Eurotopics.net

The British government has announced plans to introduce a points-based system for immigration in 2021: only skilled workers with at least university entrance-level qualifications and adequate English skills will be allowed into the country. In addition they must earn a salary of at least 25,600 pounds per year as employees. EU citizens will no longer enjoy special treatment. Johnson's supporters are delighted - Europe's press is divided.

Billionaire and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken part in the Democrats' ninth televised US primary debate. Critical comments about feminism and other controversial statements disqualify him as a candidate, some commentators say. Others see the successful businessman as a suitable challenger for President Trump.

The sense of relief was not long-lived: on Tuesday Osman Kavala and eight others were acquitted in the Gezi Park trial, but only a few hours later Kavala was re-arrested, this time in connection with the attempted coup in 2016 according to the state news agency. Europe's commentators are dismayed.

The Bulgarian government has announced that it wants more time before converting to the euro. There is not yet a social consensus on the country applying to join the exchange rate mechanism (ERM2), Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said on Tuesday. Commentators examine the advantages of the single currency and the reasons for scepticism.

The Czech Constitutional Court has dismissed appeals against a law introduced three years ago prohibiting members of the government from holding media and bidding for public contracts. To comply with the law Prime Minister Andrej Babiš had to put his companies into trusts. Now he has stated that he wlll withdraw from politics if his Ano movement loses the 2021 parliamentary elections.