Eurotopics.net

When the pandemic first took hold, people everywhere said that only through a joint effort could humankind overcome such a crisis. But not much seems to remain of the initial solidarity and willingness to make sacrifices. Commentaries give an idea of the extent to which the sense of disillusionment and exhaustion are the result of political failures.

In this year dominated by the coronavirus, women have played an instrumental part in getting European politics back on track. Commentators praise this development but also note that in other areas gender equality has lost ground rather than advanced.

European media discuss whether the global trend of nationalism and isolationism has peaked and begun to lose momentum in 2020.

For every single person the pandemic means a crisis that must be overcome. Many have lost loved ones and many have to fight for their economic survival, and compounding all this is the loss of normality and daily coexistence. A difficult situation - but also one that offers the possibility to reflect on what really counts.

Following the conditional approval for the first coronavirus vaccine, EU states plan to begin their vaccination programmes on December 27. "We are adding an important chapter to our fight against Covid-19," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the decision. Europe's press also sees the move as a milestone.