Eurotopics.net

The parliament in Athens has approved the accord for the renaming of Macedonia by 153 votes to 146. The country which up to now has gone by the name the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" at the international level up to now will now be called the "Republic of Northern Macedonia". The resolution of the name dispute is a milestone achievement in the eyes of Europe's press - and not just because it went on for almost three decades.

Thirty intellectuals and writers from all over Europe have published an appeal to Europeans urging them to resist the populists who want to destroy the EU. The European elections could be calamitous if a majority fails to fight back against the populists, they warn. We present an excerpt from the manifesto and the debate it has triggered.

A group of EU member states have given President Maduro an ultimatum: he has eight days to call new elections in Venezuela. This comes after the US and a number of Latin American countries recognised Juan Guaidó as the interim president. Commentators examine the motives that have prompted Russia and Venezuela's neighbouring countries to adopt their stated position in the conflict.

The longest government shutdown in US history has come to an end after five weeks. Now Republicans and Democrats have three weeks to reach an agreement in the dispute over a wall on the Mexican border. President Trump insists that 5.7 billion dollars for the border wall must come from the budget. The Democrats reject this. Who will win?