Eurotopics.net

Britain's permanent representative to the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers, has resigned. He wanted to cede his office to a successor before Britain triggers Article 50 at the end of March, a communique from the British embassy to the EU announced. This will weaken London's position in the Brexit negotiations, some commentators believe. Others see it as a chance.

In response to the latest terrorist attack in Istanbul, the Turkish government has once again extended the state of emergency that it imposed following the coup attempt. Turkish commentators warn society not to let terrorism deepen the rifts in Turkey.

Following the terrorist attacks in Europe Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec plans to enshrine the right to own and use weapons in the constitution. He argues that if the occasion arises armed citizens should be able to stop terrorists just as the security forces can. Czech commentators reject the proposal.

When Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007 people celebrated on the streets. In the ten years that have passed since then, however, many citizens have become disillusioned because EU membership hasn't brought the positive changes they had hoped for. Journalists in both countries nonetheless assess the move as positive overall.

The death of a 21-year-old local man has triggered riots in the northern Polish city of Ełk. The man was allegedly stabbed during a fight with several employees at a kebab diner. The police have arrested four men from North Africa. One day later at least a hundred people gathered to demonstrate outside the diner and threw paving stones at it. The Polish press is incensed.

Anis Amri, who is suspected of being responsible for the Berlin attack, was under surveillance in Germany for several months on suspicion of planning an attack. Before that, according to media reports, he was in prison in Italy. These latest reports have sparked a debate about whether the authorities have failed.