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The semi-autonomous Moldovan region of Gagauzia is consolidating its ties with Russia. It will join the Russian payment system Mir, and Moscow has authorised the import of Gagauz agricultural exports and promised cheaper gas deliveries, according to the region's governor Yevgenia Guțul, who belongs to the pro-Russian Șor party. Commentators debate whether Moldova is now at risk of losing control of a second region after Transnistria.

The European Council has announced innovations aimed at increasing the EU's competitiveness. A controversial report put forward by former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta proposes extending the single market to energy, telecommunications and finances and authorising Brussels to grant direct subsidies to companies. Concrete measures are to be agreed after the EU elections. Europe's press suspects that reaching a consensus won't be easy.

According to a new Eurobarometer survey, 81 percent of citizens believe that voting is more important than ever in view of the current geopolitical situation. 60 percent indicated interest in the upcoming European elections - an increase of 11 percentage points compared to surveys before the last EU elections in May 2019. Europe's press comments.

Sweden passed a more liberal law on gender self-identification on Wednesday. Under the new law trans people will no longer be required to undergo a complex psychological diagnosis to change their gender in their passport; a medical report will suffice. In addition, the age for a legal gender change has been lowered to 16, although parental permission is still required, and adults will no longer need the approval of the National Board of Health and Welfare to undergo gender reassignment procedures.

Mass protests have been taking place in Georgia against the adoption of a "foreign agent" law targeting institutions that receive funding from abroad. In March 2023, protests against a similar bill ultimately led to its withdrawal. Commentators discuss the motives behind the legislation and point out parallels with Russia.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's conservative ruling HDZ party has won the parliamentary elections in Croatia. With almost all the votes counted it had secured 60 of the 151 seats in parliament. President Zoran Milanović's social democratic SDP came in second. In third place with 14 seats was the right-wing populist Homeland Movement, with which Plenković may have to form a coalition to stay in power.