Eurotopics.net

The EU's interior ministers failed to reach an agreement on binding conditions for taking in Afghan asylum seekers at their special summit last week. Despite the strong desire to reach a consensus, the EU Commission failed due to opposition from Austria, Hungary, Denmark and Slovenia, among others. Instead, Afghanistan's neighbouring countries are now to receive money for taking in refugees. Europe's press is incensed.

Contrary to their promises, the Taliban have presented a transitional Afghan government consisting solely of people from their own ranks. Security-related portfolios went to jihad-oriented Taliban and the interior minister is a wanted terrorist. Today's commentaries reflect the world's concerns.

Nearly six years after the terrorist attacks of November 2015 in which more than 130 people were killed, the trial of the suspected attackers began in Paris on Wednesday. The hearings will be recorded on video and made public. Commentators praise the legal process yet are concerned that other things have been overlooked.

The Danish government presented a labour market reform on Monday. Among other things it includes measures aimed at encouraging more migrants to seek work: those who have been receiving unemployment benefits for a long time will in future be obliged to do up to 37 hours of community service a week. The country's press welcomes the initiative but suspects that it will be difficult to implement.