Eurotopics.net

Around 435,000 babies were born in Italy in 2019 - only half as many as 45 years ago and the country's lowest birth rate since 1861. With the number of births at just 1.29 children per woman, the country is now at the bottom of the list in Europe, according to new data from ISTAT. Commentators look enviously at France.

The likelihood of a direct confrontation between Assad's army and Russia on the one hand and Turkey on the other is increasing. Turkish soldiers were once again killed in strikes carried out by the Syrian regime on Monday. Ankara said that it had "neutralised elements of the Syrian troops" in retaliation. Media from Russia and Turkey hope the situation won't escalate further.

After the shock political development in Thuringia, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced on Monday that she will step down as CDU leader and not seek to be chancellor candidate in the next general election. She said she could not accept cooperation with either the AfD or the Left Party. Europe's press discusses what direction the CDU will now take - and what a post-Merkel power vacuum could mean.

Athens has announced plans to close overcrowded camps such as the Moria refugee camp on Lesbos and start building closed refugee camps on five Aegean islands in March. Those living in the camps will no longer be able to come and go as they please, and their asylum procedures are to be processed within 90 days. Greek media are harshly critical of the plans.