European Union

The Russian State Duma voted on Tuesday in favour of a constitutional reform which will be presented to the people in April. One clause included at short notice allows Vladimir Putin to circumvent the two-term limit as president: his previous terms are simply to be annulled. This potentially paves the way for Putin to govern Russia until 2036. The European media shakes its head in disbelief.

The crisis meeting in Brussels on Monday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel has ended without results. Erdoğan was seeking more support for measures to look after refugees and backing for Turkey's operations in Syria. Press commentaries reflect disappoinment with both Ankara and the EU.

A number of measures have been taken by both states and private individuals around the world to combat SARS-CoV-2: travel, production and transport have been restricted. In many places negative environmental influences have already been significantly reduced, albeit perhaps only in the short term. Commentators examine why so far the climate crisis hasn't driven us to take similar steps.

Lithuania is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its independence today. On March 11, 1990, the Baltic country broke away from the Soviet Union - the first of the Soviet Republics to do so. Lithuania's commentators examine whether there really is cause for a festive mood.

Spanish farmers continue this week their demonstrations across the Iberian country to defend fair prices for their products and measures to alleviate the situation of Spain’s agriculture, especially in view of Brexit and US tariffs imposed on local products, such...