Eurotopics.net

In Germany, Last Generation climate activists are out en masse, blocking roads in and around Berlin. On Monday alone, activists glued themselves to the tarmac in more than 40 blockades. Similar protests have been taking place all across Europe for months, with the aim of stressing the urgency of the climate crisis.

Speculation about a new Ukrainian offensive in the country's war against its Russia aggressors is becoming increasingly specific. Ukrainian troops have allegedly taken a narrow strip on the left bank of the Dnipro opposite Kherson. In Bakhmut, however, they are still under pressure. Commentators sound out the long term prospects for the war.

Ireland is set to have a budget surplus of around ten billion euros this year, according to Finance Minister Michael McGrath. The main reason is that corporate tax revenues are much higher than expected. By 2026 the annual surplus is set to rise to over 20 billion euros. Commentators discuss what to throw the money at.

Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria are sticking to their import bans for Ukrainian grain, allowing only conditional onward transit. Their markets have been flooded with grain from Ukraine because the intended land transit routes for its grain exports have become exceedingly expensive and complicated and traffic on the shipping routes has been reduced despite the grain deal. The EU Commission now plans to introduce temporary restrictions to bring the blockade to an end.