Eurotopics.net

The EU members and the leaders of the Arab League states have hailed the start of a "new era of cooperation" at their first joint summit meeting in Sharm El Sheikh. The strategic partnership is to be further developed but no mention was made of contentious issues in the final declaration. While some commentators are disappointed others are more optimistic.

The pro-Russian Socialists have won the parliamentary elections in Moldova but failed to secure the majority needed to form a government. The pro-European Acum party came second and the outgoing Democratic Party third. The Șor party will now also be represented in the parliament. The uncertain balance of power means that it remains unclear for now in which direction the country will move.

The Five Star Movement has suffered a defeat in the regional election in Sardinia, securing roughly ten percent of the vote - compared with over 40 percent in the 2018 general election. The centre-right coalition between autonomous regional parties and Lega emerged as the winner. Europe's press discusses what the vote means for the populist coalition in Rome and for the European elections.

Not much has been heard from leftist parties like Syriza and Podemos recently. Instead the discourse has been dominated by the debate about the rise of the right-wing populists. But in the year of the European elections and in view of the election campaign kicking off in the US, journalists are increasingly asking whether left-wing politics will experience a revival.

Green Book is the surprise big winner. The tragicomedy about the friendship between an African-American pianist and his white chauffeur during the times of segregation in the US has won the Oscar for best film. But the road movie is controversial. A look at the opinion columns shows why.