Eurotopics.net

The EU heads of state and government gave the Brexit deal negotiated with Britain the green light on Sunday. Now it must gain the approval of the British and European parliaments. The politicians gathered in Brussels on the weekend displayed sadness, but also relief that an agreement had finally been reached after all the haggling. Is their solace justified?

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had threatened to block the Brexit deal until in the last minute the EU backed Madrid, agreeing that Gibraltar will be left out of all negotiations between the UK and the EU and any decisions will require Madrid's consent. But Spanish media are less than enthusiastic.

After a military incident in the Kerch Strait the Ukrainian parliament will vote today on whether to impose martial law. Russia had blocked Ukrainian ships from passing under the new Crimean bridge and Russian boats opened fire on and seized several Ukrainian military ships trying to pass through. Commentators explain what's at stake.

France's President Emmanuel Macron has promised that artworks taken from former French colonies in Africa will be returned. Roughly 90,000 objects currently held by French museums could be affected. Britain, Germany and Belgium are also debating whether works stolen during the colonial era should be returned. Commentators are sceptical.