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Constitutional experts have criticised President Aníbal Cavaco Silva for referring the government’s 2013 state budget to the Constitutional Court after it had been approved by parliament in November. Cavaco Silva sent the budget to the court over concerns that three elements were unconstitutional. Experts complain he should have referred the document for approval before it was passed by the parliament, while Público estimates that if the Court rules the sections of the budget are unconstitutional, it will leave a shortfall of €1.5bn in state finances.

Cavaco Silva’s questions over state budget may leave €1.5bn shortfall – Público

Last year was a particularly poor one for the French car market. The number of registrations of new vehicles produced by PSA Peugeot Citroën fell by 17.5 per cent, while registrations of Renault and Dacia cars were down by 22.1 per cent. Over the last 10 years, production at the two carmakers French factories has been halved: 1.6m cars were made in 2012, compared to 3.2m in 2003.

2012: A scrappy year for French cars – La Tribune

In a highly controversial move, outgoing President Václav Klaus has granted amnesty to 7,416 of the Czech Republic’s 23,000 prisoners. The list of those to be released includes a number of high-profile figures involved in the “tunnels” scandal, a series of major corruption cases linked to the privatisation of the country’s banks and investment funds in the 1990s.

The end of Klaus. Major white-collar criminals escape punishment – Hospodářské Noviny

Universities minister David Willetts wants white, working-class teenage boys put in the same category as students from other disadvantaged communities and ethnic minorities – as groups that should be targeted for recruitment by universities, after new data shows a massive slump in applications from this sector of the community.

Treat white working-class boys like ethnic minority, Willetts tells universities – The Independent

In spite of historically low interest rates, Belgian families worried about their future are saving more than ever. In 2012, an additional €17bn (more than the figure for 2011) was deposited in savings accounts in the country, an increase of 9 per cent.

Belgians saving at full tilt – De Morgen

Cuts in salaries of EU officials and more difficult career progression being proposed by the British PM David Cameron may reduce Poland’s impact on the process of drafting new EU laws. If the British proposal is accepted, the imbalance between old and new member states at the top of EU hierarchy may become even more acute. Currently, there are only 38 Poles among EU directors compared to 468 Spaniards, 650 French and 591 Germans.

A blow to our men in the EU – Rzeczpospolita

According to a recent poll, support for the Spanish monarchy has declined by 6 points year over year, while 41 per cent of respondents reject the country’s royals. The exceptionally low figures have been prompted by a corruption scandal involving the king’s son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarin, and the king’s participation in an elephant hunt in Botswana. King Juan Carlos’ popularity has fallen to 50.1 per cent, while 45 per cent of respondents believe that he should abdicate to be replaced by Prince Felipe, whose approval rating stands at 62.3 per cent.

Support for the monarchy falls to a historic low of 54% – El Mundo