Eurotopics.net

As of today, customs duties will be levied on parcels of goods from non-EU countries worth less than 150 euros. These will be subject to a fixed fee of three euros per item type. Until now, such parcels had enjoyed an exemption. The tariffs are expected to hit online retailers which sell cheap goods, such as Temu and Shein, particularly hard. Commentators debate whether the measure will strengthen Europe's economy.

The law stipulating that anyone born in the US is automatically granted citizenship will remain valid. Donald Trump wanted to change this and, in a symbolic move, issued an executive order to that effect on the very first day of his second term as US President. Now a Supreme Court ruling has put a stop to his plan. Europe's press sees this and other decisions by the Supreme Court as a measure of the state of democracy in the US.

Ireland takes over the EU's rotating Council presidency today. Among the key issues on the agenda during its six-month term are new regulations on artificial intelligence, negotiations on the EU's long-term budget for 2028 to 2034, and EU enlargement. Commentators take very different views of Ireland's potential to steer the EU in the right direction.

According to media reports, Volkswagen is planning to reduce its global workforce of 657,000 by around 100,000 jobs over the next few years. In Germany, four plants belonging to Europe's largest car manufacturer could be closed in the restructuring. Other companies are also planning to axe jobs in Germany. Europe's media voice concern about Germany's future as an industrial hub and examine the causes.