European Union

AMENDMENTS 1 - 218 - Draft report EU Guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

London and the EU are at an impasse in the Brexit negotiations. At the summit in Salzburg the leaders of the other 27 member states rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan. Commentators see the EU adopting an uncompromising stance - but not all of them want the two sides to reach an agreement.

Migration was the second big topic alongside Brexit at the summit in Salzburg. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz proposed seeking a similar deal with Cairo to the one with Ankara. There was a general consensus on the need to boost the resources for Frontex. Some commentators believe the EU is on the right path. Others predict that the devil will be in the details.

Aid organisations have denounced catastrophic conditions at Moria camp on the Aegean island of Lesbos. Almost 9,000 people are crammed into the camp, which has capacity for only around 3,300. Doctors Without Borders has reported suicide attempts by minors and the authorities see health and environmental risks at the camp. Greek commentators take the government to task.

After the European Parliament's vote to open punitive proceedings against Hungary the Hungarian opposition staged a demonstration outside the parliament building in Budapest. Ex-prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány called for the protests to continue until the government is ousted. Journalists examine Gyurcsány's role and wonder why he hasn't been able to mobilise more supporters.

US President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs to the tune of 200 billion dollars on Chinese goods, further escalating the trade dispute. The move means around half of all imports from China will be subject to tariffs. Commentators believe that the tough line could well be successful.

Pope Francis will visit Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from September 22 to 25. This is the first time a pope has visited the Baltic countries in 25 years. While the media in predominantly Catholic Lithuania are thrilled by the visit, Latvian papers take a more critical view.