Eurotopics.net

Donald Trump has been leading the US for almost a year now. Commentators in Europe have also been closely following every step the political novice takes. Things could have been worse, some say. Others stress that much damage has already been done.

Observers identify all kinds of problems that the EU needs to resolve in 2018. They see Vladimir Putin and climate protection as the main challenges. At the same time some argue that seldom have the circumstances for solving the problems been so propitious.

The three separatist parties have maintained their majority in the elections in Catalonia. Together they won 70 of the 135 seats in the Catalan parliament. The single biggest winner with 37 seats was the liberal centre-right party Ciudadanos, which strongly opposes secession from Spain, however it lacks coalition partners. Commentators conclude that the vote hasn't solved the problems but has at least brought clarity.

For the first time in its history the EU Commission has triggered Article 7 of the EU treaties and initiated sanction proceedings against a member state. It accuses the government in Warsaw of undermining the independence of the judiciary and the values of the European Union. Is the step justified?