Presseurop

According to a Ministry of Labour forecast, 35 per cent of the estimated 390,000 children to be born this year in Poland will be raised by families which “barely make ends meet”, where per capita monthly income does not exceed 539 zlotys (€135).

As a result, 132,000 parents will claim social allowance for the poorest citizens. “It’s a myth that poverty and destitution affects only older people,” says an expert quoted by the daily, adding that “Poland is certainly not a country for young people.”

“Well-known Eurosceptic Václav Klaus is looking around Brussels,” reports the daily, quoting a member of the departing Czech president’s entourage. Klaus might start as a regular MEP after the 2014 European elections before trying to reach a higher position.

“His voice in Europe would be inspirational for many,” said Trade and Industry Minister and close ally Martin Kuba. Václav Klaus, 72, will leave office on March 7 and intends to remain in the public eye via his Václav Klaus Institute, and collaboration with the American libertarian think-tank the Cato Institute.

A shoot-out occurred in front of the Sofia Courthouse on January 29 between bodyguards protecting Zlatko Ivanov and a gunman who had set an ambush for the former special forces soldier. Ivanov, who is nicknamed „The Beret“ and who police suspect may be a drug lord, survived the assassination attempt.

Bulgarian daily Standart is upset by the „spectacular and brazen“ nature of the attempt. The shooting occurred on the day the justice and interior ministers, together with the attorney general, visited Brussels to discuss Bulgaria’s progress in its fight against organised crime. Many see this as a show of force or even as a warning on the part of the mafia.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the economic outlook for Hungary will remain „difficult“ in 2013. On January 28 in Budapest, the IMF concluded a two-week joint mission with the Commission to analyse the state of Hungary’s public finances, with a view to granting a loan for €15bn, which was solicited by Budapest in the summer of 2012.

The IMF acknowledged a „significant“ reduction in Hungary’s budget deficit, but remarked that the means used to achieve it — stopgap measures like tax hikes for individuals and companies, especially foreign companies, — had damaged the climate for investment.

German Environment Minister Peter Altmeier wants to counter the steep increase in electricity prices prompted by the government’s pro-renewables energy policy. The law on the promotion of alternative energies has boosted the use of renewables from 8 to 23 per cent of power production. However, taxes paid by consumers to finance wind and solar development are expected to reach €20bn in 2013.

In the run-up to elections this year, the minister wants to freeze the tax to prevent a reductive focus on the cost to households from distorting the debate on renewables. The green energy sector has denounced the move as a “a fatal blow”.

Former finance minister and leader of the liberal Venstre opposition party, Claus Hjort Frederiksen, has warned against China’s ambitions in Greenland. In recent months, several Chinese companies have begun exploration projects or negotiations with a view to operating — either independently or in partnership with Western companies — mineral mines on the island.

“Mining operations are a means, and not an end,” remarked Claus Hjort Frederiksen in an interview with the daily. He further confirmed that Beijing’s real objective is to gain a foothold in the Arctic”, citing Beijing’s application for observer membership of the Arctic Council.

Finance Minister Luis de Guindos has indicated that he may be willing to review deficit targets for Spain’s regions, if the European Commission will consent to lower deficit targets for the Spanish state in 2013.

A more attainable deficit target is one of the “key demands” of the Catalan regional government, notes the Barcelona daily. De Guindos was speaking on the occasion of a Madrid meeting with EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn. For his part, Rehn insisted on the need to persevere with reforms to fight unemployment, which now affects 26 per cent of Spain’s working population.

In a short televised speech on January 28, Queen Beatrix announced that she intends to abdicate in favour of her son, Willem-Alexander (45), who will assume the throne on April 30, the date of the Queen’s Day national holiday. Her timing is symbolic, notes the daily: This year, the sovereign will be 75 years old, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will celebrate its bicentenary.

According to Trouw, “the political turbulence of recent years dissuaded her from abdicating” sooner, however, with the advent of the Rutte II government, “calm seems to have been restored in Dutch politics”. Finally, “the Queen apparently took an early decision so that Willem-Alexander would not have to wait in the wings for as long as Charles” in the United Kingdom.

Britain may send hundreds of troops to Mali and neighbouring West African countries, as part of efforts to support France in its operation to drive Islamist militants from its former colony.

Downing Street said Britain is „keen“ to provide further military assistance to France, but said forces will not engage in combat. UK military forces could be dispatched to Nigeria and Senegal to train local troops or boost surveillance operations.