Eurotopics.net

France is celebrating its national day - Bastille Day - today. Memories of the protests and riots after the shooting of 17-year-old Nahel M. are still fresh, President Macron has cancelled a TV interview that had been announced for the occasion and is playing host to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latter's two-day visit to France. Commentators see little cause to celebrate.

Romanian authorities have inspected more than 1,000 homes for the elderly after evidence emerged of residents at three such facilities being severely abused, starved and exploited. Almost 40 establishments have been temporarily or completely closed down and those in charge arrested. Labour Minister Marius Budăi, to whom the social services are subordinate, has resigned. How could it come to this, and what consequences will the scandal have?

The news came shortly before the start of the Nato summit in Vilnius on 11 July: Turkey is lifting its blockade against Sweden's accession. After a lengthy discussion with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Erdoğan declared that he would submit the accession protocol to the Turkish parliament for ratification as soon as possible. Commentators view the agreement as a milestone and discuss Ankara's motives.

The leaders gathered at the Nato summit which began on Tuesday in Vilnius have presented their stance on Ukraine joining the alliance. In answer to a speech by President Volodymyr Zelensky making the case for Ukraine's speedy admission, the alliance held out the prospect of accession only if certain conditions are met, such as the war having ended and further democratisation. Commentators weigh up the significance of the decision.

The EU Parliament will vote today on a new Nature Restoration Law which foresees measures aimed at improving the poor state of many protected habitats in at least 20 percent of land and marine areas in the EU by 2030. The law has been the subject of fierce protests also from the European People's Party, which is thus opposing a key component of the Green Deal forged by its own member Ursula von der Leyen.