Eurotopics.net

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg has warned Romania not to undermine progress made in the area of the rule of law. The ECJ's judges have concluded in several rulings that judicial reforms carried out between 2017 and 2019 at least convey the impression of putting political pressure on Romanian judges. The Romanian press voices approval.

France has lifted further restrictions in accordance with its phased reopening plan for the easing of anti-Covid lockdown measures, which began on May 3. The outdoor areas of restaurants and cafes, as well as shops and cultural institutions were allowed to reopen on Wednesday. The country's 7-day incidence rate is currently at 149 (as of 20 May). Commentators are encouraged.

Around 8,000 migrants have arrived in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on the Moroccan coast in recent days, most of them by swimming there. Morocco had apparently reacted to a diplomatic crisis in its relations with Spain by reducing its controls on migration flows headed towards Ceuta. But simply pointing fingers at the North African country is too easy, observers believe.

The UN Security Council held its fourth emergency meeting in eight days on Tuesday in view of the escalating violence in the Middle East, but it once again ended without a joint resolution. Commentators focus on the question of whether external actors can resolve the conflict, and if so, which ones.

The Israel-Palestine conflict has taken on new levels of violence in recent days, and yet much of what is happening appears to follow a familiar pattern. The radical Hamas fires rockets at Israeli cities, and Israel's army responds with counterattacks on Gaza, invoking the right to self-defence. Europe's press discusses ways out of the deadlock.