Eurotopics.net

The vote to open accession negotiations with Ukraine at last week's EU summit remains a big topic of discussion in Europe's press. Commentators are worried by the fact that the required unanimity for the decision was only achieved because Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán left the room at the crucial moment. But looking forward also raises major questions about the process.

The EU promised not just Ukraine but also the Republic of Moldova accession negotiations at its most recent summit. Commentators agree that the decision was mainly driven by the fact that the small southern European country is a target of Russia's attempts at destabilisation, but are at odds over how realistic it is that Moldova will join the bloc anytime soon.

Israel has, as announced, continued its operations against the radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip despite the latest UN resolution. But now a terrible mistake has been made: three of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas were accidentally shot dead by Israeli soldiers. Commentators discuss whether this is a sign that Israel should change its strategy.

The nationalist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) under President Aleksandar Vučić appears to have won a sweeping victory in snap parliamentary elections in Serbia. Projections put the SNS at 46 percent, with the liberal alliance Serbia Against Violence in second place with 24 percent. The opposition accuses the governing camp of manipulation, including issuing fake passports.