European Union

American electric carmaker Tesla is reportedly on the hunt for locations in Germany to build one of its gigafactories, according to local media. Adding a European base of operations could help Elon Musk's firm avoid the worst effects of an ongoing trade war between the US and China.

France has proposed Sylvie Goulard as its European Commissioner candidate. An expert on European issues, the former centrist MEP was central to helping Emmanuel Macron develop his European contacts during his successful 2017 presidential campaign. EURACTIV France reports.

Responding to the unprecedented challenge posed by climate change will require all actors – including the defence and security community – to step outside their comfort zone, writes Luca Bergamaschi.

After the G7 summit, a meeting between Trump and Rouhani could well be on the cards. Donald Trump appears to be open to negotiations with Rouhani on the nuclear dispute. G7 host Macron, who surprised everyone by inviting Iran's foreign minister to Biarritz, is chalking this up as his own success. The press asks whether a summit could really solve the row over Iran's nuclear programme.

The G7 has offered financial assistance to Brazil to help put out the worst fires the Amazon has seen in years. Bolsanaro has agreed to take the money if Macron apologises for accusing him of lying about his commitments to environmental protection. But money alone cannot solve this problem, commentators say.

In Italy a coalition between the Democratic party (PD) and their former rival Cinque Stelle looks imminent. The PD has signalled that Giuseppe Conte could also be the future prime minister. Talks are still underway today, Wednesday, after which President Mattarella will either issue the order to form a government or call new elections. Italy's press examines the prospects of a PD-Five Star alliance.

At a conference of the International Labour Organisation in June, Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev proposed reducing the standard working week to four days in response to technological progress. Now the Russian Ministry of Labour is looking into whether the measure can be implemented in Russia. But the initiative has elicited a wave of criticism.

In Barcelona concern about safety and security is growing, with cases of armed robbery having risen by around 28 percent since 2016. People are also worried about growing drug consumption, poverty and unemployment in the suburbs, rising immigration as well as the eight million tourists that flood the city every year. Spain's media are doubtful at Barcelona's chances of bringing the problems under control.