Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner responsible for single market and industrial policy, has resigned saying he is not available for re-elected Ursula von der Leyen's new EU commission. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed his former foreign minister Stéphane Séjourné for France's commission seat in Brussels. Commentaries in Europe's press suggest that Breton's departure was not voluntary.
Germany began the announced expanded controls at all its borders on Monday. Controls have been in place at the borders with the Czech Republic, Poland and Switzerland since October 2023, and at the border with Austria since 2015. Commentators warn that the crackdown sends a devastating signal, particularly from a pan-European perspective.
There has been another apparent attempt to assassinate former president and presidential candidate Donald Trump. Bodyguards noticed a gun muzzle in the bushes near Trump's golf course in Florida and fired immediately. The suspect fled but was arrested shortly afterwards. The press analyses causes and consequences.
The new Dutch government, which for the first time includes ministers from the far-right PVV, presented its government programme on Friday. Two points in particular have sparked debate: the asylum law is to be partially suspended via an emergency regulation which allows more people seeking asylum protection to be turned away. And VAT on cultural and sporting events, as well as books and newspapers, is to rise from 9 to 21 percent.
Following heavy rainfall, several countries in Central and Eastern Europe have been hit by severe flooding. There have been a number of fatalities in Romania, the Czech Republic, Austria and Poland, and more people are missing. Entire villages have had to be evacuated and hundreds of thousands of citizens are without electricity. Europe's press discusses what needs to be done now, what should be postponed, and what progress has been made.
Ukraine is urging the US and UK to allow it to use long-range missiles to attack military targets inside Russia. A meeting last week between US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer failed to produce a change of course on the issue. In the meantime, Vladimir Putin has warned that the use of Western long-range weapons would put his country "at war" with Nato. Europe's press discusses what is at stake.
The European Central Bank (ECB) cut its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.5 per cent on Thursday. This is the second cut this year, after the first marking a turnaround in its policy was announced in June. The key interest rate is now at its lowest level since June 2023. The press analyses what this means for Europe's economy.
Germany has announced plans to introduce controls at all borders from next week. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser cited the need to restrict irregular migration and strengthen protection against terrorism and cross-border crime as reasons for the move. 'Refused entries that conform with European law' are also to be made possible. Europe's press debates the international ramifications.
According to initial polls most US citizens see Kamala Harris as the winner of the televised debate with Donald Trump. In the meantime, the role of the moderators, who intervened to fact-check Trump's statements on issues such as abortion laws or crimes committed by migrants, is fueling a discussion. Europe's press sees the US election campaign entering a new phase.
The EU's competition watchdogs celebrated two victories on Tuesday: Europe's top court, the European Court of Justice upheld a 2.4 billion euro fine against Google for favouring its own price comparison shopping service over its competitors, thereby abusing its dominant market position. And Apple must repay 13 billion euros in illegal tax breaks granted to the company by Ireland, the judges also ruled.
Former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on Monday presented a report commissioned by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen just over a year ago. If the EU economy is to have any chance of competing with the US and China it needs massive private and public investment and less bureaucracy, the report concludes. Europe's press analyses the proposals and their feasibility.