Eurotopics.net

Spain has been downgraded from the highest category of "full democracy" to the second category of "flawed democracy" in The Economist's Democracy Index reviewing 2021. With a score of 7.94 (compared to 8.12 points in 2020), the country now ranks 24th (22nd in 2020). Commentators blame the dispute over the independence of the judiciary for the drop in ranking but take different views on who is to blame.

As Europe battles with a sharp rise in gas and oil prices, researchers have achieved a breakthrough on the path to generating emissions-free energy through nuclear fusion. Scientists working on the world's biggest fusion research experiment, Joint European Torus (JET), at the Culham Centre for Fusion Research in the UK have achieved a record release of energy in a five-second 'pulse'. Europe's press discusses ways out of the energy and climate crisis.

For weeks observers have been speculating about what Russia intends to do with its roughly 125,000 troops stationed near the Ukrainian border. A full-blown attack? Just making the West nervous? Now plans for a large military exercise in Belarus near the border with Poland and Ukraine have been announced - according to official accounts to practice fending off an enemy attack. Europe's observers believe war is still unlikely.

Last week, Meta wrote that it would not be able to offer certain "products and services", including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe" unless legally secure ways were found to transfer personal data from Europe to the US. Meta has since denied that this statement was in fact a threat to leave Europe. Commentators are not too worried anyway.

After the resignation of Sebastian Kurz, the ruling conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) has now been rocked by another scandal. Messages from mobile phone chats of former Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka that have now become public show that he interfered with the allocation of key posts in the police force. Sobotka, who is currently president of the National Council, wants to head a committee of inquiry into allegations of corruption against his own party. Commentators call for reform.