Eurotopics.net

France has recalled its ambassador to Rome after a meeting between Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio and representatives of the French yellow vest movement. The move marks an escalation in the conflict between the two countries which first flared over immigration policy, among other issues. Was this step by Macron justified?

Around 30 men and women are running for president in Ukraine's elections on 31 March. With comedian Volodimyr Zelenskiy leading the polls, the incumbent president Petro Poroshenko sees his chances of re-election at risk. Observers voice disappointment at the lack of convincing candidates and criticise the current president's election campaign tactics.

The EU Commission's rejection of the plans for a merger between Siemens and Alstom's train divisions has sparked a debate about EU competition laws. On this issue Brussels ignored the will of Berlin and Paris, who wanted to pave the way for a European company that could compete with the US and China in the global railway sector. Should EU states have more or less say when it comes to competition ?

In the negotiations with the Catalan separatists Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has conceded to the demand for an independent facilitator. The right-wing opposition made up of the conservatives (PP), the liberals (Ciudadanos) and the far right (Vox) see Spain's unity at risk and have called a mass demonstration for Sunday to demand new elections. Is Spain's minority government tottering?

Shortly after the settlement of the name dispute with Greece North Macedonia's prospects of joining Nato are very good. Now that the accession protocol has been signed the government in Skopje can send observers to almost all of the alliance's briefings and conferences. In view of these developments the next step is just a matter of time, journalists are sure.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has met with the leaders of the Visegrád countries Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in Bratislava. The five states agreed to cooperate more closely after relations between Germany and the V4 soured as a result mainly of the dispute over refugee policy. The media take a positive view of the rapprochement.