21/08 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT – Greece faces fresh uncertainty as Tsipras calls snap general election. Premier seeks to build more stable coalition. Poll campaign set to delay agreed reforms.

WSJE – Greek leader steps down to spur vote. Tsipras proposes September 20 election in power play.

INYT – Europe takes new actions to stem tide of migrants. Macedonia declares state of emergency; command centre planned for Calais.

FRANCE

Le Monde – Chemical weapons are the new terror weapons of the Islamic State in Iraq. Shells containing a toxic gas currently under analysis have been launched by jihadists on Kurdish targets.

Les Echos – Tax cuts: Hollande in a time of promises. There will be tax cuts “no matter what happens in 2016,” assured the Head of State on Thursday. But the Ministry of Economy recently rejected the idea of a new tax relief for households.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ) – Europe concerned about influx of refugees. Slovakia refuses to receive Muslim refugees, arguing there are no mosques in the country.

Suedeutche Zeitung – Concern for the world economy. Due to declining oil prices, currency turmoil, economic problems in key countries such as China and Brazil, the Fed is hesitating to raise interest rates again, for the first time in ten years.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Tsipras resigns; risks of chaos in Athens. Greek PM Alexis Tsipras resigned, declaring his conscience was clear as he had fought for his people. New elections will be held in September. Europe eyes the situation warily.

Il Sole 24 Ore – China, Athens and sluggish growth: worldwide stocks plunge. Fears about slow growth, Chinese uncertainty and Greek political upheaval have led stock markets to plunge worldwide.

POLAND

Gazeta Wyborcza – President’s manoeuvres. President Andrzej Duda wants to hold another referendum on the Parliamentary elections day on 25 October. He wants to ask Poles about sending six-years-old children to school, lowering the retirement age and privatisation of the State Forests.

SPAIN

El Pais – Tsipras calls for new election after only seven months of controversial governance. Greece to go back to the polls on September 20th. “We did not manage to do what we promised to the people.”

Expansion – The Benjumea family is looking for a partner to save Abengoa. The President is starting a “road show” to calm investors.

The Times – Chilcot will take aim at top military commander. Defence chief warned over role in Iraq war.

The Guardian – Corbyn: if I become leader, Labour will apologise over Iraq. Exclusive: Apology due for suffering of Iraq and deception of UK, says MP.