23/01 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT Europe – Sterling tumbles as Cameron takes on party rebels over Brexit. Pound hits seven-year low. Rating agencies warn against EU exit. Tory dissent rises.

WSJE – Rome expands Libya fight. Italy agrees to allow US to send drones from Sicily to support fighting Islamic State.

INYT – Chinese president brings media to heel. Fealty to Xi and service to party are pillars of a new policy for journalists.

BBC Europe –EU exit would risk jobs, says group of business bosses. Leaving the European Union would threaten jobs and put the UK’s economy at risk, leaders of some of Britain’s biggest companies have said. Bosses – including those of BT, Marks & Spencer and Vodafone – signed a letter published in the Times, saying an EU exit would deter investment in the UK.

FRANCE

Le Monde – Unemployment benefits and labour law, François Hollande’s two challenges. Employers’ and workers’ unions began on Monday 22 February the negotiations on the new agreement for unemployment benefits.

Les Echos – The reasons why oil prices will remain low. The International Energy Agency believes that it will be possible to readjust prices with consumption by 2017. Nevertheless, it will take time for prices to increase again, given the abundant stocks.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) – Kauder silences critics to Merkel within the party. Parliament group leader: It is important that we support the Chancellor.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) – British deal could significantly relieve Berlin. Germany transfers every year more than €200 million in child benefits in other EU countries. If London reduces these benefits in the future, countries like Germany could follow.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Civil union: the PD opts for a confidence vote; bye-bye adoption. The maxi amendment replacing the Cirinnà law will be considered tomorrow in Parliament. Protests from LGBTs.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Stock markets: oil and banks lead recovery. The increase in the price of oil (+7%) gave wings to worldwide markets today, following the replacement of management in the Chinese stock market authority.

POLAND

Gazeta Wyborcza – Lech Wałęsa in the shadow of secret files. Posthumous revenge of the Communist Security Service (SB). The Institute of National Remembrance disclosed materials from the files of the SB’s secret agent “Bolek”, confiscated in a house belonging to the late Communist general Czesław Kiszczak.

SPAIN

El País – Podemos gives in and agrees with the opening of negotiations between the PSOE and Ciudadanos. Iglesias agrees on the opening of a dialogue on a government programme before discussing the distribution of ministries.

The Times – Brexit puts Jobs at risk, say 200 business chiefs. The bosses of more than a third of Britain’s 100 largest companies are calling for the country to stay in the European Union, providing a boost to David Cameron as he fights to put his referendum campaign back on track.

The Guardian – PM attacks Johnson over Brexit. David Cameron gave vent to his frustration at Boris Johnson over Europe yesterday as he ridiculed the mayor of London over his apparent call for a second EU referendum.