Today's front pages

Published on 23 May 2012

Angela Merkel has sharply rejected incoming French president François Hollande's eurobonds proposal. The growing dispute between the two countries is cause for concern for their European partners.

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Ice age between France and Germany – Financial Times Deutschland

Angela Merkel and François Hollande are to exchange frankly opposed views at the EU summit in Brussels on May 23, notably on the issue of eurobonds. For French daily Le Figaro the new president has his eye on the June general election 10-17 and wants to "maintain a false battle with Angela Merkel in order to pose as the champion of growth that he would be the only one to promote."

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Franco-German motor breaks down – Le Figaro

The question of Greek debt will be discussed at the Brussels summit, but "it will not be high on the agenda and no decision is expected."

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Europe agrees, but only for Greece – I Kathimerini

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said yesterday that the UK’s current ban on prison inmates voting in England and Wales breached human rights laws. For the fiercely EU-phobic British daily, “unelected European judges” have over-ruled the UK parliament and “rode roughshod over British sovereignty.”

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Contempt for our democracy – The Daily Mail

The Dutch lower house of parliament is debating the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). Its pro-EU camp sees it as a weapon that will save the euro and with it the economy, while sceptics fear loss of sovereignty and wealth. They have called for the vote be postponed until after the September 12 general election.

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Lower house stuck between crisis and voters – De Volkskrant

Ireland’s ruling coalition government is confident that the focus on growth at today’s EU summit in Brussels will boost the prospects of a Yes vote in the referendum on the fiscal treaty on May 31st.

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Coalition expects EU summit growth focus will boost Yes side – The Irish Times

A parliamentary commission has recommended that the immunity of Social Democrat MP David Rath be lifted after the publication of wiretaps. The former health minister and ex-governor of Central Bohemia is accused of corruption and embezzling EU aid.

Wiretaps catch Rath stealing millions – Lidové noviny

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