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New on the Open Europe Blog Italy: A new (and unexpected) ally on EU reform for David Cameron? Open Europe Blog Will a future Conservative government renegotiate ECJ control over criminal justice?  Open Europe Blog The EU's structural funds - still heading in the wrong direction? Open Europe Blog
The video of the speech given by UK Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon. William Hague, at the Open Europe summer reception is now available on our website. Open Europe video Daily Press Summary Greek parliament approves civil service overhaul amid widespread protests The Greek parliament yesterday approved the multi-bill which includes significant overhaul of the civil service and some new austerity measures. Kathimerini reports that two MPs from the junior coalition partner PASOK voted against the government on some of the issues, notably the plan to disband the municipal police. The party faces a tough choice over whether to remove these lawmakers given the slim government majority of five. The Greek government also announced it will cut the defence budget by €100m in order to reduce VAT at restaurants. Separately, tens of thousands of protestors are expected to take to the streets today as German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble visits Athens. Schäuble is expected to offer a €100m bilateral loan from Germany to create a fund to promote economic growth in Greece. Meanwhile, the Commission suggested yesterday that Greece could use unspent funds from its bailout which were earmarked for the banking sector to help cover any public sector funding gap. Kathimerini Kathimerini 2 Kathimerini 3 Kathimerini 4 FT FT 2 WSJ WSJ 2 FAZ Süddeutsche Welt Welt 2 Le Monde Expansión Il Sole 24 Ore Irish Times BBC Euractiv Le Monde 2 Euobserver Reuters DeutschlandSüddeutsche: Gammelin At a joint press conference with David Cameron yesterday, Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said he has “no fear” of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. “When the voters have the opportunity to say their decision about the future of the European Union, it is always a good thing for Europe”, he added.  Open Europe blog Telegraph The Portuguese government will today face a no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition Green Party. It is the fifth no-confidence motion since the government took office in June 2011, and is expected to be rejected, Público reports. Jornal de Negócios Jornal de Negócios 2 Diário Económico Público Público 2 Jornal de Negócios 3 RTP According to new figures from the Bank of Spain, the share of bad loans in the Spanish banking sector went up to 11.2% in May from 10.87% in April. El Mundo Europa Press Expansión FAZ reports that the Council of Ministers has agreed a common position on the EU’s draft budget for 2014 which sees a cut of €1.1bn in payments compared to the Commission’s original proposal. FAZ The EU/IMF/ECB Troika yesterday began its first review of the Cypriot bailout programme, with the focus likely to be on the delays in completing the bank restructuring. Cyprus Mail Famagusta Gazette Both German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn have dismissed calls from EU Justice Commissioner Vivane Reding for the EU/IMF/ECB Troika to be abandoned. SZ Reuters A new Forsa poll for RTL/Stern puts Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU party on 41% and the SPD on 23%. Merkel’s junior coalition partner, the FDP, is on 5%, while the Greens are on 14%, Die Linke on 8%, and the Pirates and Alternative für Deutschland on 2% respectively. Stern The European Commission yesterday unveiled its proposal for a European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO), which would have the power to order national law enforcement authorities to launch an investigation into people suspected of defrauding the EU budget. The Coalition agreement already made clear that the UK will opt out of the proposal. The Creation of a European Public Prosecutor is covered by the UK’s referendum lock. Open Europe research Open Europe Research EUobserver DW De Morgen FAZ Euractiv European Voice On Conservative Home, James Wharton MP writes about the progress of his EU referendum Bill through committee stage, arguing that “The sooner it is back before the Commons for Report and can hopefully get through to the Lords the better. Sadly, however, some of the Labour members of the committee, and its only Lib Dem set out to delay progress as much as they could.” Conservative Home: Warton Spectator Coffeehouse Former Chancellor Lord Lamont writes in the Spectator, “There is a case for the EU’s External Action Service having a few offices in strategic countries. But it does not need 140 embassies and 500 limousines…it is self-aggrandising EU vanity project which should be dismantled.” No link The European Commission is set to propose further liberalisation of the EU’s telecoms marketincluding a further crackdown on roaming costs “not justified by underlying costs” and a new pan-European “passport” which would enable telecoms operators regulated in one member state to trade in any other EU state. EurActiv The UK and Irish governments are set to announce proposals for more cross-border cooperation, including joint Irish and UK trade missions, boosting electrical interconnection and a common tourist visa. FT Irish Independent Irish Times Irish Independent: Leader