Eurotopics.net

The number of cases of coronavirus in Italy has spiked within 48 hours to more than 200 cases. A dozen towns in the north of the country with a total of 50,000 inhabitants have been closed off. Many events including the grand finale of the carnival in Venice have been cancelled. Europe's commentators discuss whether these measures can stop the spread of the virus.

The special summit in Brussels aimed at agreeing the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 has ended without results. EU Council President Charles Michel had proposed a budget amounting to 1.074 percent of the EU's combined gross national income. However, some countries called for that sum to be higher while net contributors like Germany wanted to pay just 1.0 percent. Europe's press is disappointed and demands changes.

Germany remains in shock after a right-wing extremist assailant shot dead nine people in two shisha bars in the German city of Hanau last week before killing his mother and himself. The political climate in the country is shifting, and politicians, the media and society are also to blame, Europe's media believe.

The national-conservative Sweden Democrats sought to bring the top management of Sweden's national broadcaster Sveriges Radio before Parliament to answer accusations that its coverage is not neutral. The move was rejected by the majority of the Riksdag. Sweden's media see press freedom at risk.