Eurotopics.net

Green Party candidate Alexander Van der Bellen has won Austria's presidential election, beating Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party by a narrow margin of roughly 31,000 votes. The country has shown that its political landscape is more colourful than many believe, some commentators write with relief. Others view Hofer's strong showing as an alarm signal for all Europe.

Demonstrators have been blocking refineries and petrol depots in France for days in protest at the controversial labour market reform. The Socialist government hopes to liberalise French labour laws with the legislation. Who can bring real change to the country at this stage?

In the refugee crisis the collaboration between the EU and Turkey has increasingly come under the public spotlight. Journalists and academics discuss how much the two sides need each other and who stands to gain or lose from closer cooperation.

Nato inaugurated a new missile defence site at a military base in the locality of Deveselu in Romania in mid May. Another such site is to be set up in northern Poland. The Alliance also plans to boost its troops in Poland and the Baltic states. Commentators in Latvia view the plans and a book by a former Nato general with great concern.

Since the conclusion of the Turkey deal and the closure of the Balkan route fewer migrants have arrived in the EU. But does this mean the EU now has the refugee crisis under control? Only superficially, commentators conclude.

Confidential documents were made public on Sunday that reveal the current status of the negotiations on the TTIP free trade pact. Obama and Angela Merkel spoke out only last week in favour of the deal while tens of thousands of people protested against it. The press also discusses the pros and cons of the TTIP.

People demonstrated across Europe on May 1 in favour of workers' rights and social justice. The press wonders what significance International Workers' Day has in today's digitised, globalised world.