Eurotopics.net

Thousands of people took to Bulgaria's streets on Sunday to protest against the rise in fuel prices, high living costs and low wages. They blocked the two main motorways between the capital Sofia and the Black Sea and demonstrated in several cities, calling for the government's resignation. Bulgaria's media sympathise with the people's anger.

The proposal for a European army recently presented by Emmanuel Macron and endorsed by Angela Merkel is still eagerly being discussed in the press. Commentators point to inconsistencies in the initiative.

The dispute over the Santa Claus festival in the Netherlands has taken on a new dimension. There were violent incidents in several cities at demonstrations for and against the "Black Pete" character who accompanies Santa Claus in the traditional festivities. Santa Claus arrives by ship in mid-November and travels across the Netherlands until 5 December.

Last week the US oil and gas company Exxon Mobil began exploratory drilling for natural gas in an area designated "Block 10" located around 150 kilometres off the south-west coast of Cyprus. Both the Cypriots and Turkey have laid claim to the area. Commentators urge great caution in order to prevent the issue from having a detrimental impact on the negotiations in the Cyprus conflict.

After pushing the Brexit plan through her cabinet it is far from certain that Theresa May will succeed in getting the House of Commons to approve the deal. Several ministers and state secretaries, including Brexit Minister Dominic Raab, have stepped down, and Brexit hardliners are calling for a vote of no confidence against May. Journalists examine the tug of war in which the PM, the parliament and the people are now immersed.