On 1 August 1975 - in the middle of the Cold War - 35 states from both the West and the Eastern Bloc signed the CSCE Final Act in Helsinki, better known as the Helsinki Accords, in which they pledged among other things to respect the inviolability of borders and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. On the occasion of the official ceremony marking the 50th anniversary in Helsinki, commentators ask: does the phrase "from Vancouver to Vladivostok" still mean something?

Following fierce protests at the national and international level, the Ukrainian parliament has passed a law repealing the planned subordination of anti-corruption bodies to the Prosecutor General's Office and restoring the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. Commentators conclude that a lot of damage has been done.

The EU is considering sanctions against Israel in view of the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, but Germany and Italy in particular are reportedly blocking such plans. US President Donald Trump has called on Israel to allow more food supplies into the sealed-off area. The media examines to what extent Israel and the West are responsible for the impending famine.

The EU and the US have settled their tariff dispute: tariffs of 15 percent will apply to most EU exports to the US, and Europe will not impose any new counter-tariffs. On Sunday in Scotland, Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen also agreed that the bloc would make massive purchases of energy and defence equipment from the US. The European press comments on different aspects of the deal and draws its own conclusions.

Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has announced a new austerity package to address the country's huge budget deficit. The measures include a judicial reform that raises the retirement age for judges and public prosecutors from 50 to 65 years and caps pensions at 70 percent of the net salary. Commentators scrutinise the fierce opposition to these plans.

Britain has announced that it intends to recognise Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly at the end of September. Just a few days earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron made a similar announcement. However, British PM Keir Starmer has said he will only make this move if Israel fails to take significant steps to improve the situation in the Gaza Strip. The media take stock.