In an interview with the Financial Times, former Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has hinted at the possibility of Ukraine joining Nato with only the parts of its national territory it currently controls. The security guarantees of the alliance would then only apply to these parts, just as they initially applied only to West Germany when the Federal Republic joined Nato in 1955, he explained. Europe's press discusses the idea.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have exchanged verbal blows in the European Parliament. Hungary currently holds the EU Council's rotating presidency. Orbán's speech, in which he called for fundamental changes in European policy, has drawn both fierce criticism and applause.
Portugal's media are in the midst of a severe financial crisis. The liberal-conservative government under Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has now proposed a rescue plan, including major restrictions on advertising on public broadcaster RTP, which is to be restructured and streamlined through cutbacks. The national press discusses the proposals.
According to preliminary results, Tunisia's authoritarian President Kais Saied has been re-elected with 90.7 percent of the vote. The voter turnout was only 29 percent, however. Opposition parties had called on Tunisians to boycott the election because only two opposition candidates were allowed to run. Commentators criticise Europe's stance vis-à-vis the developments in Tunisia.
Five months ago the Croatian government coalition formed by the conservative HDZ and the far-right Homeland Movement (DP) created a new Ministry of Demographics. Now DP politician Ivan Šipić, the Minister for Demographics, has presented his first proposals for boosting the country's birth rate. Commentators take stock and discuss the even more drastic measures being taken in Russia.
France's new government under Prime Minister Michel Barnier has survived its first vote of no confidence. The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance comprising the leftist LFI, Socialists, Greens and Communists only managed to muster 197 of the 289 votes needed to pass their motion. The alliance criticised the centre-right government for not representing the will of the electorate. The national press takes a look behind the scenes.
Since Hamas's attack and the massacre of 7 October, Israel has been battling Hamas in Gaza and has now also launched a major offensive against the Islamist-Shiite Hezbollah organisation in Lebanon. The Middle East conflict is impacting the entire region. Europe's media cast about for ways to untangle the web of conflicts.
Speaking at an election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump brought a prominent supporter on stage: entrepreneur Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, X) told the crowd that the Republican must win "to preserve democracy in America". Trump hinted several times that Musk could be given a high-ranking post related to economic affairs if he becomes president. Europe's press reacts.
After decades of wrangling, the UK last week agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. However, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that London would retain control of the military base Diego Garcia, which is also used by the US. Commentators are at odds over the decision.