European Union

The latest draft of the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), obtained by EURACTIV, features a few notable changes from the previous version, including an emphasis on the possible role of animal farming in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and on options for animal welfare labelling.

The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. To combat it in Europe, Brussels is relying on an intensified exchange of information, flexibility on government deficits and financial aid of 7.5 billion euros, which is to be increased to 25 billion later on. Commentators have doubts as to whether these measures will be adequate.

The sex offender and former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault by a court in New York on Wednesday. The verdict is considered a milestone in the MeToo debate triggered by the case in 2017. Commentators welcome the sentence, but warn against unserious accusations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed through a government reshuffle. The new prime minister is Denys Shmyhal and 11 out of 17 ministers have been replaced. Zelensky accused the outgoing government of doing too little to combat smuggling, failing to adhere to the budget and not supporting industry. Observers say this political shake-up does not bode well.

The Russian State Duma voted on Tuesday in favour of a constitutional reform which will be presented to the people in April. One clause included at short notice allows Vladimir Putin to circumvent the two-term limit as president: his previous terms are simply to be annulled. This paves the way for Putin to govern Russia until 2036. Commentators discuss how this will turn out.

A crisis meeting in Brussels on Monday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel ended without concrete results. A meeting in Istanbul between Erdoğan, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel has been scheduled for next week. The three leaders will discuss the fate of the refugees gathered at the Turkish-Greek border and the situation in Syria. Both Ankara and the EU are taken to task in press commentaries.