Eurotopics.net

France's highly controversial pension reform has finally been passed: after circumventing a parliamentary vote and passing the bill by decree, the government survived two motions of no confidence that could have overturned the entire initiative. As protests continue, commentators discuss what lies ahead for the country.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued an urgent call for immediate and comprehensive action on climate change in its latest report. The pace and scale of action to date, as well as current plans, are insufficient, says the report, which summarises previous findings. The consequences in the form of heat waves, floods and droughts are already being felt, it stresses. What concrete action needs to be taken now?

Romania's Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) wants to revoke the operating licence of insurance company Euroins România due to insolvency. With 2.5 million customers, Euroins was one of the country's market leaders in vehicle liability insurance. The company's liquidity problems had been known to the financial watchdog for some time. Since this is not the first case of this kind, the national press complains about flaws in the system.

On 20 March 2003, the US invaded Iraq with the support of British, Polish and Australian troops. The "Coalition of the willing" succeeded in capturing Baghdad and toppling dictator Saddam Hussein. Since there was no mandate from the UN Security Council, the attack is widely considered to have violated international law. Europe's press debates the grave consequences of the war which are still felt today.