European Union

Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon announced at the conference of the nationalist Fratelli d'Italia in Rome that he plans to spend most of the next few months in Europe helping far-right parties with their campaign for the European elections. On Sunday he met Czech President Milos Zeman. Commentators explain why they believe his project will fail and how the EU needs to reinvent itself.

The EU Commission has referred Poland to the European Court of Justice for forcing top judges into retirement. It argues that the government in Warsaw's reform of the country's Supreme Court undermined the principle of judicial independence. Commentators welcome the step but fear it comes too late.

On the occasion of a three-day visit to Germany by President Erdoğan, German President Steinmeier has invited the Turkish leader to a state banquet at his residence in Bellevue Palace. Several politicians who are critical of Erdoğan's policies have declined to attend the event. Participants should view the dinner as an opportunity, journalists urge, although their views on what should be achieved differ.

Austria's minister of the interior Herbert Kickl, of the right-wing nationalist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), has urged Austrian police in an email to restrict the access to information of media that are critical of the government to a minimum. The minister said in addition that police press releases should cite both the nationality and the residency status of criminal suspects. The Austrian press is appalled.

The former French prime minister Manuel Valls, who was born in Barcelona, wants to run for the office of mayor in the city's local government elections in May 2019. Valls would run as an independent candidate endorsed by Ciuadadanos. Commentators from Spain and France ask what's behind Valls' transnational political ambitions.

Psara v Parliament
Law governing the institutions
The General Court confirms the Parliament’s refusal to grant access to documents relating to MEPs’ subsistence allowances, travel expenses and parliamentary assistance allowances

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The charity rescue ship Aquarius is planning to disembark 58 migrants in Marseilles, France, despite not having French permission to do so. SOS Mediterranee said that was its "only option" after Italy again refused to let it go there. The ship will have to end rescues when Panama shortly revokes its flag under Italian pressure. Italy Monday also passed a new law to make it easier to deport migrants.