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Jeudi 16 décembre, les discussions entre les dirigeants des pays de l’Union européenne sur la politique énergétique n’ont abouti à aucun accord.

In contrast to the US Federal Reserve, which is raising interest rates, the ECB is sticking to its zero interest policy for the time being. ECB chief Christine Lagarde reiterated on Thursday that the current high inflation levels were a temporary phenomenon. Instead, the ECB's Governing Council announced that it will discontinue its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) at the end of March. Many commentators take a sceptical view of the decisions.

At their last summit of the year, EU leaders have adopted a resolute stance vis-à-vis Russia. An invasion of Ukraine would entail "restrictive measures coordinated with partners," they warned. Exactly what such measures would entail remains unclear. Nevertheless, Europe's press sees the EU on the right track.

While US diplomats will boycott the Winter Olympics in China, the EU is at odds over how to proceed. French President Emmanuel Macron declared that a purely political boycott would be pointless without a sporting boycott. Most European governments agree with Macron's all-or-nothing approach, but still want Europe to participate in the Games. Europe's press examines the arguments for a half or full boycott.

To ease the pressure in its overcrowded prisons, Denmark plans to outsource around 300 prison places to Kosovo. Foreign convicts who are to be deported after serving their sentence are to do their time there. "We no longer have a duty to resocialise these persons. This means we can move this whole group abroad," said Justice Minister Nick Hækkerup. The national press is divided.

Despite galloping inflation, the Turkish Central Bank cut the benchmark interest rate again on Thursday. Although President Erdoğan announced a simultaneous hike in the minimum wage, many citizens are suffering as a result of continuously rising prices, and demonstrations broke out in Ankara and Istanbul last week. Erdoğan has misjudged the situation, commentators are convinced.