Eurotopics.net

Notre-Dame de Paris, one of France's most famous edifices built more than 800 years ago, has been severely damaged in a fire that broke out on Monday evening. Renovation work is thought to have caused the fire. President Macron has pledged that the cathedral will be rebuilt. Commentators lament the destruction of the Parisian landmark and draw parallels with the state of France and Europe.

Finland's Social Democrats have won the parliamentary elections, edging out the right-wing populists and the conservatives in their first election victory since 1999. Prime Minister Sipilä's Centre Party suffered significant losses. Commentators shed light on the success of the right.

The public prosecutor in Braunschweig brought charges against the former VW boss Martin Winterkorn on Monday. She accuses him among other things of major fraud and doesn't believe that only the engineers were involved in the manipulation of diesel emission tests, as the car company claims. What can the trial against Winterkorn achieve?

The Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid will travel to Moscow on 18 April for the inauguration of the restored Estonian embassy. While there she will also meet with Vladimir Putin. Is a rapprochement with Russia foolish or wise?

A hearing on whether to extradite Julian Assange to the US will take place in a London court on May 2. The Wikileaks founder was arrested last Thursday in London after Ecuador stripped him of his asylum status. Commentators discuss what should be done with him.