European Union

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of a new offshore law on Monday evening (10 July) that will impose taxes on oil and gas companies operating in the Black Sea. The ruling party's controversial leader insisted it will help cut reliance on Russian energy imports but oil companies said it might deter new investments.

European Council president Donald Tusk told US president Donald Trump on Tuesday to appreciate his European allies, adding "after all, you don't have that many." Tusk's message comes a day before the Nato summit where Trump is expected to push EU countries to pay more. Tusk also warned Trump not to confuse the US's strategic friends and problems ahead of the president's meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin next week.

"Europe is your best ally, please remember that," Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday (10 July) in an indirect message to US president Donald Trump, who will attend a crucial NATO summit in Brussels this week and then meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the row over Britain's exit from the EU, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has followed Brexit Minister David Davis's lead and resigned. Both have criticised Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan as too soft. Commentators speculate about what Johnson will do next and fear that with fresh elections the whole Brexit process could end in chaos.

In the run-up to this week's Nato summit, US President Trump's critical stance and his condemnation of some allies' low military spending have many commentators from allied states on edge. Some question the existence of the entire alliance and believe that it must restructure in order to survive. Others complain that the US Republican Party is not doing more to stand up to Trump on security policy.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday dismissed the head of the country's anti-corruption agency, Laura Codruta Kövesi. He had initially opposed the government's decision but bowed to pressure following a ruling by the constitutional court that supported the government line. Iohannis had his spokeswoman announce the decision. Not just Romania's media are alarmed at the repercussions of the affair.

Two weeks after his election victory Turkey's President Erdoğan was sworn in on Monday and the country's parliamentary democracy was replaced by a presidential republic. On the weekend once again more than 18,000 state employees were dismissed on the grounds that they had ties with terrorist organisations. Where is this "new Turkey" heading?