European Union

European Union countries on Wednesday (20 February) endorsed an overhaul of the bloc’s copyright rules which would force Google and Facebook Inc to pay publishers for news snippets and filter out copyright-protected content on YouTube or Instagram.

EU Council President Tusk has recalled in Kiev the pro-European demonstrations of five years ago. Together with President Poroshenko he commemorated the more than 100 people who lost their lives in the bloody fighting on Maidan Square in February 2014. On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the protests, commentators from Eastern Europe take a rather somber look back.

A summit between Israel and the Visegrád states scheduled for this week in Jerusalem has been cancelled after Warsaw announced it wouldn't be attending. This came after reports of remarks by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Katz regarding Polish complicity with the Nazis. Commentators' criticism is not limited to the actions of the Polish government.

In the US the campaign for the 2020 presidential elections is gaining momentum. On the Republican side Trump announced that he would run for re-election when he first took office. On the Democrats' side there are already several applicants for the post of lead candidate, with Bernie Sanders becoming the latest to announce his candidacy on Tuesday. The press sees plenty of movement in the Democratic camp.

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died aged 85. His career began when he was 20 and competed in a fashion contest with a design for a coat. After that his rise in fashion was unstoppable and he led great fashion houses like Chanel to success. He also caused a stir with outspoken remarks. The press pays tribute but also voices criticism.