Eurotopics.net

The EU Commission filed a complaint against Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on Thursday over their refusal to take in refugees under the EU's mandatory quota system. This will only harden the battle lines, Czech commentators fear.

Slovenia implemented its new and controversial maritime boundary with Croatia in the Bay of Piran at the turn of the year. Croatian fishermen have for the most part avoided the disputed area in the first days of the new year for fear of being fined.

Macron's election victory in France, the Brexit negotiations and the Catalonia conflict have dominated Europe's debates over the past year. The EU is struggling with an identity crisis and threatens to lose touch with the rest of the world due to its "garden plot nationalism", some journalists write. Others are delighted to see a new sense of unity and the defeat of right-wing populists.

Donald Trump has been leading the US for almost a year now. Commentators in Europe have also been closely following every step the political novice takes. Things could have been worse, some say. Others stress that much damage has already been done.

Observers identify all kinds of problems that the EU needs to resolve in 2018. They see Vladimir Putin and climate protection as the main challenges. At the same time some argue that seldom have the circumstances for solving the problems been so propitious.