European Union

General : The environment is something Europeans care deeply about: 67% of them would like to the EU to do more on environmental protection, according to a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament. Read our article to find out more about what the EU is already doing and will be doing to protect your health, safeguard biodiversity and fight climate change.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The environment is something Europeans care deeply about: 67% of them would like to the EU to do more on environmental protection, according to a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament. Read our article to find out more about what the EU is already doing and will be doing to protect your health, safeguard biodiversity and fight climate change.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

A leaked confidential report from the German government describes Turkey as a "central platform for Islamist groups" and concludes that Ankara has been supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and opposition forces in Syria for years. Berlin should nonetheless steer clear of confrontation with Turkey, commentators warn, while some argue that the criticism of Ankara is hypocritical.

Poland's government wants to introduce a law that would leave people who use the term "Polish concentration camp" in connection with Auschwitz and other concentration camps facing up to three years behind bars. It fears that this choice of words implies that Poland played a role in operating the German concentration camps. Some commentators approve of Warsaw's intentions. Others point to the need for the Poles to confront their historical responsibility.

After eight months of deadlock the negotiations on the formation of a new government in Spain seem set to make progress once more. The leadership of the People's Party gave Mariono Rajoy the green light to start talks with the liberal Ciudadanos on Wednesday. The negotiations can only be successful if Rajoy shows more flexibility, commentators point out and warn that Spain cannot afford a third election.

Russia has stationed long-range bombers at an air base in Iran and is attacking rebel positions in the north of Aleppo from the site. Moscow and Tehran are united by common strategic goals in the region, commentators observe, and criticise the international community's increasing indifference in the face of the Syrian civilian population's unbearable suffering.

It could be another three years before the UK actually leaves the EU, representatives from Britain's political and business circles believe. London must present itself as genuine friend of Europe in the Brexit negotiations, commentators warn.

The citizens of Hungary will vote in a referendum on October 2 on whether to accept mandatory quotas for the distribution of refugees among the EU member states. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán rejects the quota system approved by Brussels. The Hungarians will back their leader, commentators predict, and call for binding regulations regarding the EU's migration policy.