Eurotopics.net

The EU member states have agreed on new sanctions against Russia. The measures, which will take effect as of Wednesday, affect banks, financial markets, trade and individuals. US President Joe Biden has also announced financial sanctions. If Russia further escalates the situation the EU will adopt additional measures, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced. Europe's press is still not satisfied.

Representatives from more than 20 European countries have met in Vienna to discuss migration. Among the main topics were repatriations and the fight against traffickers. Oliver Varhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, announced 355 million euros in funding for the Western Balkan countries to help them provide for stranded asylum seekers. Commentators stress that increasing funds is not enough.

Russia has recognised the territories in Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists - the "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent states. President Putin signed a decree to that effect on Monday, ordered the deployment of Russian troops to the Donbass regions and delivered a bellicose speech that gives Europe's press much cause for concern.

A major investigation by the journalists' network OCCRP into leaked data on more than 18,000 accounts has revealed that the Swiss bank Credit Suisse accepted autocrats, drug dealers, suspected war criminals and human traffickers as clients between 1940 and the 2010s. The Süddeutsche Zeitung, The Guardian and Le Monde newspapers were also involved in the report. Europe's press demands consequences.