20/08 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT – Berlin to accept record 800,000 asylum seekers as crisis mounts. Germany urges more sharing of EU burden. Biggest refugee surge since Second World War.

WSJE – Fed meeting shaping up a close call. The Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting is four weeks away, and the central bank’s latest minutes show no clear sign that officials have settled on a decision about whether to raise short-term interest rates at that time.

INYT – California dream meets water realities. Drought as “new normal” fuels conflict as local officials seek growth.

FRANCE

Le Monde – Germany is the last refuge for migrants. Germany faces a spectacular surge in asylum requests. It should jump from 200,000 in 2014 to 650,000-750,000 this year.

Les Echos – Drop in the demand for gold: why magic stopped happening. The demand for gold has been declining worldwide. New record-lows in five years. Analysts assume this is due to price erosion, while the price of an ounce approaches 1,000 dollars.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine – 43% of all asylum applications in the EU are filled in Germany. Federal Interior Minister, Thomas De Maizière, expects 800,000 refugees this year.

Suedeutsche Zeitung – Schäuble says there are no guarantees. The Bundestag approved a third multi-billion-euro bailout programme for Athens, yet even the Federal Finance Minister has expressed doubts.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Strikes and government contracts for unionized workers. Next step, the working revolution. The government has been rolling out reforms concerning the basics of government contracts which would change the status quo.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Berlin approves Greek bailout. The German Parliament gave its green light for a third Greek bailout, 454 votes to 113. The Netherlands have also approved the bailout in Parliament after a confidence vote.

POLAND

Gazeta Wyborcza – Single women vs. in-vitro. Single women who hold their eggs and embryos frozen in the in vitro clinics will have to use them before a new In-Vitro Act enters in force on 1 November. After the date, they can donate them to adoption or find a man ready for parenthood.

SPAIN

El Pais – The Punica network spreads across 12 large cities. The judge asks for information on the public contracts in this corruption case.

Expansion – AENA will give a dividend of more than two euros per share. It will share €320 million between private stakeholders (49%) and the State (51%).

The Times – PE teachers give maths lessons in school crisis. Demand for perks to fix 5,500 staff shortfall.

The Guardian – Migrant crisis: UK officers in Calais mission. Deal to set up joint control operation as May heads to port at centre of row.