Romania's central electoral bureau has barred the right-wing populist politician Călin Georgescu from the re-run of the presidential election on 4 May. Georgescu plans to challenge the decision. After he won the first round of the presidential election in November, the vote was annulled by the country's Constitutional Court due to allegations of Russian meddling. Commentators take stock.

Syria is experiencing its deadliest outbreak of violent clashes since the new government took power three months ago. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights more than 1,300 people have been killed in the country's coastal region, including at least 830 members of the Alawite minority, to which ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad also belongs. Observers accuse government affiliated security forces of massacres. Europe's press voices concern.

At an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday, the EU member states decided to boost their defence spending and fund a massive rearmament push. Debt rules are to be relaxed for military investments and up to 150 billion euros are to be made available in EU loans. A declaration on further support for Ukraine was adopted without Hungary's participation. Mixed feelings in the press.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to meet with his European partners to discuss the possibility of extending the French nuclear umbrella to other countries. France and its 'Force de frappe' consisting of around 290 nuclear warheads has been the EU's only nuclear power since the Brexit. Europe's press examines the pros and cons.

International Women's Day will be celebrated on 8 March, with women and men around the world taking to the streets to demonstrate against discrimination, violence and oppression. Europe's press takes stock and identifies a potential backwards trend.

Six people have been arrested in Romania on suspicion of treason and collusion with Russia. The move comes after the Russian military attaché and his deputy were expelled. According to an Italian intelligence service report, Russia orchestrated numerous hybrid attacks aimed at bolstering the far-right former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu. Moscow's foreign intelligence service SVR has now accused the EU leadership of pressuring Romania into bringing charges against Georgescu.