager at the Ministry of Science, Research and Universities represented the Central Government of Spain.

The delegation had the opportunity to engage with top-level scientists from all three institutions. The Members were particularly interested in funding needs and sources, as well as in new developments in software, hardware (from chips to quantum and photonics) and third-country competition. The EU’s quantum and AI strategies and the development of dual-use technologies were addressed, together with green tech, regulatory initiatives and the need for policy to consider the flexibility required for research and development. The requirements of fundamental research and plans for keeping and attracting talent in the EU were also discussed. The STOA Panel Members gained a first-hand understanding of the issues at stake for scientists and experts, who shared their ideas in the spirit of contributing to the policy-making process.

Brussels targets faster innovation, stronger supply chains and military cooperation in new medical countermeasure plan.

Brussels targets faster innovation, stronger supply chains and military cooperation in new medical countermeasure plan.

Elon Musk has announced he is forming a new political party. The tech entrepreneur was a presidential adviser in the initial months of Trumps’s second tenure and head of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Then the two fell out over Musk's criticism of a recently approved tax bill. Europe's press assesses the potential impact of Musk's America Party on the mid-term elections in November 2026.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and the radical Islamic organisation Hamas are currently underway in the Qatari capital, Doha. Together with international mediators, representatives of the two conflict parties are discussing a ceasefire and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. US President Donald Trump, who is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, is pushing for a 60-day ceasefire.

In a referendum held on 5 July 2015, Greek voters overwhelmingly voted against the austerity measures imposed by the country's creditors. Just a few days later they were signed off nevertheless. Ten years on, commentators look back at the austerity policy and its consequences.