Eurotopics.net

The row over Poland's judicial reform is heating up: this morning, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that the Disciplinary Chamber at the Supreme Court violates EU law. For its part the Polish Constitutional Tribunal was due to decide today whether European law is compatible with the Polish constitution, but has now postponed the ruling without further explanation. If it decides that the constitution takes precedence over EU law, observers say there can only be one conclusion.

First Italy, and now France and Greece are also introducing compulsory Covid vaccination in the health and care sectors. French President Emmanuel Macron is giving workers until mid-September to be vaccinated, after which controls will be introduced. While some commentators speak out strongly for or against compulsory vaccination, others say it may not even be feasible in the health sector.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Havana since Sunday to protest against the government, its handling of the pandemic and the rampant economic crisis. They risk being sent to prison because such rallies are illegal in Cuba. More than 100 people have been arrested or gone missing, including foreign journalists, and at least one person has died.

The Action and Solid Party (PAS), which has close ties to pro-EU president Maia Sandu, won a clear victory in Moldova's parliamentary election on Sunday with 52.8 percent of the vote. The pro-Russian communists and socialists under Sandu's predecessor Igor Dodon trailed behind with just 27.2 percent. With their previous parliamentary majority, Dodon's supporters had blocked the formation of a government for months.