Eurotopics.net

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in China to make up for a visit he cancelled in February. On Sunday he met with his counterpart Qin Gang, who pointed to the Taiwan controversy as the main problem in the relations between the two countries. Today Blinken is scheduled to meet with chief diplomat Wang Yi. Europe's press discusses how current tensions between Washington and Beijing can be reduced.

After the shipwreck off the southwest coast of Greece in which hundreds of people are presumed to have died, the Greek coast guard is under fire. According to media reports, survivors claim that the boat capsized because attempts were made to drag it towards Italy. The Greek side denies this, saying that its offers to help were rejected. Commentators voice shock and dismay.

A clear majority voted in favour of a new climate protection law in a referendum held in Switzerland on Sunday. Almost 60 percent of those who cast their ballots support a gradual reduction of oil and gas consumption and the goal of making the country CO2-neutral by 2050. To this end the state plans to provide subsidies for climate-friendly heating systems and investments. A major step forward?

As agreed when forming the coalition government in 2021, Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă (PNL) has now vacated his post to make way for Marcel Ciolacu from the coalition partner PSD. In his inaugural speech Ciolacu proposed "economic patriotism" to get Romania out of its current economic crisis. Romanians should no longer be "the modern slaves" of Europe, he said. Commentators examine this change of course.