After months of wrangling, the US House of Representatives has passed a 61-billion dollar aid package for Ukraine. A large proportion of Republicans also voted in favour. Around nine billion dollars will be granted as a loan and 23 billion will be used by the US to replenish it own military stockpiles. The US Senate is due to vote on the package today. Europe's press examines the implications of the decision.
Following several brutal acts of violence, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has announced a new action plan against youth crime. This "surge of authority" will involve greater severity and swifter punishment, as well as stepped up prevention and educational support. Parents who "neglect" their children are to be sanctioned, for example. Sensible, or action for action's sake?
The European elections in June will not only decide the future composition of the European Parliament, but also who becomes the President of the EU Commission. The heads of state and government must reach an agreement and the Parliament must give its consent. For the European press it is by no means certain that Ursula von der Leyen will secure a second mandate as president even if her EPP remains the strongest group in the Parliament.
In the wake of the Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel the situation in the Middle East remains tense. US President Joe Biden had urged Israel to show restraint. On Friday, there were explosions at an airbase in the Iranian region of Isfahan. Israel has not commented on speculation that this was an attack. Europe's press weighs up the situation.
The semi-autonomous Moldovan region of Gagauzia is consolidating its ties with Russia. It will join the Russian payment system Mir, and Moscow has authorised the import of Gagauz agricultural exports and promised cheaper gas deliveries, according to the region's governor Yevgenia Guțul, who belongs to the pro-Russian Șor party. Commentators debate whether Moldova is now at risk of losing control of a second region after Transnistria.
The European Council has announced innovations aimed at increasing the EU's competitiveness. A controversial report put forward by former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta proposes extending the single market to energy, telecommunications and finances and authorising Brussels to grant direct subsidies to companies. Concrete measures are to be agreed after the EU elections. Europe's press suspects that reaching a consensus won't be easy.
According to a new Eurobarometer survey, 81 percent of citizens believe that voting is more important than ever in view of the current geopolitical situation. 60 percent indicated interest in the upcoming European elections - an increase of 11 percentage points compared to surveys before the last EU elections in May 2019. Europe's press comments.
Sweden passed a more liberal law on gender self-identification on Wednesday. Under the new law trans people will no longer be required to undergo a complex psychological diagnosis to change their gender in their passport; a medical report will suffice. In addition, the age for a legal gender change has been lowered to 16, although parental permission is still required, and adults will no longer need the approval of the National Board of Health and Welfare to undergo gender reassignment procedures.
Mass protests have been taking place in Georgia against the adoption of a "foreign agent" law targeting institutions that receive funding from abroad. In March 2023, protests against a similar bill ultimately led to its withdrawal. Commentators discuss the motives behind the legislation and point out parallels with Russia.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's conservative ruling HDZ party has won the parliamentary elections in Croatia. With almost all the votes counted it had secured 60 of the 151 seats in parliament. President Zoran Milanović's social democratic SDP came in second. In third place with 14 seats was the right-wing populist Homeland Movement, with which Plenković may have to form a coalition to stay in power.
Following the internationally coordinated and effective air defence against the Iranian attack on Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the West to show similar resolve in protecting Ukrainian airspace against Russian attacks, arguing that the example of Israel shows that Nato membership is not necessary for a country to be defended in this way. Europe's press compares the situations of the two countries.