Eurotopics.net

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is considering launching infringement proceedings against Germany. On May 5 the country's Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the ECB's bond-buying programme partially contravened German law because it did not respect the principle of proportionality. Von der Leyen argues that the EU, and not national instances, is responsible for monetary policy. What is behind the dispute?

The Turkish lira was already under pressure before the coronavirus crisis. Since the outbreak of the pandemic in Turkey it has dropped 20 percent, hitting a record low against the dollar last week. President Erdoğan is blaming foreign financial companies. The pro-government press agrees but opposition voices take a very different view.

On Wednesday evening Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte presented the government's coronavirus aid package. The package is called the "Rilancio" (relaunch) and comprises 55 billion euros in funding for businesses, families and the unemployed. The national press is sceptical about the proposed measures.

In most European countries governments have set up emergency programmes of one form or another to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. But is everything possible being done for everyone, and are the programmes effective? Commentators have their doubts.