Eurotopics.net

The EU Commission has announced that it is suspending all subsidies to the Agrofert conglomerate, which formerly belonged to Andrej Babiš, due to a conflict of interest. It has concluded that via the company he has profited from EU subsidies allocated by the government of which he is head. But Czech papers doubt the decision will prompt Babiš to give up any power.

This week a draft law was presented to the Russian Duma that would make derogatory statements about the state and its representatives and the deliberate spreading of socially relevant fake news punishable offences. Russian commentators discuss what goals the government is pursuing with this legislation.

Macron's concessions to the yellow vest protesters are set to cost eight to ten billion euros per year, according to the French government. Although the danger exists that France could exceed the deficit limit set by the EU, Brussels has sent nothing but positive signals. Some commentators are incensed that the French can apparently pick and choose precisely what suits them best.

The municipal government of Denmark's second-largest city Aarhus plans to introduce a vegan menu option in public institutions such as kindergartens and retirement homes. It says the step is aimed at helping to reduce CO2 emissions. Danish media take a critical view of the plan and lament that what people eat has become a political issue.

Theresa May won yesterday's vote of no-confidence by 200 votes to 117. But the number of votes against her was still high in view of the fact that previously the talk had been of there being 60 to 80 Brexit hardliners among the Tory MPs. This, coupled with her party's slim majority in the House of Commons, doesn't bode well for May's political future. Has the vote nonetheless strengthened her position?

After the fatal attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg in which two people were killed and several more wounded, investigators continue to search for the chief suspect, a 29-year-old who had previously been identified as a threat to public safety. The investigators suspect it was a terrorist attack driven by Islamist motives. What repercussions will it have for the already divided country?