Eurotopics.net

France's budget for the current year has been finalised. On Monday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu survived two votes of no confidence brought by the opposition. His predecessors François Bayrou and Michel Barnier were forced to step down shortly after taking office amid disputes over the budget. Is France entering calmer political waters?

Russia attacked energy facilities across Ukraine on Tuesday night, just as the country is experiencing extreme winter weather. Donald Trump had agreed a week-long ceasefire with Vladimir Putin last week, but the exact timing remained unclear. Commentators discuss Putin's current strategy ahead of the peace negotiations set to begin today in Abu Dhabi.

On 8 March, Switzerland will vote on the "200 francs is enough!" initiative, or "halving initiative" aimed at a substantial reduction in radio and television license fees for citizens and an exemption for businesses. If successful, the budget for the country's public broadcasting service SRG would be almost halved. The initiative is supported by the right-wing SVP, the Young Liberals and the Swiss Trade Association.

The European Union has decided to end imports of natural gas from Russia by the end of 2027 at the latest. The decisions comes after 24 EU countries voted in favour of the move while Hungary and Slovakia voted against it and Bulgaria abstained. The governments in Budapest and Bratislava now plan to challenge the decision before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Europe's commentators discuss the options for gas supplies to the bloc.

Israeli authorities have reopened the only border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for a limited number of people. More than two months after the UN resolution on the peace plan, Europe's press takes a sceptical look at the situation on the ground.