Today’s front pages
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EurozoneBundestag approves aid to Spanish banks
The German parliament has approved the €100 billion bailout for Spain's ailing banks. A "grand coalition" of Chancellor Merkel's ruling majority and the SPD social-democrat opposition voted in favour. But this could be the last time the Chancellor has the backing of opposition MPs to compensate for dissent within her own majority, the Frankfurt daily notes.
Original article in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung deFrankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Frankfurt -
BelgiumEverything’s fine, sir ...
King Albert II of Belgium and Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo have signed off on a first leg of reforms to the state, including the break up of the disputed Brussels region into French speaking and Flemish speaking district. This signature symbolizes the end of the country's worst political crisis ever, which saw it go 541 days without a government.
Original article in La Libre Belgique frLa Libre Belgique Brussels -
IrelandConcern grows over possible opposition to debt deal
As preparations at an EU level advance for a review of Ireland’s bank bailout, the Dublin daily worries that German, Finnish or Dutch MPs could block a new debt deal for Ireland. On the table is the provision of about €30 billion in bonds from a European bailout fund to the former Anglo Irish Bank to replace expensive State-funded promissory notes. But parliamentary approval for such a deal would be needed in many countries.
Original article in The Irish Times enThe Irish Times Dublin -
HungaryLászló Csatary doesn’t understand why he’s accused of deporting the Jews of Kassa
Arrested on July 18 in Budapest, former Nazi László Csatary has spoken to the Budapest daily, and denies having participated in the deportation of more than 15,000 Jews in Košice (Kassa in Hungarian) — a Slovakian city at that time annexed to Hungary. He insists he was a translator for the Germans and only "obeyed orders". The deportations were managed by the Germans and not the Hungarians, he says.
Original article in Magyar Hírlap huMagyar Hírlap Budapest -
MoldovaBan on communist symbols: for or against?
On 12 July, the Moldovan parliament banned communist symbols for all media. But the hammer and sickle is on most state-protected buildings and monuments, the Chisinau daily notes, and asks whether they will have to be demolished. The ban comes into force on 1 September, and pits the pro-Russian opposition against the country's pro-EU leaders.
Original article in Timpul roTimpul Chisinau -
BanksLiborgate: how far will the shock wave go?
Suspicion has fallen on French banks Crédit Agricole and Socièté Generale that they too, like Barclays in London, were also involved in rigging the interbank lending rate LIBOR. In September, Europe's central banks will meet regulatory agencies to discuss reforming interbank rate methodology.
Original article in La Tribune frLa Tribune Paris -
SlovakiaTunnel to Schengen found
A Slovak special police unit called “Fiscal Cobra” has discovered a 700m long tunnel under the Slovak-Ukrainian border. It has been in use for at least a year to smuggle cigarettes and possibly illegal immigrants.
Original article in SME skSME Bratislava
