Euobserver.com

The Turkish president's decision to restart Islamic worship services in Istanbul's Hagia Sophia last Friday is not innocent. So how should we react? By doing the opposite - and make Cordoba's famous Mosque/Cathedral in Cordoba a museum.

The European Commission new security strategy especially focusses on critical infrastructures, cybersecurity, terrorism, child abuse and drugs. A joint cyber unit and stronger mandate for Europol is planned.

With no non-white commissioners, just how well-equipped is the EU Commission to tackle race?

To compete for the global pool of talent, the EU has to bring Juncker's Blue Card Directive back to life.

Poland's opposition party Civic Platform on Thursday said they will be seeking a re-run in an presidential election they lost 49 percent to 51 percent against nationalist incumbent Andrzej Duda. Civic Platform's spokesperson Jan Grabiec claims government electoral wrongdoing, telling Reuters it was "comparable to campaigning in Belarus and Russia." The party petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the election result unfair and to hold a re-run.

Spain reported 971 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday - a record since the lifting of restrictions in May, El País reported. The infection rate has tripled during the last two weeks, and some experts refer to the surge in cases as the beginning of the second wave. Health care workers are calling on the government to strengthen primary health care. The most affected regions are Catalonia and Aragon.

Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov on Thursday replaced his finance minister Vladislav Goranov, economy minister Emil Karanikolov and interior minister Mladen Marinov to appease a wave of anti-corruption protests taking place across Bulgaria, Reuters reported. Borissov's tourism minister is also quitting. Parliament is expected to vote on the nominations on Friday. Thursday marked the fifteenth day of protests, which are calling for the resignation of the whole cabinet.

Croatia's parliament on Thursday voted in a new government under the former prime minister Andrej Plenkovic, head of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). The new coalition government consists of the HDZ, two liberal formations and eight national minority MPs, BalkansInsight reported. When presenting his new cabinet, Plenkovic promised to ensure social security, increase minimum wages and pensions, reduce the number of local officials and increase agricultural production.

Two weeks after president Recep Tayyip Erdogan revoked the status of the Hagia Sophia as a museum, Istanbul's iconic building will host Muslim Friday prayers again. Up to 2,000 worshippers are expected to attend the first Muslim prayers in the landmark since 1934, Deutsche Welle writes. The decision was criticised around the world. Pope Frances said he was "pained" by the decision.

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Thursday that the UK had shown no willingness to break the deadlock on fair competition and fisheries issues during post-Brexit negotiations with the EU, making a new trade agreement "unlikely". After the latest round of negotiations in London, Barnier said there had been no progress on key issues. The UK is set to break off all ongoing ties with the bloc in January.

On Monday (20 July), 416 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Belgium, as the number of infections begins rising again. In the week 14-20 July the weekly average of new infections rose by 89 percent. Prime minister Sophie Wilmès announced on Thursday that phase five of the easing of measures will be postponed. People coming back from travel abroad need to fill in a form.

MEPs criticised the EU deal on the budget and recovery package clinched by leaders after five days of gruelling talks, saying it is not enough "future-oriented", and cuts too deeply into EU policies, including health, innovation, defence and humanitarian aid

German transport minister, Andreas Scheuer, announced that EU member states have agreed on common hygiene standards on planes and airports - as major airlines are calling for a joint coronavirus-testing programme in order to resume trans-Atlantic travel.

Many capitals, experts and politicians see Poland as the 'enfant terrible' of climate negotiations. Everybody asks why? But the answer is darn simple. Money and time.

The Just Transition Fund, which supports EU regions dependent on fossil fuels, should be more goal-based and performance-oriented, according to an opinion published on Wednesday by the European Court of Auditors. The auditors also stressed that the EU Commission had not done a previous impact assessment to support the amended amount, after EU leaders cut it to €17.5bn - from the initial €40bn.

Spain seems to be again a European hotspot for Covid-19. Spain's health ministry reported on Wednesday 9,011 new infections within the last week - the highest figure in months, El País reported. Additionally, Spain's health minister Salvador Illa said there are 224 active outbreaks in the country, but they are "under control". The most affected areas are in Catalonia and Aragon, although a stricter lockdown has not been discussed yet.

German defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has told Deutsche Welle the US threat to remove some 9,500 troops from Germany is cause for concern for Nato. "If they [the troops] stay in Europe, then this remains a commitment towards Nato. But if they were to be re-stationed in the Indo-Pacific region, then that would indicate a change to US strategy, which then would spark a debate within Nato," she said.

Anyone entering Germany from countries considered high-risk for coronavirus could face a mandatory coronavirus test when they arrive at airports, Germany's state health ministers decided Wednesday according to Deutsche Welle. People entering Germany from countries deemed to be low-risk, such as France, Spain and Greece, would not need testing. Airports are concerned about the move and said authorities must carry out the testing, instead of airport staff.

France's health ministry said Tuesday that coronavirus transmission is increasing during the summer holidays. The ministry said it had registered an increase in the number of suspected cases across the country. As people take advantage of the summer holidays, "travel, events and gatherings of families or friends are factors that could foster the epidemic's resurgence," the ministry warned. Currently, 6,482 people are hospitalised with 455 in intensive care, AFP reported.

The minimum income guarantee was a condition included in the coalition agreement between the Socialists and the leftist group Unidas Podemos, after the indecisive results of the November national elections.