Eurotopics.net

Lithuanian investigators have recently discovered that cardboard producer Grigeo Klaipėda has been releasing untreated wastewater directly into the Caronian Lagoon for years. The scandal has also revived anger over Vilnius water supply company Vilniaus Vandenys pouring unprocessed plastic waste into the Neris River for years. Will these scandals lead to changes in the country?

Shortly before two regional elections in Italy Luigi Di Maio has resigned as leader of the Five Star Movement. He intends to remain in his post as foreign minister, however. European media discuss the reasons for the surprise move and examine the repercussions for the governing coalition in Rome.

In the fight against the recently discovered coronavirus, China's leadership has put the city of Wuhan, where the majority of cases have occurred, under quarantine. According to official sources the virus, which can cause severe pneumonia, has claimed 17 lives so far. While some commentators praise Beijing's swift response and warn against panicmongering, others fear the disease could spread despite preventive measures.

France and the US have reached a temporary agreement in their dispute over a French digital tax on tech giants to avoid a trade war. Paris has announced it will postpone the prepayments due on the digital tax it introduced in July 2019 until the end of this year. In return, the United States will refrain from imposing retaliatory tariffs on products such as wine and cheese. Will the tax now become a European project?

Romania's liberal government under Prime Minister Ludovic Orban (PNL), which has only been in office since October, is in trouble. It must implement a 40 percent hike in pensions announced under the previous social democratic PSD government even though it doesn't have the funds. Does the PNL need to get more creative in its search for alternatives?

Greece has its first woman president after Katerina Sakellaropoulou was elected by a large cross-party majority in the Greek parliament on Wednesday. But not all Greek media see this as a sign of progress.