Eurotopics.net

The coronavirus crisis is making it even more difficult for asylum-seekers to reach Europe. Italy and Malta have closed their ports to private sea rescue vessels and a ship belonging to aid organisation SeaEye carrying 150 refugees has been waiting for twelve days to enter a European port. Is the pandemic serving as an excuse for blocking access to Europe, or are there good reasons for stringent measures?

The international hotel booking website booking.com is requesting millions of dollars in state aid due to the corona crisis. According to media reports the company deliberately neglected to create reserves in order to keep its share price at an artificially high level. Journalists in the Netherlands, where the company has its headquarters, are seething with anger.

President Trump on Tuesday put US contributions to the World Health Organization on hold pending a review of the role played by the WHO in the "poor handling and cover-up of the spread of coronavirus". Commentators find criticism of the organisation appropriate but take very different views of Trump's decision.

The Italian government has announced that it will not accept 39 billion euros from the EU's coronavirus rescue package. Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Antonio Misiani said his country would only use the aid for short-time work schemes and the loans from the European Investment Bank. What is behind this rejection?