Europe's changing political map from Vienna to Madrid

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From Vienna to Madrid - a tale of two coalitions

If 2019 was the year of elections, 2020 has started as the year of coalition governments, with Austria and Spain finally managing it after months of negotiations. We look at the perils and pitfalls of ever more fragmented politics in Europe.

Zagreb

Croatia’s presidency has set its own priorities; it means delivering a future trade deal or trying to with Brexit Britain, Britain is due to leave the EU by the end of this month, also trying to tackle the difficult subject, or start to tackle it - the future EU budget and then there is EU expansion into this part of the world, the Balkans - trying to rekick those accession talks for Albina and North Macedonia. Lots on Croatia's plate.

Strasbourg

But more immediately, next week we are back in Strasbourg, where after December’s court ruling, lots of the attention will be on Catalan MEPs as they try and take their seats, all part of their ongoing battle with Madrid, we dip in to some of the highlights - from the Middle East crisis to corruption charges against the Czech prime minister.

Under the radar

Around the world, governments are trying to work out how quickly they can roll out 5G technology as quickly as possible. But not everyone is keen, some are worried about whether there is threat to public health.

We have a full report on this next week - but we have a little preview.

Olivier Galland is campaigning to stop 5G mast s being erected around Brussels.

"5G has never been tested. There are no studies that can demostrate whether it's bad for our health or not...and the few studies that we we do have justify the idea that we should be very careful, that it could harm us."

And finally...

This week Ursula von der Leyen met with Boris Johnson, the two have much in common despite their differences over Brexit. They are some of Europe's top politician and they also went to the same school, believe it or not.