Eurotopics.net

Thousands of people have gathered to protest against tighter abortion legislation and the government in recent days. Last Wednesday a Supreme Court ruling came into effect under which abortion is legal only in cases when the pregnancy is a result of a criminal act when the woman's life or health is at risk.

Tensions seem to be easing in the dispute between the EU and vaccine manufacturer Astrazeneca. On Wednesday, company boss Pascal Soriot stated that no agreement had been reached on fixed delivery quantities, drawing angry contradictions from Brussels. On Thursday evening the company partially reversed its delivery cuts. Commentators see clumsiness on Brussels' part as the main cause for the dispute.

Despite widespread protests, three families were deported from Austria to Georgia and Armenia on Thursday night. Friends, teachers, activists and politicians from several parties had pleaded in particular for one of the families and for a twelve-year-old, Austrian-born, secondary-school pupil to be allowed to stay.

Concerns about the spread of mutated virus variants from the UK and South Africa are facing policy-makers with challenging decisions. The EU wants to avoid general border closures like those imposed during the first wave of the pandemic, but many countries are now introducing stringent border controls, flight bans and new quarantine rules at their own initiative. Commentators examine the options.

In most European countries coronavirus vaccination programmes are now in full swing - as far as supplies allow. Priority is mostly being given to the elderly, nursing home residents and system-relevant occupational groups - with slight variations from country to country. But almost everywhere there have been cases of people in privileged positions flouting the rules to get vaccinated quicker. Commentators vent their fury.