Eurotopics.net

In his annual press conference Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised the US for withdrawing from the INF arms control treaty and Ukraine's President Poroshenko for the incident in the Kerch Strait. Commentators concur that the four-hour event was a crashing bore - with the exception of one or two of Putin's remarks.

Portuguese protesters have called for nationwide road blockades emulating the French yellow vest protests for today, Friday. Without the support of parties or trade unions they are using the social networks to mobilise the population with widely diverging demands. Commentators are alarmed.

The EU Commission and Italy have settled their row over the budget plans put forward by the government in Rome. Italy now intends to limit new debt to 2.04 percent of GDP. Some commentators praise Brussels' decision not to go ahead with an excessive deficit procedure. Others criticise that by giving in the EU has undermined the credibility of the Stability Pact.

The British government has plans for a new immigration law to apply after Brexit. Visas for work migrants would be limited to one year unless they earn more than 30,000 pounds (roughly 33,000 euros), in which case they would receive a five-year visa. Some commentators say the legislation would increase exploitation of foreign workers. Others see the plans as a step towards a fairer system.

The EU has agreed on a law that would ban single-use plastic products starting 2021. Negotiators from the EU Commission, the EU Parliament and the EU states have agreed on the details of the legislation with the help of which cotton buds, plastic utensils and straws are to be banned. For commentators the law is a step in the right direction.