Eurotopics.net

Two referendums were held in Switzerland this week. An initiative aimed at introducing a 50-percent inheritance tax on wealth exceeding 50 million Swiss francs (53.6 million euros) was rejected, with 78 percent voting against the measure, the proceeds of which would have been used to finance climate protection measures. In the other referendum, no less than 84 percent voted against an initiative to introduce compulsory national service for women.

France's army is to be strengthened by voluntary military service. There will be no conscription for the time being and service will be limited to the "national territory", President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. This followed a statement by the Chief of the Defence Staff General Fabien Mandon, who warned that the country must be prepared to "lose its children" faced with the Russian threat.

The Estonian parliament decided last week to add a language component to the Military Service Act, making B1-level language skills a prerequisite for conscription. Wise decision or false incentive?

Britain's Treasury chief Rachel Reeeves presented the budget on Wednesday. By combining tax increases to the tune of 30 billion euros, more child subsidies and less debt, Keir Starmer's Labour government hopes to lead the country out of crisis. The budget proposals are "fair but necessary," Reeves claims. Opinions from the press are divided.

Germany's plan to lower electricity costs for its energy-intensive industries through state subsidies as of January next year has put a cat among Europe's pigeons. Commentators point beyond Germany's borders, where the subsidies present an existential threat to the competitiveness of other European nations with similarly electricity-intensive structures.