Throughout the fight against invading Russian forces, Ukraine has made clear its aspirations to join the EU – even as the bloc has been evasive about the embattled nation’s membership.

But with the ousting of Viktor Orbán’s government, which had staunchly opposed Ukraine joining the Union, the path to accession is finally becoming clearer – something President Zelenskyy has long called for.

However, the precise terms of EU membership for Ukraine and Moldova are up for grabs. Kyiv has already rejected a suggestion by Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz that Ukraine could join the EU as an “associate member” without full voting rights.

It also looks unlikely that Ukraine could join the European Economic Area as a stepping stone to full EU membership.

Roundup

NATO to connect industries in drone push – NATO is developing a new “innovation scale-up package” aimed at helping emerging defence technology firms rapidly expand production. The initiative would link drone and military tech startups with civilian manufacturers that have spare industrial capacity to address the challenge of quickly turning innovative battlefield technologies into mass-produced capabilities.

Albania ready to forego veto rights for EU membership – Albania will do “whatever it takes” to become an EU member, even if the price of joining the club is the temporary suspension of its national veto rights for a probationary period. According to reports, EU governments are discussing a plan to suspend veto powers for new entrants on foreign policy matters, such as sanctions against Russia and other decisions that require unanimity among member states.

Drones for farmers – EU countries have adopted their position on plans to make it easier to use drones to spray pesticides, reopening debate over the environmental and health risks posed by the technology. Aerial spraying is currently prohibited except in very specific cases. The Commission proposed loosening the restrictions for certain types of drones, following guidance from the EU food safety watchdog EFSA.

Across Europe

Sánchez feels the heat – Elite officers of the Spanish Civil Guard raided the headquarters of the governing socialist party on Wednesday morning, the latest development in ongoing graft allegations encircling the prime minister Pedro Sánchez. The operation had the aim of seizing evidence of alleged hidden payments that prosecutors believe were used to finance a network aimed at undermining legal proceedings against key figures in Sánchez’s Socialists.

Sicily bridge faces troubled water – Italy’s latest attempt to revive the long-delayed Strait of Messina bridge risks colliding with EU procurement rules, as anti-corruption watchdogs question whether Rome can legally reuse a decades-old contract for the mega project. The dispute centres on whether Meloni’s government can proceed without launching a new public tender, despite the project’s overall costs having more than tripled since the original contract was awarded in the early 2000s.

Germany takes trade imbalance concerns to China – Germany’s economy minister began a visit to China on Wednesday with Berlin saying it wanted to boost cooperation with a key partner while also warning of worsening trade imbalances. China – long a reliable market for German exports, from cars to factory machinery – has in recent years become a fierce competitor in many industries, turning the relationship on its head.