Eurotopics.net

EU Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová has called on technology companies to help ensure that the campaign for the European elections is fair. In view of the rise in manipulated information it was their duty to adopt counter-measures, she said at the start of November in Lisbon. Several governments including France's are looking for ways to tackle fake news. Are social media changing the political culture?

For the second weekend in a row people all over France donned yellow vests and took to the streets to protest hikes in fuel taxes. In Paris there were violent clashes between police and protesters. Commentators ask who or what is the driving force behind the protests.

France's President Emmanuel Macron ordered on Friday that 26 works of art that were stolen by French colonial troops in 1892 in what is today the Republic of Benin should be given back. An expert report had recommended this as the first measure of a comprehensive restitution initiative. Media in Europe and Africa discuss how to deal with looted art.

The EU heads of state and government gave the Brexit deal negotiated with Britain the green light on Sunday. Now it must gain the approval of the British and European parliaments. The politicians gathered in Brussels on the weekend displayed sadness, but also relief that an agreement had finally been reached after all the haggling. Is their solace justified?

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had threatened to block the Brexit deal until in the last minute the EU backed Madrid, agreeing that Gibraltar will be left out of all negotiations between the UK and the EU and any decisions will require Madrid's consent. But Spanish media are less than enthusiastic.