euro-press review

Europe’s papers pick apart Juncker’s State of the Union

British tabloids ‘thank God’ they’re leaving the EU, German paper asks ‘what star the EU spaceship has been on.’

Much of the European press focused on European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the European Union speech, but reactions varied across countries and the political spectrum. From British tabloid Daily Express’s “Thank God we’re leaving EU,” to German paper Die Welt’s pithy summary of the speech: “More members, euro for all,” the speech was covered — and picked apart — across the Continent.

Germany

Most German papers focused on Juncker’s call for all EU members to adopt the euro. Süddeutsche Zeitung noted the proposal was contrary to the stance taken by the French and German governments, who don’t want a rerun of the Greek debt crisis in countries that join the euro with dubious finances. Frankfurter Allgemeine labeled Juncker’s proposals thus: “More euro, more Brussels, more money.” In a scathing opinion piece on its front page, right-leaning Die Welt called Juncker’s plans “absurd,” asking on which “star the EU spaceship and its captain Juncker have spent the past years.”

Belgium

French-speaking paper Le Soir led with a Juncker quote — “The people want Europe to decide faster” — given exclusively to the paper. “Juncker affirms to Le Soir he wants a faster, more effective Europe, but he comes out against a multispeed Europe,” the paper noted. Dutch-speaking De Standaard carried a picture of Juncker confronting former UKIP leader Nigel Farage with the caption: “No more EU money for anti-Europe extremists.”

France

Between formally winning the right to host the 2024 Olympics and President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed reforms, the French press reported on Juncker’s proposal to protect key European interests from foreign investment, a Macron priority. “Europe wants to better protect its enterprises,” Le Monde wrote. French financial newspaper Les Echos led with the same.

UK

The Telegraph led with: “A United States of Europe: Juncker lays out his vision for future of the EU — led by a European president — and warns U.K. will regret Brexit.” The Financial Times: “Juncker seals EU integration bid with a kiss,” alongside a photo of Juncker kissing Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans.

Spain

The Spanish media focused on the legal battle pitting the secessionist regional Catalan government against the central government in Madrid. On Wednesday, prosecutors opened a case against hundreds of Catalan mayors suspected of supporting an independence referendum, which the national government deems illegal. “The mayors of the referendum will answer to the courts,” El País wrote. Pro-independence paper El Punt Avui wrote, in large typeface, “Siege against the mayors.”

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