UK
Brexit dominated British front pages after EU and U.K. negotiators struck a draft withdrawal deal on Wednesday.
— The BBC reported that while Prime Minister Theresa May had managed to convince the majority of her Cabinet to back the deal, nine ministers opposed it.
— Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid and Gavin Williamson were amongst those expressing “serious reservations” to the deal, the i reckoned. According to the article, May told her ministers that the deal was the “best that could be negotiated” and that the alternatives were either no Brexit at all, or a no-deal divorce.
— Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg was not amused, the Daily Express reported, saying that London would remain a “permanent rule-taker.”
— The Guardian had a brief guide on the 585-page-long draft agreement.
Germany
German media also focused on Brexit, as well as on the donation scandal enveloping the country’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
— “The last judgement is merciful,” Die Zeit reported, referring to Theresa May’s Cabinet’s support for the Brexit deal.
— After news emerged that the AfD had received a €130,000 campaign donation from Switzerland, despite the fact such payments aren’t allowed, several papers reported that the party had also been paid €150,000 by a Belgian foundation. Tagesschau’s story here.
France
It was all Brexit, all day in France.
— Le Monde labeled Scotland the loser of the draft deal, picking up on comments made by the country’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
— Multiple obstacles remain before Brexit can actually happen, Les Echos reported.
— Other papers covered a Tuesday interview with French President Emmanuel Macron with broadcaster TF1. Macron spoke to the media for the sixth time in 10 days and emphasized European issues, Libération reported.
Italy
Brexit was also the hot topic in Italy.
— Il Post reported that the EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier had called the agreement a “crucial step to continue negotiations.”
— La Repubblica focused on the effects of Brexit on soccer. More than half of the members of the U.K.’s Premier League are foreigners, the paper reported. “Brexit: Revolution in the Premier,” was the paper’s headline.