Eurotopics.net

The leaders gathered at the Nato summit which began on Tuesday in Vilnius have presented their stance on Ukraine joining the alliance. In answer to a speech by President Volodymyr Zelensky making the case for Ukraine's speedy admission, the alliance held out the prospect of accession only if certain conditions are met, such as the war having ended and further democratisation. Commentators weigh up the significance of the decision.

The EU Parliament will vote today on a new Nature Restoration Law which foresees measures aimed at improving the poor state of many protected habitats in at least 20 percent of land and marine areas in the EU by 2030. The law has been the subject of fierce protests also from the European People's Party, which is thus opposing a key component of the Green Deal forged by its own member Ursula von der Leyen.

Israel's parliament on Monday approved key parts of the controversial judicial reform proposed by Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing ultra-orthodox government. Under the new legislation the Supreme Court would no longer be able to prevent laws from being passed on the grounds that they are unconstitutional. After mass protests, Netanyahu had halted the reform in March in favour of further discussions. Now new massive demonstrations have erupted.

In the run-up to the Nato summit taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday in Vilnius. Now that Sweden has been granted accession, the big question remains when Ukraine will become a member. While countries like Poland, the Baltic states, France and Ukraine itself are calling for the country to be admitted as soon as the war ends, others like the US want to offer comprehensive security guarantees rather than swift accession.