European Union

We must ask what concrete actions we can take to support and protect healthcare professionals, notably oncology nurses, a crucial workforce for our society, health and well-being, writes a liberal European lawmaker.

The British government plans to introduce a law that suspends some of the provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed with Brussels in 2019. Under the proposed legislation, a fast-track procedure would apply for goods entering Northern Ireland at customs checkpoints between the two islands, and Northern Irish companies would also be able to choose whether to apply British or EU standards. Europe's press is dubious.

The Ukrainian soldiers who refused until the bitter end to give in to the overwhelming force of the Russian troops at the Azovstal steel plant abandoned their posts on 17 May and gave themselves up to the Russians after consulting the Ukrainian leadership, which is hoping for an exchange of prisoners. This means that the strategically important port city of Mariupol has now finally fallen to Russia. Commentators discuss what this means for the war and applaud the soldiers' bravery.

Sweden and Finland have submitted their applications to join Nato. The ratification process could now take up to a year. Moscow has called the plans a "grave mistake" and threatened consequences. Turkey has also voiced objections. Europe's press discusses the implications of the decision.

Last week, the Greek parliament approved a five-year agreement for the expansion of US military bases in Greece. Opposition leader Alexis Tsipras of the Syriza alliance accused the Mitsotakis government of turning the country into a 'satellite state' of the US. The Greek press is divided over the issue.