European Union

A report from the EU financial watchdog says German authorities are partly to blame for the Wirecard scandal that rocked the country this year. Nonetheless, it shields one German agency (BaFin) from much of the blame. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The US is nervously anticipating the outcome of the presidential election. It is already clear that turnout will be high. A close result, a challenge by Trump, outbreaks of violence: observers believe a period of uncertainty and chaos could be looming, and voice doubts about the effectiveness of the US electoral system.

At least four people were killed and more than a dozen injured, some of them seriously, in an attack in central Vienna on Monday evening. According to the interior minister, the perpetrators shot at people indiscriminately. One of the attackers was shot dead by the police; he was allegedly a supporter of the IS militia. Europe's press warns of an increase in violence motivated by Islamism.

The pro-European former prime minister Maia Sandu has won the first round of the presidential election in the Republic of Moldova. Sandu secured 36.16 percent of the votes, while the pro-Russian socialist and incumbent Igor Dodon received 32.61 percent. There will be a run-off vote with the two candidates two weeks from now. Observers analyse the reasons for this surprising result and the potential consequences.

The EU Commission wants to commit the member states to establishing minimum wages which could be implemented either by law or through agreements between the social partners. In Denmark and Sweden, two of the six EU states that do not yet have a minimum wage, there is opposition to the move - also among trade unions. In the Scandinavian press, however, Brussels' initiative has triggered a more positive response.

EU opponent Nigel Farage wants to relaunch his Brexit Party as Reform UK and focus on protesting against what he sees as the government's overly restrictive coronavirus policy. On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced another partial lockdown that will last several weeks. Journalists believe Farage has good chances of stirring things up in British politics again.