Today's front pages

Published on 21 November 2012 at 10:31

Parliament has voiced its support for the government position on the EU 2014-2020 budget which is that President Traian Băsescu must “firmly and unequivocally” defend the European Commission’s proposals. In the most recent proposition presented by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Romania is the country that stands to lose the most funds for rural development. However, Băsescu has warned that “if we set out with the idea of using our veto, we will be left out of the negotiations."

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Romania attempts to escape European stigmatisation – România libera

On 20 November, Belgium's federal government presented its economic crisis management budget for 2013, which will include 18 billion euros of cuts. The Brussels daily argues that the plan has neither “splendour or ambition”, because it “steers clear of painful austerity measures and major reforms”.

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No one wins, no one loses – De Standaard

According to the 2011 census published yesterday by the National Statistics Institute, 49.4% of the total Portuguese population was economically inactive. Since the previous census of 2001, the number of Portuguese on pensions has increased from 23.8% to 27%. Those who receive social insertion income, a benefit for the most economically marginalised, increased from 0.5% to 1.1% and unemployment benefits from 2.2% to 3.3%.

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2011 Census. Half of Portuguese population does not produce wealth – i

The General Synod of the Church of England has rejected the ordination of women bishops.This decision could thrust the Anglican church into its “biggest crisis for decades”, writes The Times. It is also considered a blow for Justin Welby, the Church’s future head, who campaigned vigorously in favour of the change. There are currently 3,600 women priests in the Church of England.

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Church in crisis after veto on women bishops – The Times

Security forces have thwarted a potential bomb attack on the Polish parliament. A 45-year-old Polish researcher employed at the University of Agriculture in Krakow was arrested on November 9, having allegedly planned to plant a four-tonne bomb in front of the parliament building in Warsaw when the President, Prime Minister, government ministers and MPs were present. Motivated by nationalistic and xenophobic ideas, he was arrested after his wife tipped off police. Poland’s Agency for Internal Security (ABW) believes he is not connected with any terrorist organisation.

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Bomb on parliament – Gazeta Wyborcza

After 12 hours of talks, Eurozone finance ministers and the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, have failed to reach an agreement that would allow for the release of a further tranche of financial aid to Greece. Negotiations remain deadlocked over the issue of reducing the country’s debt, which Lagarde argues will be impossible if Greece’s partners do not agree to a writedown. Discussions are set to resume on 26 November.

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A long night for Greek debt – I Kathimerini

According to Italy’s national tax agency, over 4.3 million Italians enjoy a lifestyle that is not reflected by their tax returns. One million have no declared revenue at all. The agency is launching an online income test in order to “raise awareness” on the issue.

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One in five families dodges taxes – La Repubblica

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