Eurotopics.net

Britain will officially leave the EU tomorrow, Friday. The European Parliament voted in favour of the Brexit law by a large majority on Wednesday, after which MEPs said their goodbyes - accompanied in some cases by tears - to their British colleagues. Europe's press discusses what form relations between the UK and the EU will now take.

The Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei will be allowed to participate, albeit with certain restrictions, in the expansion of the 5G mobile network in the UK. The British government announced the decision on Tuesday. The US had advised Boris Johnson against the move due to the risk of espionage. European media assess the decision also in the light of Friday's Brexit.

Portuguese authorities have confirmed that whistleblower and hacker Rui Pinto, who is currently awaiting trial for his involvement in the Football Leaks, was also behind the Luanda Leaks. Pinto is accused of cybercrimes and attempted blackmail. Portuguese press voices say there should be more appreciation for the role Pinto played in these revelations.

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday approved a reform under which judges, prosecutors and judicial officers will no longer receive special "service benefits". The payments, some of which are higher than the actual salaries, were introduced in 1997 to reduce officials' vulnerability to bribes. Romanian journalists explain why the politicians are suddenly targeting the judiciary.

US President Trump presented a Middle East peace plan on Tuesday evening. The proposal calls for a two-state solution with parts of East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. At the same time, the legality of Jewish settlements in the West Bank would be accepted and Jerusalem would be recognised as the Israeli capital. Europe's press see the plan as unrealistic, but individual assessments vary.