Eurotopics.net

Regional elections were held in Italy's two largest regions, Lombardy and Lazio, on Sunday and Monday. The votes were also considered a test of the public mood after the first 100 days of the new government under Giorgia Meloni. Her right-wing coalition won the elections with 54.4 percent in Lombardy and 52.1 percent in Lazio. The turnout was unusually low at 37.2 percent (Lazio) and 41.6 percent (Lombardy).

Just over a year after it began its work, an independent commission set up to investigate sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church in Portugal has presented its final report. According to the report, at least 5,000 children were abused over a period of around 70 years. Portuguese media discuss the consequences for the Church.

Gas consumption in the Netherlands dropped to a record low in 2022. It was 25 percent less than in the previous year. But what some commentators say points to the future of energy supplies is seen by others as just another symptom of crisis.

At last week's EU summit, governments agreed to tighten the EU's external borders and speed up deportations. Among other measures, in a pilot project EU funds will be used to reinforce the infrastructure securing the Bulgarian-Turkish border. A look at the press commentaries shows how controversial this topic is.

After meetings in London and Paris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the EU Parliament in Brussels on Thursday. Ukraine needs more arms and in particular fighter jets from the West to defend democracy in Ukraine and all Europe, he said. Europe's press is divided on the issue.