26/02 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT Europe – World trade back to crisis level as EM demand slides. Concerns mount for global economy; First contraction since 2009.

WSJE – France set to clear out Calais camp. French authorities on Friday are set to begin dismantling parts of the Jungle, a makeshift camp along the English channel that has become a symbol of France’s uneven response to the refugee crisis.

INYT – France’s ‘Jungle’ lives on, at least for now. Court lets government close migrant camp, but without setting timetable.

BBC Europe – Greece slows migrant flow from islands to Athens. The Greek government has asked ferry operators to reduce services bringing migrants from islands to the capital Athens in a bid to ease pressure. It is trying to slow the flow of migrants to its northern border, to prevent a further build-up of people trying to reach other EU states.

FRANCE

Le Monde – After three months of state of emergency, how far have we gone in the fight against terrorism? The first three-month period of state of emergency ends on February 26. The parliament has voted in favour of a three-month prolongation until May 26.

Les Echos – The good year of French giants. French industrialists fully benefit from a weak euro. French banks are almost back to pre-crisis level.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – Dispute between Vienna and Athens over border policy escalates. Greece recalls ambassador. Minister Mouzalas: Greece will not be “Europe’s Lebanon”.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung – U-Turn in the refugee policy comes closer. Home affairs Minister Thomas de Maizière sets a deadline: If the number of asylum seekers on the Turkish-Greek border does not drop dramatically until the EU summit in March, there will be “other measures”.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Civil unions, the Senate gives its green light. Renzi: “This is a historic moment”. The Senate has voted in favour of the law for civil unions following the support of those close to Denis Verdini.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Stock exchange recovered: 16bns « back in ». Technical recovery thanks to low prices: risks of volatility and risks on oil. Shanghai (6.4%) did not affect other markets. Focus on G20 and growth.

POLAND

Gazeta Wyborcza – EU cash lures government. Law and Justice (PiS) is looking into the possibility of using billions of euros from EU regional development funds. It would help implement, for example, the Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s economic development plan.

SPAIN

Rl País – The agreement revives the division within PSOE. Several regional leaders oppose to the end of the council.

The Times – Rotherham child abuse gang leader wanted IVF. The leader of the Rotherham sex-grooming gang has asked about fertility treatment despite making several children pregnant and fathering up to 18 babies.

The Guardian – BBC and Blackburn go to war over findings of Savile sex abuse report. Director general Tony Hall said yesterday that the BBC had decided to “part company” with Tony Blackburn because the presenter had failed to fully co-operate with the report.