Editorial 19.11.24
Monday’s main European headlines report on a variety of political stories from across the bloc. The biggest stories cover the severed undersea cable between Germany and Finland – believed to be intentional.
The latest from the war in Ukraine as the US permits them to use American weapons to strike inside Russia. It leads to many of the European nations pondering if Germany – Europe’s largest economy – will follow suit.
Many of the UK media already report the UK is set to follow Washignton’s lead and allow Ukraine to use British weapons.
Coverage of the EU vote on whether to suspend Israel talks over Gaza and the bloc’s plans to increase defence spending are two other huge stories dominating the European news this morning.
The French newspapers continue coverage of the horrific rape trial that has not only caught the country’s attention – but the world’s.
Spain continues coverage of the devastating floods earlier in the month and the devastation left behind.
The German press reports on the severed undersea cables calling it an act of sabotage and a “hybrid action”, without knowing who is to blame.
The G20 summit in Brazil also finds space across Europe’s biggest news media.
EU fails to agree to pause talks with Israel over Gaza
The European Union has opted not to suspend its political dialogue with Israel after failing to reach a unanimous agreement at a Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed the suspension, citing alleged human rights violations and breaches of international law by Israel in Gaza. However, the measure required the support of all 27 member states and did not achieve consensus.
Germany and Finland investigate severed undersea cable
An undersea telecommunications cable linking Germany and Finland has been severed, raising concerns amid already heightened tensions in Europe. The 1,170 km (730-mile) C-Lion1 fibreoptic cable connects Helsinki and Rostock, but all fibre connections in the line have been disrupted, according to Finnish network operator Cinia.
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EU countries commit to joint drone, missile and warship development
Defence spending is set each €326 billion (1.9% of EU GDP) in 2024, but despite the increase in military spending, national efforts alone are not enough for the EU to be ready for high-intensity warfare, said outgoing top diplomat and EDA chief Josep Borrell.
Member states on Tuesday will pledge to develop joint military projects on integrated air and missile defence, electronic warfare, loitering munitions and a next-generation combat ship.
Gisèle Pelicot slams ‘macho’ society that ‘trivialises rape’ in closing statement
Gisèle Pelicot, the woman at the centre of France’s mass rape trial, said on Tuesday that it was time for a “macho” society to change its attitude on rape, as she gave her final statement in court.
“It’s time that the macho, patriarchal society that trivialises rape changes,” said Gisèle Pelicot, whose ex-husband and dozens of other men are on trial in France accused of raping her while she was drugged.
“It’s time we changed the way we look at rape.”
French farmers escalate protests against EU trade deal with South America’s Mercosur
French farmers planned on Tuesday to step up their protests against a proposed trade pact between the European Union and four South American countries, saying it threatens their livelihoods.
The French government is leading resistance against ratification of the trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay that would create the world’s largest free-trade zone.
But protesters say French President Emmanuel Macron and the government should do more to help.
Sanchez supports tax on billionaires at G20 amid tax dispute in Spain
Rio de Janeiro welcomes the most powerful leaders in the world, with the sole exception of Putin . Sánchez is attending to close ranks on tax matters with his colleague Lula, with whom he maintains political and personal harmony. Government sources explain that the president will defend this tax on multimillionaires out of “coherence” and “conviction” because, as his team recalls, the Executive already did the same by approving a tax on large fortunes, which affected net worths exceeding three million euros. Revenue from the Temporary Solidarity Tax on Large Fortunes (ITSGF) has increased from 619 million in 2023, the year in which it came into force, to 38 million in 2024, due to the reactivation of the Wealth Tax by several autonomous communities, such as Madrid, Andalusia or Galicia .
The King and Queen return to Valencia and will also visit Castilla-La Mancha
The King and Queen have returned to Valencia for the first time since the incident in Paiporta, the epicentre of the catastrophe caused by the dana, where on 3 November they were booed along with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, to the shouts of “murderers” and mud being thrown. Their first stop, accompanied by the Valencian president, was Chiva, a town that they were expected to visit on that occasion and where criticism of Sánchez and Mazón was heard. Later, they will move on to Utiel and Letur (Castilla-La Mancha). The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has assured that the central Government acted in “bad faith from the first moment” in the management of the dana in Valencia, which has left more than 200 deaths.
