02/07 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT – Tsipras accuses EU leaders of blackmailing Greek voters. Comments follow reform olive branch. Mixed signals baffle eurozone leaders.

WSJE – Tsipras takes defiant tone with lenders. Premier blasts creditors after offer is dismissed.

INYT – Greek reversal sows confusion. Government and banks have little money left, with no signs of help soon. Tsipras embraces offer that has expired, leaving route to a deal unclear.

BALTIC STATES

Baltic Times –Russian Prosecutor General’s Office to examine legitimacy of Baltic States; Lithuania responds angrily. According to Russian news agency Interfax, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has opened an investigation into the legitimacy of the independence of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The office will look into the whether decision made by the State Council of the USSR in 1991, to recognise the three Baltic States as independent was legal.

FRANCE

Le Monde – Nicolas Sarkozy: “We must protect the eurozone from the Greek disaster.” In an interview with Le Monde, Nicolas Sarkozy accuses Alexis Tsipras of “suspending Greece’s membership to the eurozone.”

Les Echos – The reasons why stock exchanges remain confident despite the Greek crisis. The CAC 40 grew by more than 12% in the first semester. American giant Fidelity provides optimistic forecasts. Hollande-Merkel: disagreements come to light.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Zeitung (FAZ) – Merkel against “an agreement at any cost” with Greece. The German government said Alexis Tsipras’ new letter to the Eurogroup showed “no clarity” and that negotiations would not resume before the referendum. François Hollande is still hoping for an agreement before Sunday.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung – US spied on the German government. New WikiLeaks documents reveal that not only the NSA spied on the Chancellor but also on ministers and senior officials. The surveillance might still be going on today.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Angela Merkel takes the hard line with Greece. Germany rejects Tsipras’ latest proposal, with Merkel saying that there is no point negotiating before Sunday’s referendum. Polls now indicate the “yes” vote is gaining traction.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Markets: the race for dollars. Higher numbers than expected for the US job market in addition to certain data factors jumpstarted the race for dollars again, which was trading at 1.10 against the euro yesterday.

IRELAND

The Irish Times – Cowan – Irish Government dealt with banking crisis as best they could.

NETHERLANDS

ANP –More arrests in third night of disturbances in The Hague. At least 34 people were arrested in a third night of rioting in The Hague following the death of an Aruban holidaymaker in police custody. Between 200 and 300 youths, many on mopeds, gathered at the city’s Hobbemaplein and threw fireworks and bottles at police.

POLAND

Gazeta – The “Uber Act”. Addressing protests against Uber taxi company’s business in Europe, Polish politicians work on regulations that will protect Polish taxi companies and also the State budget.

SPAIN

El Pais – The SPC gives up the referendum’s proposal. Iceta prefers Catalans to vote on a constitutional reform.

Expansion – Consumption is increasing. Private spending will experience a 5% increase in trade sector, automotive industry and tourism.

The Times – Cameron’s airport turbulence. PM besieged after report gives green light to Heathrow expansion.

The Guardian – Germany turns the screw. Berlin accuses Tsipras of lying to his own people. Athens replies with allegations of blackmail.