Eurotopics.net

France and Germany have celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, which is seen as the cornerstone of the friendship between the formerly hostile states. Chancellor Scholz thanked France "from the bottom of his heart", while President Macron called for the two countries to be the "pioneers in the refoundation of Europe". Not all media share the euphoria.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin's policy of partially cutting off Europe's gas supplies in reaction to sanctions caused great anxiety among politicians, business representatives and the population - in particular regarding winter energy supplies. But although the winter is here and a major crisis has failed to materialise, Europe cannot yet rest on its laurels, commentators warn.

In January 1991, opponents of Latvia's independence from the Soviet Union attempted to violently overthrow the fledgling republic and restore the previous system of rule. In response, citizens erected barricades to protect strategically important buildings. Commentators look back on these times and discuss their ramifications in the current situation.

More than 1.1 million people demonstrated against the planned pension reform in France on Thursday, according to the country's Interior Ministry. The trade unions put that figure at more than two million.The pension reform, which President Macron has called "fair and responsible", involves raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. Europe's press discusses whether the project is legitimate in its current form.