Eurotopics.net

Sweden passed a more liberal law on gender self-identification on Wednesday. Under the new law trans people will no longer be required to undergo a complex psychological diagnosis to change their gender in their passport; a medical report will suffice. In addition, the age for a legal gender change has been lowered to 16, although parental permission is still required, and adults will no longer need the approval of the National Board of Health and Welfare to undergo gender reassignment procedures.

Mass protests have been taking place in Georgia against the adoption of a "foreign agent" law targeting institutions that receive funding from abroad. In March 2023, protests against a similar bill ultimately led to its withdrawal. Commentators discuss the motives behind the legislation and point out parallels with Russia.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's conservative ruling HDZ party has won the parliamentary elections in Croatia. With almost all the votes counted it had secured 60 of the 151 seats in parliament. President Zoran Milanović's social democratic SDP came in second. In third place with 14 seats was the right-wing populist Homeland Movement, with which Plenković may have to form a coalition to stay in power.

In the aftermath of the attack on Crocus City Hall near Moscow, for which Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility, fears of attacks by Islamist terrorists are growing in other countries. France has declared the highest terror alert level, while German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the threat posed by IS in Germany as "acute". Commentators discuss appropriate European responses.