A report by the UK's Independent Water Commission paints a bleak picture of the water supply sector in England, which was privatised in the 1980s, concluding that inefficiency, blatant disregard for environmental standards, leaks and poor water quality are rife. Environment Secretary Steve Reed reacted by announcing that the current water regulator will be scrapped and replaced to overhaul the entire system.
The interior ministers of six EU member states met at the summit of the Zugspitze mountain in Germany on Friday, hoping to reach an agreement on tightening Europe's asylum and migration policy. The proposed measures include more deportations and the transfer of asylum procedures to third countries. Against this backdrop and in light of the recent far-right riots in Spain, commentators debate whether Europe's migration policy is on the right track.
During his election campaign, Donald Trump promised to release secret files on the Epstein scandal. Now his supporters are insisting that he keep his promise, with some questioning his integrity over his failure to do this so far. Sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died in prison six years ago, and the case has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. European commentators discuss to what extent they now pose a threat to the president.
In Bulgaria, several local politicians in the opposition strongholds of Sofia and Varna have been arraigned on corruption charges in recent weeks. The arrest of Blagomir Kozev, the mayor of the key port city of Varna, has sparked protests. The national press fears that - as in neighbouring Turkey - the judiciary is being misused by the government to secure its grip on power.
The EU Commission has proposed a new budget of two trillion euros for the 2028-2034 period - around 700 billion euros more than the current budget. At the same time, less money is to be allocated to fixed areas in a bid to increase flexibility and allow for quicker responses in a crisis. Europe's press discusses the size of the budget and funding priorities.
