Eurotopics.net

EU leaders convened for a special summit on Monday to discuss how to finance more spending on defence. Although no agreement was reached on joint European debt, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a generous interpretation of the debt rules. In addition to defence spending, commentators discuss the larger geopolitical issues at stake.

A long-prepared and technically complicated step is due to take place as quietly as possible this weekend: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to sever their last remaining connection with the post-Soviet electricity system, known as the Brell ring, on Saturday. Once certain test runs have been completed they will then synchronise their electricity grids with the rest of Europe, probably on Sunday. Commentators take a closer look.

The partners in the four-party governing coalition have agreed on a joint candidate to run in the repeat of the Romanian presidential election in May: Crin Antonescu, a former head of the national-liberal PNL who has been absent from the political scene for the last decade. Commentators assess his chances but are already incensed by his plans to campaign against gay pride parades.

Donald Trump has imposed a 25 percent tariff on goods coming from Mexico and Canada, together with a ten percent tariff on Canadian energy imports and all goods from China. The US President justified the move saying it was aimed at countering the threat of "illegal aliens and deadly drugs" crossing US borders. The three affected countries have announced countermeasures. Europe's press shows little understanding for Trump's move.