Eurotopics.net

The decriminalisation of active euthanasia has had a broad majority in the Portuguese parliament for years. However, two bills adopted by the MPs ultimately failed after being vetoed by the country's president and the Constitutional Court. Now the parliament is deliberating on another draft. The national press has different views on the chances of success.

During the French President's state visit to the US, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron demonstrated unity and assured Ukraine of their joint support. Immediately before the meeting Macron had described the US subsidies for American producers of environmentally friendly technologies as "super aggressive". Commentators fear a new trade dispute in which Europe will be at a disadvantage.

Following air strikes against the Kurdish PKK and YPG in Syria and Iraq, Turkey is now considering deploying ground troops there. Ankara has justified the strikes saying they are a reaction to the attack in Istanbul's İstiklal pedestrian shopping street, although both Kurdish militias have denied being behind the bombing. For many media outlets, the reasons for Turkey's strikes lie elsewhere.

In Russia, the regulations on "foreign agents" (inoagenty) were tightened on 1 December. Among other things, documented financing from abroad is no longer necessary for a person or organisation to be classified as such. All it takes is for the authorities to declare that they are "under foreign influence". In addition, there is now a public central register listing the 350 or so persons and organisations currently affected.