Eurotopics.net

The Italian government is to submit its revised version of its budget to the European Commission today, Tuesday, after the latter for the first time rejected a member state's budget three weeks ago. In particular due to its plan to increase public debt to 2.4 percent of GDP, the country is facing an excessive procedure. Europe's commentators explain why both sides are refusing to make concessions.

Several European countries introduced women's suffrage in 1918: Britain, Poland, Germany and Austria. A ceremony was held in Berlin on Monday to mark this milestone, with Chancellor Angela Merkel calling for a higher percentage of women in the German parliament. The media discuss just how far governments have come in terms of equal rights.

In the self-proclaimed pro-Russian people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk new leaders and parliaments were elected on Sunday - for the second time since 2014 and despite the fact that the Minsk Protocol stipulates that local elections in these areas must take place according to Ukrainian law. Observers ask whether the elections, which are not recognised by the West and Kiev, will escalate the conflict in Donbass.

The people of Europe will elect the European Parliament for the ninth time in May 2019, just two months after Britain is due to leave the Union. Observers predict strong results for right-wing populist and anti-EU forces and look at ways to prevent this.