Eurotopics.net

The 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp will be commemorated on Monday. The World Holocaust Forum, attended by many world leaders and high-ranking personalities, took place in Jerusalem yesterday, accompanied by discussion of how to deal with the rise of right-wing extremism and controversy over who should be allowed to deliver a speech. The media discuss whose voice should be heard on the Shoah - and why.

Opposition to overcrowded refugee camps is growing on Greece's Aegean Islands. On Wednesday, the inhabitants of Lesbos, Samos and Chios went on a general strike and thousands of people took to the streets demanding the immediate transfer of asylum seekers to other parts of the country. Commentators show understanding for the islanders' anger.

After verbally and physically attacking the staff at a restaurant in Bratislava and causing damage to the premises, Slovakian Environment Minister László Sólymos has announced his immediate resignation. Despite his outburst Slovakia's press is entirely behind him.

With winters getting warmer real snow is becoming increasingly rare in the Alps. Ski races often require the creation of artificial snow pistes in a complicated process that leaves a white track surrounded by brown, snowless areas. In mountainous Switzerland, where skiing is very popular, a debate has broken out about whether the sport has a future in these times of climate change.

The Latvian Building Inspectorate has been investigating the state of residential buildings in ten municipalities, including the largest cities in the country. The alarming result: most buildings show damage requiring expensive repairs, but the revenues from rent are often insufficient to cover such measures, while apartment owners only finance repairs in their own homes. Latvian media call for a change of attitude.

Lithuanian investigators have recently discovered that cardboard producer Grigeo Klaipėda has been releasing untreated wastewater directly into the Caronian Lagoon for years. The scandal has also revived anger over Vilnius water supply company Vilniaus Vandenys pouring unprocessed plastic waste into the Neris River for years. Will these scandals lead to changes in the country?