European Union

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EU Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries meet on 9 and 10 October 2017 in Luxembourg to decide on the 2018 fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea and discuss developments in the agricultural markets, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the follow-up to the fipronil case.

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Committee meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Spain's Constitutional Court has banned a session of the Catalonian parliament slated for this coming Monday in which the region's independence was to be declared. As a way out of the Catalonia crisis some commentators propose a complete restructuring of the Spanish state. Others believe the country would be more democratic after the secession of Catalonia.

After a country-wide billboard campaign against the Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros in the summer, the Hungarian government is now planning a referendum targeting a scheme by Soros that allegedly poses a threat to Hungarian culture and society. Hungarian commentators condemn the campaign as a propaganda trick.

According to insider reports the Volkswagen group is planning to counter competition between sister brands VW and Škoda and transfer the production of Czech vehicles to German plants that are operating below their maximum capacity. In addition Škoda is to contribute more to the company's development costs. The government in Prague and trade unionists are protesting. Czech commentators, however, point out that the Germans' plans are perfectly reasonable.

"Instead of demonstrating and causing chaos the newly unemployed workers of the automotive subcontractor GM&S would do better to start looking for new jobs." With this comment, which comes not long after he said he wouldn't let "loafers" obstruct his reform plans, Emmanuel Macron has once again provoked an indignant response. France's press takes the president to task.

During his state visit to Iran, Turkish President Recep Erdoğan on Wednesday discussed Kurdish policy and energy with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani. Is Europe's distanced stance pushing Turkey into the arms of the major powers in the Middle East?

The EU Commission has demanded that Luxembourg reclaim 250 million euros in tax benefits from Amazon. In addition it wants to bring Ireland before the ECJ over the country's refusal to collect 13 billion euros in taxes from Apple. Most of Europe's press greets the initiative and Irish commentators also argue that the countries of the EU should pursue a common policy in this area.