European Union

In Israel a military court has found the soldier Elor Azaria guilty of manslaughter. In 2015, Azaria, who was 18 at the time, killed a wounded Palastinian attacker who was lying on the ground by shooting him in the head. The case caused an outcry in Israel - and is also an issue of concern for Europe's commentators.

The US company Apple has blocked the New York Times app in China at the request of the Beijing authorities, a spokeswoman for Iphone Producer announced. The fact that major corporations operating in China are disregarding liberal values has partly to do with the bad example set by many states, commentators criticise.

The ceasefire in Syria negotiated by Russia, Turkey and Iran is fragile. Rebel groups are accusing the Syrian government of violating the truce. A permanent laying down of weapons is not on the cards, many commentators believe. Others think the war will soon be over, as the rebels no longer have any allies.

Just under four weeks after the parliamentary elections Romania has a new government. Sorin Grindeanu of the social democratic PSD was sworn in as the head of the new social-liberal government on Wednesday. Romania's press has nothing good to say about the new prime minister and his cabinet.

The coming year will see elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany and the beginning of the Brexit negotiations. But journalists are not entirely pessimistic about Europe's prospects in 2017.

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP