Eurotopics.net

The EU Parliament, first convened in the autumn of 1952 as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community, is marking its 70th anniversary. At the time, members were appointed by national parliaments rather than directly elected. Europe's press emphasises the steadily growing importance of the legislative body.

After air strikes on the Kurdish PKK and YPG in Syria and Iraq, Turkey is now considering deploying ground troops. Ankara has justified these strikes by describing them as a reaction to the attack in Istanbul's İstiklal pedestrian shopping street, although both Kurdish militias have denied any responsibility for the bombing. For many media outlets the reasons for Turkey's strikes lie elsewhere.

The world football federation Fifa has threatened to impose sanctions on players who wear armbands with the inscription "One Love" on the pitch at the World Cup in Qatar. This prompted several teams to announce that they will not wear the bands, which symbolise solidarity with human rights and diversity. Europe's press sees embarrassing mistakes on several fronts.