Eurotopics.net

Pope Francis has apologised to Canada's Indigenous Peoples for the mistreatment of their children in Catholic residential schools. The Canadian government acknowledged decades of physical and sexual abuse in the country's residential schools and in 2008 promised some 14 billion euros in compensation to Indigenous communities. How significant is the pope's gesture?

After Finland lifted Covid travel restrictions for non-EU citizens, Russian holidaymakers are also among those travelling to the country. And now that the value of the rouble has risen against the euro, cross-border shopping sprees are also popular once more. A number of Finnish parties are calling for a suspension of tourist visas for Russians. The nation's press is divided.

In Romania, a bill presented to parliament by the country's new government has sparked outrage. Under the draft law the National Council for the Accreditation of Academic Degrees (CNATDCU) is to be dissolved and civil liability for plagiarism is to expire after three years. The Romanian press is convinced that the controversial reform proposals are motivated by the plagiarism accusations against Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă.

For more than a week now EU countries have been discussing the EU Commission's proposal for a gas emergency plan. This would require member states to voluntarily cut their gas use by 15 percent and help each other out in case of shortages. After Russia announced further reductions in the supplies sent via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline as of Wednesday, an official agreement is expected today. Europe's press reflects a struggle for solidarity.

In a speech to representatives of the Hungarian minority in Romania, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticised the sanctions against Russia and the policy of supplying weapons to Ukraine and called for peace negotiations instead. He also caused a stir with comments about the supposed purity of the Hungarian race. Europe's press is outraged.