Eurotopics.net

After the first round of voting on Sunday, two of the nine candidates seeking to succeed popular Sauli Niinistö as Finnish president have made it to the second round: former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, who like Niinistö belongs to the conservative National Coalition Party, and the Green Party candidate Pekka Haavisto, who is running as an independent. Voters have thus already made two fundamental decisions, commentators note.

After Eastern European farmers in particular protested against cheap grain from Ukraine last summer, farmers are now blockading motorways in Germany, France and other countries in protest at high fuel prices. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has initiated a "strategic dialogue" on the future of the agricultural sector. Europe's press looks at the causes and eyes the future with apprehension.

In October, the German government rejected a request by Kyiv submitted in May 2023 to supply it with Taurus cruise missiles on the grounds that the missiles' range was too long. But according to German newspaper Handelsblatt, Olaf Scholz is now considering an offer from the UK which has been on the table for several weeks: Germany could supply Taurus missiles to Nato partners who would then export similar weapons systems to Ukraine in exchange. A good idea?