Eurotopics.net

In Romania, the powers of both the domestic and foreign intelligence services SRI and SIE are to be expanded. According to a draft law presented by the two agencies which was leaked to the press, they would no longer be subject to parliamentary control, and would be able to set up companies themselves and be granted immunity for their intelligence officers, among other things. The national press views the initiative with suspicion.

After the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, the European Central Bank is also hiking interest rates. It announced a raise of 0.25 percentage points in the key interest rate from July - the first increase in more than ten years. In view of record inflation levels, which are currently around eight percent across the Eurozone, the move was expected and even welcomed. For Europe's commentators, however, many questions remain unanswered.

As of 2035 no more new cars or vans with combustion engines are to be sold in the EU. The EU Parliament voted for a ban on such vehicles from that year on. The new regulation has yet to be confirmed by the EU Commission and member states.

The dispute in Bulgaria's governing coalition has escalated: the populist ITN party led by pop-rock singer Slavi Trifonov announced its withdrawal from the four-party coalition, whereupon Prime Minister Kiril Petkov proposed the formation of a minority government. The dispute started over Petkov's desire for a rapprochement with neighbouring North Macedonia. Could new elections solve the problem?

After more than ten years of preparation, Switzerland has become a new member of the UN Security Council. The country was elected to the Council by the General Assembly in New York with 187 votes out of 192 states present. Its term of office begins on 1 January 2023 and will last two years, until the end of 2024. A rise in status for the country or an additional burden?