Eurotopics.net

The US military says it has attacked more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria that are linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Iranian-backed militias. According to Iraqi sources, at least 16 people were killed. The strikes were Washington's response to the death of three US soldiers in a drone attack in Jordan. Europe's press sees an extremely dangerous situation developing.

After last summer's protests by mainly Eastern European farmers against cheap grain from Ukraine, farmers in Germany, France and other countries have been blocking motorways in protest at high fuel prices, new regulations and subsidy cuts in recent weeks. Brussels has now reacted by postponing a requirement to keep four percent of arable land fallow for environmental reasons. Europe's press discusses the farmers' situation and motives as well as potential responses.

Riots erupted outside a football stadium in Portugal on Saturday after dozens of police officers scheduled to provide security called in sick in an apparent labour protest. A police union representative said police may also boycott security at the parliamentary elections to be held on 10 March. The police and National Republican Guard are demanding more resources for the country's security services, but the provisional government says it is not responsibile for such measures.

The Central Bank of Turkey has a new boss again: after Hafize Gaye Erkan announced her resignation at the weekend her deputy Fatih Karahan was appointed as her successor. Erkan said she had been the victim of a major smear campaign. In recent weeks she was dogged by accusations of nepotism; her father is said to have used company cars and even made personnel decisions.

The decision was awaited with bated breath, but now the EU's 50-billion-euro aid package for Ukraine for the period up to and including 2027 has been agreed. Hungary gave up its resistance after intensive negotiations in which it was reportedly agreed that the financial aid would be reviewed every two years, although any changes would require a unanimous decision. Commentators are only partially relieved.