Eurotopics.net

The veto imposed by Hungary and Poland on the EU's long term budget from 2021 to 2027 is causing a flurry across Europe, also because it will block the billions from the coronavirus recovery fund. The financial crisis in many countries could help push through the rule of law mechanism, some commentators believe. Others see the bloc's identity and values hanging in the balance.

According to the terms of the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia must hand over the first of several areas to Azerbaijan on Sunday. The agreement stipulates that both parties will be allowed to keep those areas in which they currently have control - which for Armenia means heavy losses. Observers discuss how best to ensure stability in those areas that are left under Armenian control.

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday announced far-reaching economic and judicial reforms aimed at stabilising the legal situation and improving the investment climate. The Turkish economy has experienced a huge slump in 2020 and the lira has also plunged in value. Commentators discuss what reforms Erdoğan is referring to and which ones would really be attractive for the country.

Sweden's government is intensifying the measures against coronavirus. No more than eight people will be allowed to gather in public, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has announced. Up to now the upper limit had been 50 and in some cases 300 people. For a long time, Sweden went its own way with relatively lax measures and appeals to people's common sense rather than rules. This change of course is therefore attracting a lot of attention.

Although the government had banned traditional demonstrations because of the pandemic, several hundred people gathered in Athens on Tuesday to commemorate the student uprising of 17 November 1973, including members of the Greek Communist Party KKE. The police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. There were also demonstrations and incidents of police violence in other cities.