Eurotopics.net

In the run-up to the Nato summit taking place on July 11 and 12 in Vilnius, the focus is on the question of how the Alliance can and should strengthen its security guarantees vis-à-vis Kyiv. Supported by a number of states, Ukraine is demanding that the alliance commit to making it a member once the war ends. Europe's press also calls for swift action, but not all commentators advocate an accelerated accession process.

As part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) virtual summit held on Tuesday, Iran has become the ninth member of this group of states dominated by China and Russia. Belarus also signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect. Commentators from Italy and Russia assess the organisation's potential.

The EU Commission wants to ease the rules regarding the use of genetic engineering in agriculture. The new regulations would apply specifically to plants that have been modified by means of genome editing in a way that would also be possible using conventional breeding methods, exempting them from the genetic modification rules that continue to apply to other designer plants. This would also eliminate the labelling requirement.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has warned of the danger of a Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station and says that Russian forces have mined the plant's cooling pond. President Zelensky said on Tuesday that objects resembling explosives had been placed on the roofs. Meanwhile Moscow claims that Ukraine is planning an attack on the plant. Commentators are divided on how dangerous the situation really is.

There were fierce clashes between demonstrators and police in French cities on Thursday night, including in the Paris suburb of Nanterre after a march in memory of 17-year-old Nahel, who was shot and killed during a traffic check on Tuesday. Police checks in France have repeatedly resulted in deaths and riots. Commentators draw parallels and call for consequences.