Eurotopics.net

The withdrawal of the Hungarian ruling party Fidesz from the EPP group in the European Parliament last week marked the end of years of wrangling. Viktor Orbán's party announced its move even before the group cast its vote on new statutes. Now it looks as if Fidesz wants to forge a new alliance in the European Parliament. Commentators speculate about the consequences.

Scientific studies show that the year-long pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health. Many people are suffering as a result of far-reaching restrictions, the burden of individual responsibility and infection rates that are rising despite all the efforts. Many people with a history of depression have been particularly hard hit. How should society react?

The UK and the EU are currently not on good terms with each other. Several unresolved aspects of the post-Brexit agreement are causing additional problems in the dispute over Covid-19 vaccine shortages. Vaccine exports from the EU are being closely monitored and could be banned, while checks of goods at the border with Northern Ireland are proving highly contentious. Commentators call for de-escalation.

The EU Commission has called on the governments in Hungary, Poland and Slovenia to stop undermining press and media freedom. There had been "further worrying developments" in these three countries in recent months, Vera Jourova, the European Commission's Vice President for Values and Transparency, told the EU Parliament on Wednesday. Commentators from Poland and Slovenia agree.

In the context of the Corona crisis, the birth rate has plummeted in many European countries as well as in the USA and China, among others. In Spain, for example, there were 22.6 percent fewer births in January compared to the previous year, and in France 13 percent. Commentators ponder what could help and refer to the opposite trend in poorer countries with concern.