22/07 – Today’s Headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

BBC Europe – Brexit plunges UK economy to worst level since 2009, data suggests. Britain’s decision to leave the EU has led to a “dramatic deterioration” in economic activity, not seen since the aftermath of the financial crisis. Data from IHS Markit’s Purchasing Manager’s Index, or PMI, shows a fall to 47.7 in July, the lowest level since April in 2009. A reading below 50 indicates contraction. Both manufacturing and service sectors saw a decline in output and orders.

Financial Times Europe – HSBC’s international probe cleared $3.5bn trade at centre of DoJ case. Review in 2013 found no breach of conduct. Bank considers support for arrested trader.

Wall Street Journal Europe – Brazil arrests terror-cell suspects. Police say “Defenders of Sharia” have links to Islamic State, planned attacks at Rio Games.

International New York Times – Divided convention? Not over Clinton. Nothing seems to unite G.O.P. leaders better than the desire to “lock her up”!

FRANCE
Le Monde – Purges and state of emergency in Turkey: Erdoğan’s coup of force. The Turkish President declared three-month state of emergency. He will be able to pass laws and to restrict citizens’ liberties without the approval of the Parliament.

Les Echos – Real estate: the decrease of interest rates is speeding up. In June, borrowing rates reached 1.62%, a new low record. In five years, costs of property lending have been divided by three for purchasers. Sales prices began to rise again by the beginning of the year.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – Berlin concerned about the state of emergency in Turkey. Steinmeier: Withdraw as soon as possible. Convention on Human Rights suspended.

Süddeutsche Zeitung – New criticism against Gabriel in the case Edeka. In an unusual move, the Regional Court of Dusseldorf now accuses the Vice Chancellor to have infringed his official duty in the merger process. He is now considering the disclosure of documents.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Civil Unions: the last hurdle falls, first unions in August. Civil Unions are now a reality in Italy and starting in August, gay couples will be able to say “yes” to each other after the council of state approved the civil unions law.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Draghi: aid to banks is possible. The after-Brexit: “We’re ready to everything.” Stock exchanges bet on new interventions.

POLAND

Gazeta Wyborcza – Volhynia to drive a wedge again. Today the Sejm passes a resolution on the Massacre of Poles in the Volhynia and Eastern Galicia in 1941. Law and Justice wants the massacre to be called a “genocide” in order to commemorate the victims. The opposition fears this might further deteriorate Poland’s relations with Ukraine, but it does not rule out supporting the resolution.

SPAIN
El Pais – “I will ask the King to convince Sanchez to abstain”. Statement by Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera.

Expansion – Banco Popular to save €150 million with job cuts. The cutback plan should affect up to 3,000 jobs.

UNITED KINGDOM
The Times – Cameron’s honours list blocked by Whitehall. Concerns over suitability of several nominees.

The Guardian – No free trade without open borders, Hollande tells May. Theresa May was warned yesterday by the French president that the UK cannot expect access to the single market if it wants to put immigration controls on EU citizens.