Eurotopics.net

Countries across Europe are reporting record-breaking temperatures day after day this summer. Many are experiencing extreme droughts, with water levels in rivers and lakes at record lows and wildfires causing mass evacuations. Yet a review of the opinion sections shows that not all voices are pessimistic.

In the wake of the Ceuta crisis, migration policy is once again at the top of the agenda among Europe's political leaders. The prime ministers of Italy and Denmark, Giorgia Meloni and Mette Frederiksen, have now issued a joint statement warning of the consequences of uncontrolled migration and calling for a tougher stance. At the same time, however, Europe's media point to new rifts over how to deal with migrants.

Russia's Supreme Court has barred the Yabloko party from standing in September's parliamentary elections, on the grounds of alleged breaches of electoral law. Yabloko is pushing for an immediate end to Russia's war against Ukraine. Many opposition figures recently called on the population to vote for the party, which has not had a parliamentary group in the Duma since 2003.

Amid ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a defence pact in Mecca on Friday. An armed attack on any of the member states would be regarded as an attack on all, according to statements. Following the signing of the document, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended Friday prayers together.

The interior ministers of the EU member states will hold a video conference today, Tuesday, to discuss the consequences of the Ceuta migrant influx, which has now subsided. Sharp criticism has been levelled at Spain – but the talks will also address the rifts that have opened up within the EU over migration policy and border protection. Italy, for example, has suspended the Schengen rules on travel to and from Spain for one month.