Eurotopics.net

Ten retired admirals have been arrested in Turkey for criticising the government's Istanbul Canal project. A total of 104 retired admirals had spoken out against the project, which foresees the construction of a new 45-kilometre waterway to relieve the strain on the Bosphorus strait. Critics fear it will lead to environmental damage and Turkey's withdrawal from the Montreux Treaty, which regulates free shipping traffic across the Bosporus.

The Council of Europe's Commission for Democracy through Law (or Venice Commission) has strongly criticised the 2020 reform of the Russian Constitution. Among other things, the reform enables Vladimir Putin to govern until 2036. According to the Commission's experts, "the changes go far beyond what is appropriate according to the principle of separation of powers" and threaten the rule of law in Russia. The media agree.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has proposed the introduction of a global minimum tax rate on corporate profits - also in view of Joe Biden's plan to increase corporate tax in the US from 21 to 28 percent. Does the proposal have the potential to rein in multinationals that artificially shift their profits to countries with low corporate taxes? European commentators say this is a promising initiative.

In mid-January the EU Commission announced ambitious goals according to which at least 80 percent of people aged over 80, as well as of those working in health and social professions, were to be vaccinated by March. However, by the end of March just under 60 percent of people over the age of 80 had received the first dose across the EU. Many are pinning the blame on the bloc's unwieldy bureaucracy, but is this justified?

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has escalated again: media report that Russia is reinforcing its troops on the border with Ukraine and that shelling has intensified on both sides. Commentators don't believe Western states will play a significant role in de-escalating the situation.