Eurotopics.net

Whereas the EU's calls for the Turkish government to stop drilling for gas in the Eastern Mediterranean "immediately" fell on deaf ears, France has sided with Athens and intends to boost its military presence in the disputed region. Germany, on the other hand, has yet to take a clear stance on the issue. Some commentators criticise this sharply and wonder why.

In their declaration after an emergency summit on Wednesday the EU leaders said they do not recognise the results of the Belarus's presidential election and condemn the violence against demonstrators. Some commentators criticise that the EU is playing a cynical game with the Belarusians. Others praise the bloc's diplomatic approach.

Joe Biden has cleared the last hurdle on the way to becoming a US presidential candidate and has now been nominated officially to run for office for the Democrats against Donald Trump on 3 November. Commentators wonder how Biden will reconcile his promise to unite the country with the differences within the party, and they also analyse Barack Obama's influence.

The Dutch Parliament has rejected pay rises for the entire care sector by a narrow margin. Voices from the government camp decided the outcome of the vote. Led by right-wing populist Geert Wilders, the opposition had proposed the pay rise to reward nursing staff for their hard work during the coronavirus crisis. Commentators voice understanding for the government's position on one side, but anger about the debate on the other.

In Mali, the military has ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The head of state, who faces accusations of corruption and a lack of security, announced his resignation. The spokesman for the soldiers who carried out the coup has said that new elections will be held as soon as possible. Mali's armed forces also rely on the support of troops from France, Germany and the UN, who had hoped that supporting the country's military would give them more control over Islamist forces in the north of the country.