Eurotopics.net

A majority of the European Union's foreign ministers have spoken out in favour of reviewing the bloc's Association Agreement with Israel. The humanitarian situation in Gaza made it necessary to examine whether Israel still fulfils the basic principles of the trade agreement which include respecting human rights, EU foreign affairs representative Kaja Kallas explained. European commentators see criticism of Israel's actions gaining traction.

After his phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump suggested the Vatican as a venue for peace talks on the Ukraine war. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that the new Pope Leo XIV is willing to mediate negotiations. The European press examines how realistic such a scenario is.

President Donald Trump has revealed plans to build a completely new missile defence system for the US by the end of his term of office, with 25 billion US dollars having been earmarked as start-up funding for the project. The shield, modelled on Israel's Iron Dome, is expected to cost around 175 billion dollars in total. However the US's territory is around 440 times larger than Israel's. Criticism rains down in the media.

The ruling party Fidesz has presented a draft law which would further restrict the activities of many NGOs and media outlets. The legislation empowers the government to blacklist NGOs and companies financed from abroad. Such organisations would be required to seek permission from the tax authorities to receive foreign funding, and NGOs would also face bureaucratic hurdles that make it almost impossible for them to collect private domestic donations.

On 8 May eighty years ago, World War II came to an end in Europe with the surrender of Nazi Germany: an occasion to be remembered. Russia marks its victory in the 'Great Patriotic War' with an annual military parade on 9 May. Europe's commentators reflect in light of the current conflicts.