Eurotopics.net

During the national Holocaust memorial service on Sunday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the first time officially apologised for his country's behaviour towards the Jews during the Second World War. Officials did too little to protect Jewish citizens from persecution, he said. Dutch media discuss why the apology has only come now.

The coronavirus death toll has risen to 80 according to official figures. China's mega-city Wuhan, where the majority of cases have occurred, was put under quarantine last week. In addition to the more than 2,700 people reportedly infected in China, individual cases have cropped up in countries all over the world. Commentators criticise the authorities' reaction to the epidemic.

The eastern Turkish province of Elazığ was hit by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake on Friday night in which at least 39 people were killed and 1,600 injured. Commentators discuss the authorities' reaction to the disaster and whether the tragedy could open up unexpected opportunities.

Salvini's far-right Lega party has lost the election in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna after the candidate of the centre-left coalition received 51 percent of the vote. The regional election was seen as a make-or-break test for the government in Rome made up of the Five Star Movement and the social democratic PD. What has led to this first clear defeat for Salvini after four years of success?

Vladislav Surkov, a long-time aide to Vladimir Putin and most recently responsible for Russia's Ukraine policy, has exited government service. Dmitry Kozak, previously deputy prime minister in the Medvedev government, is now to set the course in Ukraine policy. Commentators hope this will mark a turning point in Russian-Ukrainian relations.

The 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp will be commemorated on Monday. The World Holocaust Forum, attended by many world leaders and high-ranking personalities, took place in Jerusalem yesterday, accompanied by discussion of how to deal with the rise of right-wing extremism and controversy over who should be allowed to deliver a speech. The media discuss whose voice should be heard on the Shoah - and why.