European Union

In the run-up to the European elections there is growing concern about Kremlin interference, be it through media influence aimed at swaying voters or direct influence on politicians and parties. Commentators look at where the dangers lurk and how they can be countered.

Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Portugal's Salazar dictatorship. The Carnation Revolution symbolises Portugal's path to democracy, European integration and the relinquishing of its colonies. The press reflects on the state of the country against the backdrop of the most recent parliamentary elections in which the Chega party, which is ideologically close to the Salazar regime, became the third strongest political force in the country.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the first high-ranking German representative to travel to Turkey since Erdoğan's defeat in the country's local elections. The occasion is the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Turkish Republic and Berlin. Commentators look at why Steinmeier first visited the opposition-led city of Istanbul before travelling to Ankara to meet President Erdoğan.

With many EU states grappling with medicine shortages, health ministers finally have their first chance to discuss the Commission’s proposal, for a Critical Medicines Alliance face-to-face in Brussels today (24 April), on the second day of the informal Health Council.

The European Commission announced on Wednesday (24 April) it has opened an investigation into Chinese discrimination against European companies in the public procurement market for medical devices.

While France remains the last European country to have banned all neonicotinoids, the beet industry is urging France to authorise acetamiprid in order to put an end to the distortion of competition. The government could base its decision on a forthcoming EFSA opinion.

Faced with global competition from countries with cheap renewable energy, the EU should embrace a partial deindustrialisation rather than subsidise uncompetitive industries, according to a new report from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research published on Wednesday (24 April).