With its US partnership on the rocks, the EU is looking for new ways to bolster its defence. One option is to involve Turkey, with its strong army and arms industry. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has reportedly suggested that EU member states seek closer cooperation with Erdoğan. Turkey's strong man, for his part, has repeatedly stressed the 'strategic priority' of Turkey joining the EU. Is a major deal in the pipeline?
Donald Trump has issued a presidential order stipulating massive cuts to Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other US international broadcasters. According to media reports, around 1,300 employees have already been placed on administrative leave. Since the Cold War, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has played a key role as an independent voice in autocracies and dictatorships worldwide. Commentators discuss how to respond.
More than 100,000 demonstrators marched against corruption under President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Saturday. Observers talk of this being the biggest popular rally since the fall of Slobodan Milošević 25 years ago. The months-long unrest was triggered by the fatal collapse of a roof at Novi Sad train station, which has been blamed on shoddy construction and cronyism. Europe's press chimes in.
In the early spring of 2020, Europe became a hotspot of the Covid-19 pandemic that first broke out in China. Most countries responded with restrictions that brought massive changes to people's everyday lives. Commentators in Europe's press recall how Covid - and the countermeasures - changed life and society with effects that are still being felt to this day.
Russia has agreed in principle to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. "The idea itself is correct and we certainly support it, but there are issues that we need to discuss," Putin said, stressing the need to "eliminate the original causes of the crisis". He added that the continued presence of the Ukrainian army in the Kursk region was a key obstacle.
The EU Commission has reacted swiftly to US tariffs of 25 percent on imports of steel and aluminium from Europe and announced plans to impose tariffs on 26 billion euros worth of US imports, including bourbon whiskey, jeans, motorbikes, boats and peanut butter, as of 1 April. In reaction to the announcement, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent on wine and champagne from the EU.