Eurotopics.net

The number of deaths in the wildfires around Athens has risen to 83, according to official figures. No other fire in the 21st century has killed as many people. Firefighters now have the blazes largely under control, but the search for the causes continues in Europe's media.

French President Emmanuel Macron is currently visiting the heads of government of Spain and Portugal. His talks with the two left-wing prime ministers are focussing on the migration issue, the future of the EU and collaboration in the energy sector. Can a Southern European alliance give the EU fresh impetus?

Russia has reacted critically to a US declaration on the annexed Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula. The US has stressed in its Crimea Declaration that it refuses to acknowledge Russia's annexation of Crimea. For commentators in Russia and Ukraine the declaration is a direct consequence of the Helsinki summit.

The Knesset passed a national self-determination bill on Thursday that stresses Israel's Jewish character and strips Arabic of its official language status. The law also foresees the creation of municipalities that can deny Arabs the right of residence. For some the new law is deeply undemocratic, for others it is a legitimate means to defend the Israeli state.

The EU Commission has announced a record fine for Google: the technology company must pay 4.3 billion euros for abuse of its dominant market position. Commentators are glad to see EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager protecting consumer interests and predict that the EU will soon take other tech giants to task.