Eurotopics.net

According to a ruling by the Social and Economic Council (SER), the country's most important body representing employers, trade unions and independent experts, large companies in the Netherlands must introduce a women's quota. 30 percent of all the posts on supervisory boards are to go to female members - a controversial decision.

After several months of fruitless attempts to form a new government Spain is facing its fourth elections in four years. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the socialist party PSOE was unable to reach an agreement with either the left-wing Podemos or the centre-right Ciudadanos. Commentators are dismayed by the deadlock and make suggestions as to how it can be overcome.

The Fridays for Future movement has called a global climate strike for this Friday. The move is aimed at pressuring states to adhere to the Paris climate protection targets ahead of the UN climate summit in New York. Journalists discuss whether and how a climate catastrophe can be averted.

Apple and the European Commission are sparring over 13 billion euros in back taxes at the General Court in Luxembourg this week. The EU wants Ireland to demand that the company pay it this sum on the grounds that it granted Apple illegal preferential treatment. Commentators in Ireland are at odds over the issue.

Actor Pavel Ustinov has been sentenced to more than three years in prison in Russia for resisting arrest during the Moscow protests. Videos show Ustinov talking on his phone when a member of the National Guard dislocated his shoulder during Ustinov's arrest. The wave of solidarity - comparable with that in the Golunov case - gives Russian journalists hope that things will change in the country.