Eurotopics.net

Another serious train accident occurred in the Czech Republic on Tuesday when a mail train and a regional train crashed into each other. The driver of the regional train was killed. On July 8 two people were killed in a collision near Pernink, and there were two more minor accidents on July 10 and 12. The Czech press demands action.

The first EU summit after four months of video diplomacy will deal on Friday and Saturday with the coronavirus recovery fund and the budget. The Commission is proposing that 500 billion euros be allocated as grants and another 250 billion as loans. The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Austria are against this plan. Commentators examine the summit's potential for conflict.

Thousands of Bulgarians have taken to the streets to protest against the government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in recent days. The protesters accuse the government of having close links to criminal oligarchs. Borisov is refusing to resign, saying that he sees no alternative to his own rule in the coronavirus crisis. The national press doesn't agree.

After an open letter in which more than 150 authors, scientists and activists including Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood and Noam Chomsky complain of an intolerant culture of debate, discussion of the so-called "Cancel Culture" continues. Commentators also take very different views on whether "the free exchange of information and ideas is becoming more restricted every day".