Eurotopics.net

Germany stopped taking in refugees from Italy at the end of August citing Italy's refusal to take back migrants who arrived in Europe via Italy and then travelled on to other countries, as it is obliged to do under EU law. Rome counters that it already has too many refugees: more than 7,000 people arrived on Lampedusa on Tuesday and Wednesday alone. Commentators are concerned by several aspects of the issue.

Storm Daniel has caused severe flooding in eastern Libya. The port city of Derna is particularly hard hit. More than 11,000 people have died and more than 10,000 are still missing after two apparently dilapidated dams burst under the pressure of the water masses. The country has been in crisis for years and this latest disaster only adds to the people's plight, commentators stress.

The spiral of violence including shootings and deaths in several Swedish cities continues - despite new measures introduced by the conservative government. In the last few days alone, four people have been killed in the Stockholm-Uppsala area. The latest victim is a teenager who was shot dead in a Stockholm suburb on Thursday night. The government has neglected the problem for too long, the national press criticises.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has delivered her final State of the Union address before the European elections 2024. She painted a picture of an EU that stands united behind Ukraine, that is taking unprecedented measures to fight climate catastrophe and that can move towards enlargement without becoming ineffectual. She made no mention of a potential second term in office. Commentators take a closer look at her statements.