European Union

For the World Health Organisation, plain packaging is considered an effective way to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products and increase the effectiveness of health warnings. But the industry disagrees and points to a fine line between over-regulation and the need to protect consumers.

The SDS party led by conservative opposition leader and ex-prime minister Janez Janša has won Slovenia's parliamentary elections with 25 percent of the vote. It wants to follow Hungary's example and not allow migrants into the country. Many commentators believe Janša won't be able to form a government and examine the alternatives.

In Spain the leader of the Socialists Pedro Sánchez has been appointed the new prime minister. His predecessor Mariano Rajoy was toppled by a no-confidence vote amidst a corruption scandal in which his conservative People's Party was deeply implicated. Commentators question whether a fresh start is really possible for Spain with Sánchez as leader.

After proposing a new candidate for the post of economy and finance minister, the protest Five Star Movement and the right-wing Lega Nord have paved the way for a joint government under law professor Giuseppe Conte. Europe's commentators continue to discuss whether the experiment in Rome can work.

Contrary to expectations the US has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, Mexico and Canada. In reaction several EU states and Canada have stated that they will take concerted action against the measures. Commentators discuss the risks of a trade war and believe Trump's protectionism could change the global economy for good.

In the run-up to Sweden's parliamentary elections in September the red-green government is seeing its support plummet in the polls. The right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, meanwhile, are gaining ground, particularly in the north of the country. Politicians have neglected the needs of people living outside the big cities, Swedish commentators criticise.