European press review

Monday's European papers see great significance in German-born Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Auschwitz on Sunday. In other comment, several western European dailies warn that the EU needs to reform or face "catastrophe".

'Cry for forgiveness'

Germany's Berliner Zeitung says Pope Benedict XVI's historic visit to Auschwitz on Sunday took on a particular dimension because of his background.

"About six decades after whole families were sent naked into the gas chambers almost continuously in the name of a modern, secular, social Germany, a former member of the Hitler Youth returns to the most horrible of these cursed places as the Pope," it observes.

This sequence of events is "difficult to grasp for a small human brain," the paper says.

Der Tagesspiegel says the Pope's visit has helped improve Germany's relationship with Poland.

"Probably at no other time in recent history has a German met with so many expressions of friendship as the man from Bavaria," the paper says.

Benedict XVI made it clear that the trivialisation or denial of crimes is an intolerable affront to the living and the dead El Pais

It believes that for some "nationalist and populist patriots" in Poland's governing coalition, who normally like to engage in "anti-German attacks", meeting the Pope was "a completely new experience".

The Slovak daily Pravda says that many had hoped for words of love and reconciliation from the Pope but others had their doubts, recalling that he was once a Hitler Youth member.

"But the silent steps of Benedict XVI by the Wall of Death in Auschwitz, his silent prayer and silence in Birkenau was a loud cry for forgiveness and reconciliation," it says.

Spain's El Pais also believes that the new Pope sent a clear message by visiting the Nazi death camp.

"By his visit to Auschwitz yesterday, Benedict XVI... made it clear, like his predecessor before him, that the trivialisation or denial of crimes is an intolerable affront to the living and the dead," it says.

EU 'engine trouble'

After EU foreign ministers declared in talks outside Vienna that they would have to mull over the future of the European constitution for at least another year, Spain's El Pais says the continent is "disoriented".

"The EU cannot remain at a standstill," it says, warning that the institutions created by the Treaty of Nice will be unable to cope with 25 or 27 members.

"Institutional reform cannot wait," the paper argues. "If the constitution cannot be salvaged, there is no reason to rule out a new treaty that... focuses the EU's efforts on citizens' concrete concerns, from immigration to the economy."

A constitution is not essential for Europe's legitimacy Die Welt

"The EU... must get back on course," it adds, "so as to know what it wants to be, with whom and how."

Germany's Die Welt says what is needed is "quick institutional reforms" but not necessarily a new constitution.

The paper warns against the "sleight of hand" of drafting a new treaty which is supposed to look different to the French and the Dutch while retaining all essential features of the one they rejected last year.

It adds that a new "neighbourhood policy" as an alternative to EU accession and the fight against unemployment are more important than a new constitutional debate.

"A constitution is not essential for Europe's legitimacy," the paper says.

Under the headline "European engine trouble", Austria's Die Presse says the leaders governing France, Britain, Poland and Italy are too weak at home to show European leadership.

"But such a show of strength would be necessary," it says, in order to replace the "monstrous Treaty of Nice" with a "new, lean treaty".

Leaving the issue of Europe in the cupboard of burdensome skeletons would be catastrophic Liberation

France's Liberation urges politicians at home not to leave the issue of Europe until after the 2007 presidential election, when Jacques Chirac must step down after over a decade in power.

The paper says the fact that France's partners intend to address Europe's future integration only after the election, together with Mr Chirac's successor, means that "once again French voters are holding part of the answer in their hands".

"Of course nobody on the Right or the Left wants to re-open last year's barely healed wounds," it says, "but leaving the issue of Europe in the cupboard of burdensome skeletons until after the presidential election would be catastrophic."

The European press review is compiled by BBC Monitoring from internet editions of the main European newspapers and some early printed editions.