Europe hits electric car milestone, most Brits predict a no-deal Brexit, and more top news

The news professionals in Europe are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments.

There are now more than 1 million electric cars in Europe. Beating the US to the milestone, sales soared 42% in the first half of the year, with more than 195,000 plug-in cars sold. Norway is Europe’s largest market, with a 37% share of new registrations, though Germany looks set to overtake it by the end of the year. Still, electric cars accounted for just 2% of new registrations in Europe between January and June. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Most British people think the UK will leave the EU without a deal.  A KPMG survey found 54% of people believe a no-deal Brexit is likely, compared to 20% who think it’s unlikely. Seven in 10 people think prices will rise in the event of a no-deal. The poll found that 45% think leaving without a trade deal would be bad, while 25% say it would be a good thing. Negotiators for the EU and UK have now agreed to a November “hard deadline” to sign off on a deal. ? Here’s what people are saying.

The EU will scrap import controls on Chinese solar panels in September, reports Reuters. The move has been met with criticism from EU producers, who say the market will be flooded with dumped products, and favourably by project developers, who argue that the measures pushed up the price of panels and that the retraction could lead to an extra 45,000 jobs in the industry. The EU imposed anti-dumping tariffs in 2013, further extending them in March last year. ? Here’s what people are saying.

A new proposal would see people of retirement age in Italy’s southern regions spared from paying taxes. The government is hoping to reverse the area’s chronic population decline by luring Italians and foreigners alike to settle there with the promise of no taxes for a decade. An estimated 1.8 million have left the area in the past 16 years due to high unemployment rates and a lack of jobs. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Winemakers in France’s Champagne region are popping corks as they prepare for one of the best harvests in a decade. Thanks to a rainy winter and the summer heatwave, harvesting has already begun — ahead of the usual September start — with Champagne wines expecting a 56% rise in production from last year to 3.5 million hectolitres. Global sales look set to surpass €5bn. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Successfully establishing a workplace culture means your habits, values and behaviors carry through even when you’re not there, says social entrepreneur Laura Weidman Powers.

“Culture is the the sum of the examples you set, the incentives you create, and the behaviors you reward: it’s what nudges people to act in ways you’d be proud of.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

— Capucine Yeomans