Media: Europe is in danger

"The resignation of French Prime Minister Michel Barnier brings a crisis of political uncertainty and economic risk for France at a time of difficult transition for the EU and for its place in a rapidly changing world," the daily reviews in its editorial comment.

It is added that "the role of Germany as an established partner of France in the role of the engine of the EU is also called into question, because it is facing elections in February and in the midst of the lackluster performance of its export-oriented economy".

And all this, writes The Irish Times, is happening at the moment when the new European Commission takes office with "a challenging agenda that requires unity around the goals of internal reforms and foreign policy direction".

Dnevnik reminds that the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said that he will remain in that position until the end of his mandate.

"He said that he will appoint a new prime minister soon - but great political uncertainty is ahead. Economic risks will also follow, which will be reflected in the bond and stock market," the paper assesses.

Therefore, the newspaper believes, the strategic importance of France will also mean a political blockade of progress in the EU, which is significant because it coincides with the political uncertainty in Germany in the coming months.

The new German government will need time to start functioning, a task made even more challenging by the decisions that need to be made urgently at the national and European level.

Among them is the potential trade war of the new American administration of Donald Trump with China, the daily writes.

"The combination of numerous, interrelated problems threatens to cause a crisis at the very heart of the EU, with implications for all member states, including Ireland. And the coincidence of political upheavals in the two traditionally most important players in the EU is worrying," writes the Irish daily.

"The structures of the European Union could help, but finding unity across the Union will be anything but simple," notes The Irish Times.