According to official figures from about 97% of polling stations, only 46.13% of the electorate took part in the referendum on the impeachment of President Traian Băsescu. A 50% turnout was needed to make the poll valid. 87.5% of those who voted approved Băsescu's impeachment, a score which his arch-rival Prime Minister Victor Ponta —who initiated the procedure — is sure to cite in the coming days.
Referendum on razor’s edge – România libera
European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi's idea to redeem Spanish bonds if necessary has received the support from the French, German and Italian heads of state. Mario Draghi said July 26 that "the ECB is ready to do whatever iy takes to protect the euro".
Euro: ECB, Paris, Rome and Berlin show unity – Les Echos
After similar statements from coalition partners the CSU (Bavarian Christian-Democrats) and the Liberals of the FDP, leading figures from Chancellor Merkel’s ruling centre-right CDU party have they said they will make no further “concessions” to Athens.
No more money for Greeks – Die Welt
While PM David Cameron wanted to use the Olympic games as "a showcase to boost UK trade and investment, chief executives from the US and Asia – many of them big investors in Britain – are privately voicing anxiety at the state of the economy." Last week’s official figures showed that the UK economy shrank 0.7 per cent between April and June.
Cameron on Olympic trial – Financial Times
“Slovak firms have discovered a new ´tax haven’. Surprisingly it is not some Caribbean island but neighbouring Hungary,” writes the Bratislava economic daily. It adds that the country provides a better entrepreneurial environment for small and medium-sized companies and lower costs in times of budget austerity at home.
Slovaks discovering new haven in Hungary – Hospodárske Noviny
In an interview with British daily the Guardian, Serbia's nationalist president Tomislav Nikolić has said that Kosovo's Serb minority are in danger of genocide. The Belgrade daily leads with a story on elderly Serbs expelled from the UN-funded Centre for Peace and Tolerance, in the Kosovo capital Pristina.
Elderly people thrown into streets – Politika
Due to shortcomings in health checks on food of animal origin, Portugal theoretically risks seeing its exports to other EU member states suspended. The Lisbon financial daily notes that for now the EU has not been apprised of the matter.
National meat risks embargo in Europe – Jornal de Notícias
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!
It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.
Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!