Eurotopics.net

Leading German and French economists have presented their proposals for the reform of the Eurozone in Berlin and Paris. One notable aspect here was that both proponents of market discipline and austerity and economists who favour more solidarity and risk-sharing formed part of the work group - i.e. representatives of the two camps that often seemed irreconcilable in the euro crisis. Are their ideas any good?

One month after the formation of Austria's right-wing conservative government Chancellor Sebastian Kurz visited Angela Merkel on Wednesday. In view of Kurz's criticism of Berlin's refugee policy and his aim of limiting Brussels' power the meeting had been eagerly anticipated. But there's little evidence of conflict, commentators conclude.

Skopje and Athens are apparently close to finding a solution in the 27-year-old conflict over the name Macedonia. UN mediator Matthew Nimetz has said that a proposed compromise could take the process "in a positive direction", without indicating what precisely that direction may be. In the two countries in question, however, there is little sign of a willingness to compromise.

Just six months after its last prime minister took office Romania is getting a new prime minister: President Klaus Iohannis tasked MEP Vasilica Viorica Dancilă with forming a government on Wednesday. She is widely seen as a close confidante of PSD leader Liviu Dragnea - who was convicted for attempting to rig an election - and takes over from Mihai Tudose, who resigned in a dispute with Dragnea. Romania's media display resignation.

Two months before the Russian presidential elections a major row has broken out among the opposition. Critics are accusing opposition candidate Ksenia Sobchak of being a Kremlin pawn and others are criticising Alexei Navalny, who has been banned from running for election, for calling on people to boycott the elections. With the opposition in such disarray Putin needn't fear for his job, commentators agree.