Eurotopics.net

According to insider reports the Volkswagen group is planning to counter competition between sister brands VW and Škoda and transfer the production of Czech vehicles to German plants that are operating below their maximum capacity. In addition Škoda is to contribute more to the company's development costs. The government in Prague and trade unionists are protesting. Czech commentators, however, point out that the Germans' plans are perfectly reasonable.

"Instead of demonstrating and causing chaos the newly unemployed workers of the automotive subcontractor GM&S would do better to start looking for new jobs." With this comment, which comes not long after he said he wouldn't let "loafers" obstruct his reform plans, Emmanuel Macron has once again provoked an indignant response. France's press takes the president to task.

During his state visit to Iran, Turkish President Recep Erdoğan on Wednesday discussed Kurdish policy and energy with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani. Is Europe's distanced stance pushing Turkey into the arms of the major powers in the Middle East?

The EU Commission has demanded that Luxembourg reclaim 250 million euros in tax benefits from Amazon. In addition it wants to bring Ireland before the ECJ over the country's refusal to collect 13 billion euros in taxes from Apple. Most of Europe's press greets the initiative and Irish commentators also argue that the countries of the EU should pursue a common policy in this area.

President Trump has paved the way for increased US troops in Afghanistan. His military advisors have convinced him that withdrawing US forces from the country would leave a dangerous power vacuum. Trump stressed, however, that the goal was not nation-building but killing terrorists. Is this the right strategy?

Two people were killed and three buried children were rescued from the rubble after an earthquake hit the Italian holiday island of Ischia. Although the magnitude of the quake was estimated at only 4, many buildings collapsed. Exactly one year after the devastating Amatrice earthquake Italy's press reacts with bitterness to this latest disaster.