Eurotopics.net

The right-wing populist Lega has called on the Italian government to issue so-called mini-BOTs to pay its debts. The scheme would involve issuing short-term government bonds with maturities of up to twelve months and denominations of up to 500 euros. Observers fear the step could lead to a parallel currency that may pave the way for Italy's leaving the Eurozone.

The EU Commission has recommended that accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania begin. "The Western Balkans belong to Europe and are part of the EU's future", said EU Foreign Representative Federica Mogherini. The step must now be approved by the European Council, but France, the Netherlands and Denmark in particular have voiced doubts about the move. Commentators criticise the EU for stalling on this issue.

The New York Times has announced that it will stop publishing cartoons in its international edition starting July. The paper faced a storm of protest after it ran a cartoon of Trump and Netanyahu in April which critics decried as anti-Semitic. Commentators see the move as a dangerous decision.

At the latest annual Whitsun meeting of Sudeten Germans, who were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II, participants called for the celebration of a Sudeten German day in their former homeland. Czech media would welcome such an event but anticipate resistance from politicians in Prague.

The case of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov has taken a surprising turn: just a few days after his arrest for drug-related offences and following an unprecedented show of solidarity from the press and public, the Kremlin has back-pedalled. His house arrest was revoked and police officers involved in the case have been removed from their posts. Observers see this as a major success for Russian civil society.