Eurotopics.net

During his state visit to Iran, Turkish President Recep Erdoğan on Wednesday discussed Kurdish policy and energy with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani. Is Europe's distanced stance pushing Turkey into the arms of the major powers in the Middle East?

The EU Commission has demanded that Luxembourg reclaim 250 million euros in tax benefits from Amazon. In addition it wants to bring Ireland before the ECJ over the country's refusal to collect 13 billion euros in taxes from Apple. Most of Europe's press greets the initiative and Irish commentators also argue that the countries of the EU should pursue a common policy in this area.

President Trump has paved the way for increased US troops in Afghanistan. His military advisors have convinced him that withdrawing US forces from the country would leave a dangerous power vacuum. Trump stressed, however, that the goal was not nation-building but killing terrorists. Is this the right strategy?

Two people were killed and three buried children were rescued from the rubble after an earthquake hit the Italian holiday island of Ischia. Although the magnitude of the quake was estimated at only 4, many buildings collapsed. Exactly one year after the devastating Amatrice earthquake Italy's press reacts with bitterness to this latest disaster.

Travelling to Romania and Bulgaria this week, French President Macron is pushing for a more stringent EU Posted Workers Directive, which allows businesses to send workers to another EU member country temporarily provided they receive the prevailing minimum wage. Macron wants to limit competition from such workers on the French labour market. Commentators take a critical view of the initiative.

French President Macron plans to present his eagerly awaited reform for increasing labour market flexibility at the end of August. Commentators discuss what's at stake.