Eurotopics.net

After weeks of discussion, wearing a mask became compulsory in Belgian shops, cinemas and other enclosed spaces on Saturday. The decision was taken on Thursday evening by the Council of Ministers, supplemented by regional representatives. In other countries such as France and Switzerland masks must only be worn on public transport - as was previously the case in Belgium. What changes will the new rule bring?

The protests in Belgrade triggered by President Vučić's new lockdown announcement continue apace. After two nights of riots, thousands of people gathered for a peaceful protest outside the parliament building on Thursday. Commentators discuss the protesters' motivation and criticise the lack of a common cause.

Pashal Donohoe is to be the new president of the Eurogroup. The 45-year-old from the conservative Fine Gael party has been Ireland's finance minister since 2017. The finance ministers of the euro countries elected Donohue on Thursday in a surprise victory against Spanish Minister of Economy Nadia Calviño, who was backed by Germany, France and Italy. What kind of financial policy does the new minister stand for?

Polls predict a neck-and-neck race in the presidential election runoff vote on Sunday. Andrzej Duda, the conservative incumbent, garnered 43.5 percent of the vote in the first ballot, while his challenger, the liberal mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, obtained 30.5 percent. Commentators are on tenterhooks in Poland and abroad.

In the debate over the reconstruction of Notre Dame, French President Macron has sided with the advisory committee, which is in favour of restoring the cathedral's spire to its nineteenth century design. Shortly after the fire in April 2019 Macron had argued in favour of replacing it with a contemporary design. But according to surveys a majority of the French want the cathedral rebuilt as it was before the fire. Opinions are still divided on the topic.