The general strike organized by Spain's trade unions will highlight the degree of social discontent.
29 March. General show of strength – El Periódico de Catalunya
The populist Geert Wilders has announced that he is withdrawing his support from the coalition government led by Mark Rutte. The disagreement is over budget cuts.
Government to fall today, unless Wilders comes back – De Volkskrant
The Bulgarian government has decided to abandon the project to build a nuclear power plant in Belene, on the Danube, in favour of a gas plant. An already purchased Russian-built reactor will be used to double capacity at the country's Kozloduy plant.
Gas rather than the atom – Standart
Panic buying broke out at petrol stations throughout the country as ministers were accused of spreading fear by telling motorists to stock up on fuel in case of a strike by tanker drivers.
Fuel strike: pumps go dry as ministers provoke a panic – The Daily Telegraph
"First monk in Italy", headlines the Berlusconi-owned Italian daily, after a heavily indebted craftsman set himself on fire outside a tax office in Bologna. "He is between life and death. Tax is killing the country."
On fire for tax – Il Giornale
According to a report by the Council of Europe, more than 1,500 migrants from Africa died in the Mediterranean in 2011. This was mainly due to errors on the part of military and commercial ships, confusion in the organisation of relief and the lack of coordination between UN, NATO and EU.
“A dark day for Europe”: verdict on the refugee boat left to die – The Guardian
The ruling Civic Platform (PO) has struck a deal with its coalition partner the Polish Farmers’ Party (PSL) over pension reform. Women may now be able to receive 50 percent of their pension retiring at the age of 62, and men at the age of 65, while regular retirement age has been kept at 67 years for both men and women.
A disappointing compromise – Rzeczpospolita
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