Eurotopics.net

Just under a month after the parliamentary elections Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová has appointed a new government - the fourth under Prime Minister Robert Fico. Fico plans to attend the EU summit in Brussels this Thursday and set out the key points of his foreign policy. How should Slovaks and their European partners respond to the fact that this controversial figure is once again in power?

Following the radical Islamic Hamas organisation's attack on Israel, the EU is struggling to find a united stance. At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg it became clear that the demand for a humanitarian ceasefire for Gaza is particularly controversial. Countries like Spain and Ireland are in favour, while Germany and Austria have voiced doubts. The commentaries reflect the divided views in the decision-making process.

After the attack by the radical Islamic Hamas on Israel and the Israeli military's response in the Gaza Strip, tensions are also running high in Europe. There have been numerous expressions of sympathy with Hamas and antisemitic slogans at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and in Berlin a synagogue was attacked. Europe's press voices concern.

During its terrorist attack on Israel, radical Islamic Hamas took more than 200 hostages. Just over two weeks after the kidnappings, first two US citizens - a mother and her daughter - then two Israeli senior citizens have been released. It appears that Egypt and Qatar were involved as mediators. Europe's press discusses this unaccustomed role for Qatar in particular.