Eurotopics.net

The newly elected President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has announced that she wants the Russian peacekeeping forces in the secessionist region of Transnistria to be replaced by a civilian OSCE observer mission. Russian units have been stationed there since the collapse of the Soviet Union, guarding border crossings and a huge ammunition depot. The foreign ministry in Moscow has not reacted well to the plan. Journalists examine the interests at stake.

Parliamentary groups in Estonia are allowed to spend six million euros a year on "regional investments". With this money the parties usually support projects that they consider a good cause. Now the country's three coalition partners want to pay 171,000 euros to a newly established association of anti-abortionists. A politicised issue!

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Biontech and Pfizer. The first 800,000 Britons are to be vaccinated with BNT162b2 as early as next week. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was proud that the UK had become the first state to approve a Covid-19 vaccine. But not all commentators see the express approval as a major step forward.

Four weeks before the Brexit transition period ends on December 31, the EU and the UK have still not reached an agreement on their future relations. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has recently said he had no great hopes of a deal. The main areas under dispute are free trade, fisheries and jurisdiction. Europe's press calls for patience and flexibility.