Eurotopics.net

All women in France may now undergo artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF) free of charge. Lesbian couples and single women had been barred from such treatments up to now. After two years of debate, France's parliament passed the amended bioethics law on Tuesday. Commentators in and outside France are not satisfied with this solution.

China is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party this week. Its sole rule is enshrined in the constitution. Since 2012, the party has been led by Xi Jinping, who has also been the head of state since 2013 and has had presidential term limits abolished. To the outside world, the party appears invincible - but Europe's journalists have their doubts.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is causing a spike in infection rates in several countries. In Europe, Britain, Russia and Portugal are the hardest hit so far. But even in countries with a low incidence, the proportion of those infected with the variant is steadily rising, and vaccinated people are reportedly becoming infected with it as well. Commentators discuss what measures should be taken and ask whether politicians and the population are taking the threat seriously enough.

Europe's press is grappling with the second round of the regional elections in France. The turnout was once again very low at about 34 percent. Marine Le Pen's right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National did not prevail in any region, while Macron's LREM party was in single digits. The conservatives are considered the winners. What does this mean for next year's presidential elections?

Young people in Greece will now receive pre-paid cards worth 150 euros after their first covid jab. The cards can be used to pay for ferry tickets, accommodation, or tickets to concerts and museums, for example. The programme is directed towards roughly 940,000 people between 18 and 25, and the government has budgeted 141 million euros. It aims to reach a vaccination rate of just under 60 percent by the end of July.