Eurotopics.net

The path is clear for North Macedonia and Albania to begin EU accession negotiations. Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations would begin after the North Macedonian parliament approved an EU proposal for a compromise to end the country's dispute with Bulgaria. Commentators see a new dynamic at work in the process.

Covid cases are spiking in several countries. Scientists are also worried about Centaurus, the new virus variant, as well as the fact that previous infections and vaccinations seem to be offering ever shorter protection against the virus. Commentators draw their conclusions.

Israel's security interests, human rights in Saudi Arabia and top of the list, global oil production, were the key points on the agenda: on his tour of the Middle East, US President Joe Biden attempted a balancing act between realpolitik and demands to renounce violence. The European press discusses which of the West's interests carry the most weight and what chances they have of being pushed through.

Half the continent is in the grip of a heatwave, with forest fires raging through southern Europe from Portugal to Greece, harvests drying out and the number of deaths rising. Now Germany and Britain are also facing temperatures of up to 40 degrees. Europe's press discusses solutions for protecting forests and setting priorities in climate protection.

Pope Francis has said he is praying for new negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine. He is not alone. As the battle lines harden on the ground, calls for Ukraine to seek a negotiated solution with Russia as soon as possible are again growing louder in the West in view of looming energy shortages and a global hunger crisis.