Eurotopics.net

Many crisis-hit states are waiting for payments from the EU's coronavirus recovery fund, which the EU Parliament and member states agreed on Tuesday, together with the bloc's seven-year budget. But Hungary's Viktor Orbán is still threatening to use his power of veto over the rule of law mechanism. The same threat came from Warsaw last week, however since then nothing more has been heard from that quarter. How much weight do these declarations of war carry?

Boris Johnson's director of communications Lee Cain announced his resignation on Thursday, and according to media reports chief advisor Dominic Cummings also plans to leave. In the middle of the coronavirus crisis and just a few weeks before the end of the Brexit transition phase, two long-time allies are leaving the British PM's team. What's behind these departures?

At least 74 people have drowned in a shipwreck off the Libyan coast. According to the UN's International Organization for Migration, 120 migrants were on board. In an accident the day before, the Open Arms aid organization was able to save 110 people, but one baby died shortly after being rescued from the sea. Italian journalists deplore the lack of interest in the fate of migrants.

In the wake of terrorist attacks in France and Austria, the EU interior ministers will discuss on Friday how to combat terrorism more effectively. Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is calling for the introduction of a criminal offence called "political Islam". Closer surveillance of threats, cross-border information systems and imam training in Europe are also on the agenda. Most media are also in favour of tougher measures.

Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed a ceasefire for Nagorno-Karabakh. The deal reflects the fact that Azerbaijan was heading for a sweeping military victory before Moscow's intervention: it will retain the territories it has conquered so far and will also get back all Armenian-controlled provinces on the border with Nagorno-Karabakh. Europe's press is particularly interested in Russia's role.