31/08 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT – Malaysian protesters call for PM to quit. Thousands of protesters in yellow T-shirts thronged the centre of Kuala Lumpur yesterday, calling for fair elections in Malaysia, capping a marathon 34-hour protest in the capital city to oust their scandal-hit prime minister.

WSJE – Fed rate strategy on track. Federal Reserve officials emerged from a week of head-spinning financial turbulence largely sticking to their plan to raise US interest rates before the end of the year.

INYT – EU seeks urgent action to ease crisis of migration. Officials to meet on September 14th, with goal of establishing new pressing centres.

BALTIC STATES

Baltic Times – NATO Silver Arrow 2015 exercises to take place in Latvia. From September 14 to 29, the 2015 Silver Arrow military exercise will take place in Latvia. According to the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers, more than 1,000 foreign troops will take part in the event.

FRANCE

Le Monde – Manuel Valls forced to defend the 35-hour workweek. At the PS summer conference in La Rochelle, the Prime Minister found himself in an unusual position towards the workweek legal duration.

Les Echos – Labour law: Valls wants to reform a taboo subject for the Left-wing. In La Rochelle, Manuel Valls announced the labour law reform will be his priority. The Prime Ministers wants to strengthen the legitimacy of company agreements. Managers are in favour, unions are concerned.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine – Merkel: Those who are not in need cannot stay with us. The CDU-CSU wants to limit the influx of economic migrants as soon as possible.

Suedeutsche Zeitung – “For Germany too much as well in the long run.” Federal Interior Minister urgently requires a more equitable refugee distribution in the EU. Thousands of citizens demonstrate solidarity with asylum seekers.

ITALY

La Repubblica – London stiffens its migration policy: “No more migrants, even if they come from the EU.” Interior Minister Theresa May strongly criticises the Schengen area and advocates in favour of closed borders.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Employment, consumption and taxes: the back-to-work schedule. It is time to go back to work after the summer break for the Italian government, with September’s financial deadlines looming. It is also an important time for education reform and the upcoming Jobs Act.

NETHERLANDS

NOS – Transport minister Melanie Schultz will not lower the maximum speed limit of 130 kph. She was reacting to comments by Labour MP Jan Vos, who told De Volkskrant the limit should be lowered to help the government in reducing CO2 emissions.

POLAND

Gazeta Wyborcza – Paramilitary Poland. Paramilitary organisations in Poland gather as many as 30,000 people. The Ministry of National Defence tries to train and control them, however to no avail in some cases.

SPAIN

El Pais – Mas’ allies respond to Gonzales bringing discredit. The government thinks that the former president’s letter “comforts many Spaniards.” Sanchez insists on the need for dialogue and consensus.

Expansion – El Corte Inglés draws up a profitability plan. Dimas Gimeno wants to raise profit on sales from 1% to 4%. The plan forecasts budget cuts, more investments on the Internet and foreign development.

The Times – Blair faces inquiry over secret bid to save Gaddafi. Former leader “asked Cameron to do deal with dictator.”

The Guardian – Rolls-Royce dragged into bribe scandal. British giant admits it is cooperating with Brazilian corruption inquiry.