Eurotopics.net

Romania's Constitutional Court on Monday rejected a law that would have abolished major pension privileges for judges and public prosecutors. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan had made his staying in office contingent on the reform going through, but since the rejection was not in principle but on technical grounds he has said he will present a new version of the law instead. The government needs to act quickly as judicial reform is a requirement for Romania to access EU funds.

This year's Sakharov Prize awarded by the European Parliament has gone to Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli, two journalists imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, respectively. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said their courageous work makes them symbols of peace and democracy and called for their release. Commentators praise the jury's decision.

Eighteen months after the assassination attempt on Robert Fico, a court has found the defendant guilty of shooting and seriously injuring the Slovak prime minister in May 2024, and sentenced him to 21 years in prison for terrorism. The 72-year-old pensioner confessed to the shooting and cited hatred of Fico and his government's policies as his motive. What conclusions can be drawn from the case?

Nicolas Sarkozy has been in prison since Tuesday. The former French president was convicted in September on charges of criminal conspiracy in a trial over illegal campaign financing. A court ruled that the 70-year-old had to begin serving his five-year prison sentence despite his having lodged an appeal. Europe's press highlights the social dimensions of this French case without precedent.