Eurotopics.net

Despite fierce criticism, also from within his own party, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer is sticking to his plan to enshrine the right to pay with cash as a fundamental right in the constitution. He reaffirmed his proposal to this effect in a video message addressed to the nation on the weekend. The national press weighs in on the issue.

The counter-offensive launched by Ukraine on June 4 in its defensive war against Russia seems to be faltering, with the country failing to make significant territorial gains so far. European countries are discussing further weapons deliveries, including the German Taurus cruise missiles with a range of more than 500 kilometres that Kyiv has requested. A sense of impatience predominates in the commentaries.

An AEK Athens fan was stabbed to death on August 7 in violent clashes ahead of a Champions League qualification match between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb. Between 150 and 200 Croatian hooligans had travelled to Athens despite a ban on visiting fans. While the Greek press voices outrage at the violence and the authorities' lack of action, a debate has flared up in Croatia over the treatment of the 105 detainees.

Three years have passed since the mass protests that erupted in Belarus in August 2020 after the presidential elections were brutally quashed by long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenka. Europe's press sees a connection with Russia's war against Ukraine and expresses hopes that change will come to the country.

The Taiwanese corporation TSMC is building a new semiconductor plant in Dresden. TSMC has a market share of almost 60 percent in the semiconductor sector, which is vital for microelectronics. Germany has agreed to provide five billion euros in subsidies for the plant after promising US company Intel ten billion for a plant in Magdeburg in June. Commentators discuss how much sense the subsidy policy makes in the context of "de-risking" vis-à-vis China.