Eurotopics.net

The European elections in June will not only decide the future composition of the European Parliament, but also who becomes the President of the EU Commission. The heads of state and government must reach an agreement and the Parliament must give its consent. For the European press it is by no means certain that Ursula von der Leyen will secure a second mandate as president even if her EPP remains the strongest group in the Parliament.

In the wake of the Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel the situation in the Middle East remains tense. US President Joe Biden had urged Israel to show restraint. On Friday, there were explosions at an airbase in the Iranian region of Isfahan. Israel has not commented on speculation that this was an attack. Europe's press weighs up the situation.

The semi-autonomous Moldovan region of Gagauzia is consolidating its ties with Russia. It will join the Russian payment system Mir, and Moscow has authorised the import of Gagauz agricultural exports and promised cheaper gas deliveries, according to the region's governor Yevgenia Guțul, who belongs to the pro-Russian Șor party. Commentators debate whether Moldova is now at risk of losing control of a second region after Transnistria.

The European Council has announced innovations aimed at increasing the EU's competitiveness. A controversial report put forward by former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta proposes extending the single market to energy, telecommunications and finances and authorising Brussels to grant direct subsidies to companies. Concrete measures are to be agreed after the EU elections. Europe's press suspects that reaching a consensus won't be easy.

According to a new Eurobarometer survey, 81 percent of citizens believe that voting is more important than ever in view of the current geopolitical situation. 60 percent indicated interest in the upcoming European elections - an increase of 11 percentage points compared to surveys before the last EU elections in May 2019. Europe's press comments.