26/05 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

European Headlines

FT – Charter nears USD 55 billion deal to buy Time Warner Cable. John Malone fights off Altice challenge amid consolidation by cable operators.

WSJE – Greek ruling party divided over bailout. As financial pressure mounts on Greece to sign a deal with its foreign lenders, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is facing what may be his biggest problem yet: the struggle within the ruling Syriza party over whether to swallow creditors’ tough terms or default.

INYT – As its cash drains away, Greece fights to stay afloat. Pressure from creditors has already forced nation to work as bankrupt state.

BALTIC STATES

Baltic Times –Lithuania ready for constructive cooperation with Poland. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevicius, has said Lithuania is ready for constructive cooperation with Poland, following the election of new Polish president, Andrzej Duda, on May 24. Linkevicius feels both countries also share numerous common interests and challenges.

FRANCE

Le Monde – Spain: spectacular breakthrough of anti-austerity left-wing. After the local elections on Sunday 24 May, the radical left-wing party Podemos takes the town hall in Barcelona and will co-lead in Madrid.

Les Echos – Record penalties against illegal employment. Urssaf tax reassessments reached EUR 400 million in 2014, ten times more than the number 10 years ago. One out of three companies frauds regarding security services, one out of seven in the building sector.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ) – Berlin wants to align civil partnerships with marriage. Legal system to be harmonised, but no full equality of same-sex marriage planned.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung – Real gay marriage – not in Germany. The Irish decision to put gay marriage on an equal footing with marriage has triggered debate in the federal policy making process: many leaders call for more rights for gays and lesbians, but the Conservatives (CDU-CSU) are against it.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Spain and Poland challenge Europe. Six days ahead of the regional elections in Italy, the Far-Left in Spain and the Nationalists in Poland send a strong message to Europe: people can’t bear the European policy anymore. Renzi urges: “The EU must change its policy.”

Il Sole 24 Ore – Athens crisis: stock markets collapse. The victory of the Eurosceptic party in the Spanish elections, as well as Greek uncertainties over IMF debt repay shook stock markets throughout Europe.

NETHERLANDS

De Telegraaf – The Netherlands paid an extra levy of €133m to the European Union in 2014 which is far higher than originally thought. The top-up amount, over and above the €1.1bn Dutch contribution to the EU budget, was paid to Brussels by finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem last December.

POLAND

Gazeta – Kopacz turns towards centre-left wing. Failure in Presidential elections forces PO party to look for solutions that would help it move forward quickly. Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz considers inviting on board the ex-SLD members and former collaborators of Prof. Leszek Balcerowicz.

SPAIN

El Pais – Podemos’ priority will be to supplant the PP in agreements. The PSOE is establishing contacts with Iglesias’ group to build “progressive policies.”

Expansion – Managerial concern over election. The economic sector is calling for agreements between the different political parties.

The Times – Obesity strategy “is failing.” NHS chiefs are wasting millions of pounds on a doomed anti-obesity strategy because they do not realise that babies start to become fat even before they are born, the country’s most senior children’s doctor has said.

The Guardian – Germany and France tighten grip on Europe. David Cameron’s referendum campaign has suffered a major blow after a leaked document showed that Germany and France have made a deal to further integrate the eurozone without reopening the European Union treaties.