Eurotopics.net

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.

The Catalan government has declared a state of emergency in 200 municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area and part of Girona due to persistent drought. Water consumption in these areas is now restricted to 200 litres per person per day, while agricultural businesses must reduce their consumption by 80 percent and industry by 25 percent. Commentators call for far-reaching, coordinated measures.

Turkish human rights activist Can Atalay was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2022 for his role in the anti-government Gezi Park protests. In 2023 he was elected to parliament for the opposition party TIP. Following a legal dispute between the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation, the judgment has now become final and the parliament has stripped Atalay of his mandate and immunity. The decision was read out in parliament amid boos from the opposition.