European Union

At their meeting in Brussels on Monday, the Nato states for the first time adopted a clear position on China, which is described in the final declaration as presenting systemic challenges. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that this did not mean China is seen as an opponent or an enemy. Russia's aggressive behaviour is, however, regarded as a threat to transatlantic security, according to the declaration. Europe's press response is mixed.

The presidents of Russia and the US will meet in Geneva on Wednesday to discuss the pandemic, regional conflicts, nuclear weapons and bilateral relations. At the Nato summit Biden announced that he would offer Putin opportunities for cooperation but that he would also "lay down red lines" and "stand behind Ukraine's territorial integrity".

Cyprus apparently continues to process naturalisation applications from rich foreigners in exchange for money - although Nicosia officially suspended the programme in November after massive criticism from Brussels. The EU Commission has now issued another warning to Nicosia and is threatening legal action before the European Court of Justice. The Cypriot press is dismayed by the government's behaviour in the scandal.

After twelve years in office, Benjamin Netanyahu's mandate as Israeli prime minister has ended. The Knesset voted on Sunday by a razor-thin majority of 60 to 59 votes for an eight-party government coalition led by the ultra-nationalist Naftali Bennett which includes Jair Lapid's liberal Future Party as well as an an Arab party, Ra'am, for the first time in the country's history. Europe's press takes stock of the changes that can and must be made.

Bulgaria is the first country to be visited by Laura Kövesi in her capacity as the European Union's Chief Prosecutor. Shortly before, she had rejected six of the ten candidates put forward by Bulgaria to join the new European Public Prosecutor's Office. The visit coincided with protests against Bulgaria's chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev and the launch of the campaign for the parliamentary elections on July 11, in which corruption is one of the main topics.