Eurotopics.net

The British House of Commons has rejected an amendment for a second referendum and voted in favour of delaying Brexit after rebuffing a no-deal Brexit on Wednesday. Now the postponement must receive the approval of the 27 other member states at next week's summit. Should they agree to it?

On March 16, 2014, a referendum on joining the Russian federation was held in Crimea. The vote was not recognised by the international community. While the West speaks of an annexation contravening international law, Russia sees the "return" of Crimea as a triumph for the Kremlin. For 86 percent of the Russian population annexation was the right move. But what do commentators think?

"I would hereby like to apologize to those who felt personally attacked by what I said." With these words Viktor Orbán addressed members of the EPP whom he had described as the "useful idiots" of the left. EPP leader Manfred Weber had made Fidesz's remaining in the EPP conditional on an apology. Journalists doubt that this will do the trick.

Latvia wants to limit cash payments to no more than 3,000 euros. The draft law comes in answer to recommendations from experts at the Council of Europe who had harshly criticised the Latvian authorities' attempts to crack down on money laundering last year as half-hearted. Commentators see the move as tantamount to scrapping cash entirely - and start to panic.

After another defeat for Theresa May in which MPs defied her whip and voted to rule out the possibility of a no-deal exit entirely, the prime minister has given the House of Commons an ultimatum: either they agree on a concept for Brexit by next Wednesday or she will request an extended postponement of Brexit. Europe's commentary columns reflect the tensions in London.