Eurotopics.net

The EU heads of state and government have agreed on who should get which top job. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen was nominated as Commission president, Belgian Prime minister Charles Michel as EU Council president, IMF boss Christine Lagarde was chosen to head the ECB, and Spain's top diplomat Josep Borrell is to become the EU foreign policy chief. Europe's press assesses the outcome of prolonged and tense talks.

Carola Rackete, captain of the rescue ship Sea-Watch 3, has been released. She was arrested after docking a ship carrying 40 migrants in Lampedusa despite a ban. Politicians and prominent public figures harshly criticised Rome for her arrest. Observers say the episode highlights Europe's division and failures in migration policy.

Housing shortages, low interest rates and real estate speculation have been causing rents in Europe's big cities to skyrocket in recent years. In many places people are taking to the streets to protest. In Portugal and Berlin new laws have been proposed to stop the trend. Can they work?

Pop star Cliff Richard has gathered more than 10,000 signatures for a petition calling for a change in the law regarding those suspected of sexual offences. Sir Cliff was in the headlines for years after false accusations of abuse and is calling for anonymity for suspects until they are charged. The British press is divided over the initiative.

US President Donald Trum has said he wants to find a solution in the row over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system. The US had threatened Turkey with sanctions because it feared that the sale might lead to Russia getting its hands on Nato military data. Turkish commentators are at odds over what Trump's statement means for the country's struggling economy.

Marathon talks aimed at settling the allocation of top EU posts have been taking place since Sunday. The election of Dutch social democrat Frans Timmermans as EU Commission President seemed almost certain before Italy and the Visegrád states opposed it. Whether this Tuesday's discussions will bring a decision seems doubtful. Commentators voice concern about the effects of the back and forth on the EU's reputation.