Eurotopics.net

Eurozone finance ministers on Thursday approved a recommendation by the EU Commission to end the enhanced economic surveillance of Greece, noting that the country had successfully fulfilled most of its obligations. This closes a chapter that began in 2010 in the wake of the financial and economic crisis. The national press nonetheless sees little reason to celebrate.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have arrived in Ukraine. Paris and Berlin in particular have been harshly criticised for their attitude towards Putin. What can the three politicians achieve with their mission?

Brussels is launching legal proceedings against the bill with which the British government aims to circumvent the Northern Ireland Protocol. EU Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič has called the plans illegal and announced two new infringement proceedings as well as the reopening of a previous lawsuit. For London this could mean having to appear before the European Court of Justice and pay a fine.

The ECB's Governing Council has held an emergency meeting just one week after announcing an interest rate hike. The monetary watchdog is concerned about the rise in yields on government bonds which followed the announcement and which poses a problem for highly indebted countries like Italy. Among other measures, the ECB plans to help these countries by reinvesting redemptions from maturing bonds.