Eurotopics.net

The situation on the Ukrainian border remains tense. Although Russia has announced a partial withdrawal of its troops stationed near Ukraine, US and Nato observers are reporting additional mobilisation. Intensified shelling and gunfire on the front in Donbass is also fuelling fears of an imminent escalation.

After Denmark and Sweden, several other European countries including the Czech Republic and Slovakia are planning to lift practically all major coronavirus restrictions as quickly as possible, leaving only the mask requirement in place, at most. Commentators have mixed feelings about this.

Portugal's Constitutional Court has ruled that Portuguese living in other European countries must recast their votes because 150,000 ballots have been declared invalid. Although the victory of the Socialists in the parliamentary election is not in question, the swearing-in of the new government will now be delayed. The national press is annoyed.

In a major defeat for Hungary and Poland, the European Court of Justice has dismissed their complaint against the EU rule of law mechanism, which allows the disbursement of funds from the EU budget to be reduced if their correct use is not guaranteed due to shortcomings in the rule of law. The decision means that Hungary and Poland are now facing financial sanctions. For the most part Europe's press welcomes the ruling.

In the Ukraine crisis, troop movements in the border area are now the main focus of attention. But Europe's press also analyses the economic aspects of the dispute, which began long before the current standoff and will have repercussions for years to come.