Eurotopics.net

Even before the European People's Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament cast its vote on its new statute, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's ruling party Fidesz has made good on its threat and withdrawn from the group, thus ending years of controversy. For Europe's press it's clear that the two former partners were never a good fit.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's domestic intelligence agency, now views the AfD, currently the largest opposition party in the Bundestag, as a potentially far-right organisation. This means that the entire party can be put under surveillance. So far this has only applied to certain AfD state branches. Most European media outlets welcome the move.

Italy decided on Tuesday to partially tighten its anti-pandemic restrictions. Among other things, all schools in the hard-hit red zones will be closed again. On the same day a Unicef report appeared which documents a huge educational crisis: 168 million children worldwide are currently excluded from classes. Is keeping school closed the right approach?

The Bucharest Tribunal decided on Tuesday that the investigation into police violence against protesters on 10 August 2018 will not be reopened. Tens of thousands of demonstrators had gathered to demand the resignation of the social-liberal government but the police dispersed the peaceful protest using water cannons and tear gas. The national press is disappointed by this legally binding decision.

After Hungary, Slovakia has now also approved Sputnik V, and the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic are openly discussing following suit. Meanwhile Austria and Denmark have set their sights on a vaccination alliance with Israel. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen want to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday. Some observers see such unilateral efforts as reckless; others see no viable alternative for some states.