Eurotopics.net

The Austrian government passed a law banning plastic bags at the end of last year. Now its implementation is being worked out with retailers. Environment Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) wants "an end to plastic waste". It is estimated that the ban on plastic bags will reduce such waste by 5,000 to 7,000 tonnes. But commentators have their doubts about the effectiveness of the ban.

Three-time Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico wants to leave politics and run for the post of constitutional judge. Fico was forced to resign as head of government following mass protests in the aftermath of the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak. Commentators praise the decision to withdraw from politics but have doubts about whether the Constitutional Court is the right place for the former leader.

Malta, Italy and Spain have refused to allow two vessels carrying 49 refugees whom they rescued from the Mediterranean in December to dock in their ports. The pope has urged the European states to take them in. Commentators are dismayed that his appeal is going unheeded.

France's government wants to pass tougher demonstration laws to crack down on violence at protests. The new legislation could be modelled on the laws dealing with football hooligans. There were once again violent incidents during the yellow vest protests on Saturday. Commentators are unconvinced that the violence will end anytime soon.

After announcing in mid-December that he would withdraw US troops from Syria, Trump has now partially back-pedalled. The plan has met with massive opposition from his government and prompted Defense Secretary James Mattis to tender his resignation. Now Trump apparently wants to delay the withdrawal and reach an agreement with other countries. The president's zigzag course has commentators shaking their heads.