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News Thursday 17th May 2012
The political map of Europe in 2012
Following the last elections that have been held on May, 6th, in France and in Greece, the Robert Schuman Foundation suggests you to download the political map of Europe in 2012, which indicates the political colour of each government as well as the names of the Prime ministers of the 27 member States.
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The Euro crisis
The Robert Schuman Foundation has published a text by former Economy Minister Edmond Alphandéry on the euro crisis. Firstly the author reviews the reasons for the establishment of the single currency and the institutional structure of the euro zone before the start of the debt crisis. He then reviews the economic results of the first ten years of the euro, marked by good results as far as growth as well as its international credibility are concerned, but also the increasing differences in competitiveness between the countries in the north and the south. Finally the specific features of the sovereign debt crisis, its effects on the financial sector and on the real economy, as well as the measures taken to settle it are presented.
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General Elections: will the French give a parliamentary majority to François Hollande?
46 million French citizens are being called to ballot on 10th and 17th June to renew the National Assembly, the lower chamber of Parliament, that comprises 577 MPs elected by direct universal suffrage for 5 years in two-round first past the post majority system. In order to be elected in the first round a candidate has to win the absolute majority of the votes cast matching at least one quarter of the voters registered. All candidates that have won at least 12.50% of the vote in the first round are allowed to stay for the second round. Seven political parties are represented in the National Assembly at presetn: the UMP, 313 seats; PS, 186 seats; PCF 15 seats; PRG, 7 MPs; the Greens 4 seats; MoDem, 3 MPs and the MPF, 1 seat. There are 9 independent MPs on the right and 15 on the left.
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Growth the focus of the "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2012"
The issue of growth and the means to overcome the crisis is the focus of "the Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2012". This, the sixth edition in French and the third in English, inlcudes an exclusive interview with Jean-Claude Trichet, former ECB president. Using 67 commented tables and graphs and 34 colour maps, most of which are unique, the authors invite you to learn everything there is to know about the challenges facing the EU. This work is available in French and English on the Foundation's site.
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The Europe of afterwards. Putting an end to pessimism.
The European Union does not stop despairing citizens, to such an extent that some express doubts over its future. Greece is embroiled in an endless economic and political crisis and the life of Europe is puncutated by " last chance summits". Should we just, because of all that, sink into pessimism and abandon all our visions for the future of European integration? No, we should not, explain the authors, Thierry Chopin, Jean-François Jamet and Christian Lequesne, for Europe can offer a political project, a project of freedom and progress.
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Europe Live

UK
Turkey
Visiting Turkey on 27th July British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he would fight for Turkey to be able to join the European Union. He... Georgia
Council
European Foreign Ministers decided on 26th July to extend the surveillance mission in Georgia (EUMM) by one year until September 2011. The EUMM... Jeff Koons at the Beyeler Foundation
Culture
The Beyeler Foundation of Basel is hosting an exhibition devoted to American artist Jeff Koons until 2nd September. The work, on show for the first... Speech by Queen Elizabeth II in Parliament
UK
On 9th May Queen Elizabeth II of England delivered a speech to both Houses of Parliament during which she announced the government's action in the... Hungary: toughening of taxation in certain areas
Financial Crisis
On 9th May the Hungarian government announced the introduction of new fiscal measures on companies in the areas of energy, telecommunications,... France
Growth
In a report published on 30th July the IMF announced its growth forecasts for France: it is reckoning on growth of 1.6% in 2011 and 1.8% in 2012. It... Dmitri Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister
Russia
On 8th May the Duma approved the appointment of former President Dmitri Medvedev as Prime Minister. Indeed, during his investiture as President on... Iran
Council
European Foreign Ministers decided on 26th July to step up sanctions against Iran whose nuclear programme represents “a serious cause for... Elections
Moldova
Together the four main opposition parties won the early general elections in Moldova with 50.7% of the vote and 53 MPs ahead of the Communist Party... Urmas Reinsalu, new Defence Minister
Estonia
The former 52 year-old Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar, who suffered a stroke in February, announced on 6th May that he was resigning from office... France
Nuclear
After a meeting at the Elysée on 27th July with the Nuclear Policy Council which aimed to look into the report written by former EDF chair,... Iceland
Membership
On 27th July the first intergovernmental conference on Iceland’s membership of the EU was held in Brussels. Although Iceland abides by nearly ¾ of... Launch of the first European Citizens' Initiative
Commission
On the occasion of Europe Day on 9th May, the Commission registered "Fraternité 2020-Mobility", the first European Citizens' Initiative. The aim of... 49th Theatre Festival - Berlin
Culture
The 49th Berlin Theatre Festival is taking place until 20th May bringing together the ten most remarkable plays of the season. This event pays... UK
Retirement
On 29th July the British government announced a project to abolish the automatic age of retirement of 65 within one year's time. This project aims to... The European Parliament steps up its position on piracy
Parliament
On 10th May MEPs adopted a resolution on the fight to counter piracy off the coasts of East Africa. The result of this is that NATO and the EU will... Council
General Affairs and External Relations
On 27th July the 27 Foreign Ministers called on the Commission to issue an opinion on the request for EU membership on the part of Iceland. They... GDP Growth in Latvia
Financial Crisis
According to the latest figures released by the national statistics office, the Latvian GDP grew by 6.8% in the first quarter of 2012 in comparison... The Bank of France forecasts 0% growth in the second quarter of 2012
Financial Crisis
On 10th May, in its monthly economic survey the Bank of France declared that it was forecasting stability in the French GDP in the second quarter of... Interim Government
Belgium
Outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt succeeded in reaching agreement on 19th December to form an interim government until 23rd March next... Brussels
Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court in Brussels delivered a decision on 29th July that suspends the Flemish decision imposing Dutch speaking inspectors on... External Service
Council
On 26th July European Foreign Ministers launched Union’s new diplomatic service which should enable it to speak with one voice on the international... Reform of the Banks and take-over of Bankia
Spain
Spain adopted a reform setting 30 billion euros in new bank provisions that are deemed over exposed to the failing real estate sector. It is an... Analysis one month before the French general elections
Elections
46 million French citizens are being called to ballot on 10th and 17th June to renew the National Assembly, the lower chamber of Parliament, that... Revision of the 2012 Budget in Slovenia
Financial Crisis
The Slovenian Parliament adopted a revised version of the 2012 budget on 11th May, as well as a series austerity measures to stabilise finances and... European Night of Museums
Culture
On 19th May, on the occasion of the 8th European Night Museum's, many museums in countries of the EU and beyond, will open their doors late into the... Janos Ader replaces Pal Schmitt as President of Hungary
Elections
Janos Ader (FIDESZ) was elected President of Hungary on 2nd May by Parliament, 262 votes in support, 40 against. He entered office on 10th May for a... Erasmus, a European success story
Commission
According to figures released by the Commission on 8th May the Erasmus student exchange programme is the one that is best know twenty years after it... North Rhine-Westphalia: SPD-Green Coalition gather strength
Germany
During the regional elections in the Land of North Rhine Westphalia on 13th May the Social Democrats, the party of outgoing Minister President,... The Danish government reveals its 2020 plan
Denmark
On 8th May the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt revealed the 2020 plan set down by the Danish government, which sets employment, and... Germany
Turkey
In an interview in the Bild Zeitung published on 27th July Guido Westerwelle, the German Foreign Minister said that Turkey was not ready to enter the... The Romanian Government wins Parliament's Confidence
Romania
On 7th May the Romanian government formed by Victor Ponta won the confidence of Parliament, 284 votes against 92. The new Romanian government... Modification of the Labour Code in Portugal
Financial Crisis
The Portuguese Parliament finally approved the reform of the labour code on 11th May; this is designed to make the employment market more flexible... Appointment
NATO
The Chief of Staff of the French Army, Stéphane Abrial was appointed "Supreme Allied Commander for the Transformation" of NATO on 29th July. This... 2002-2012: Political Developments in Europe. 10 years of Electoral History
Front page!
After the recent elections that took place in France and Greece, the Robert Schuman Foundation invites its readers to look into the study by Corinne... The ECJ deems French regulation on taxing dividends discriminatory
Court of Justice
France does not have the right to tax French dividends paid into foreign collective investments (Sicav and FCP) and yet exempt the same dividends of... Spring Economic Forecasts 2012-2013
Financial Crisis
On 11th May the European Commission published its spring economic forecasts 2012-2013. It emerges that the EU is slightly in recession. Strong... A government of non-political personalities - a last resort?
Greece
The hopes in Greece for the formation of a government coalition are declining after one week of unfruitful political negotiations. The organisation... Growth the focus of the "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2012"
Front page!
The issue of growth and the means to overcome the crisis is the focus of "the Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2012". This, the sixth... MEPs adopt an agreement to reduce roaming prices in Europe
Parliament
On 10th May MEPs adopted an agreement on roaming in the EU regarding mobile phones, smartphones and tablets, 578 votes in favour, 10 against and 10... Carbon Tax
Eurobarometer
An survey undertaken by Eurobarometer and published on 29th July shows that Europeans do not support the idea of a special tax on products that are... Commission report on the rapid alert system for dangerous products
Studies/Reports
On 8th May the Commission published a RAPEX report on the improvement of the European rapid alert system on dangerous non-food products. This report... Cooperation Agreement EU-Iraq
Diplomacy
The EU and Iraq signed a cooperation and development agreement on 11th May, notably in terms of the fight to counter terrorism and energy. The... 65th Cannes Festival
Culture
From 16th to 27th May the 65th Cannes Festival will be taking place, during which 22 films will be competing against one another, including the 20... France has to provide new ambition to Europe
Studies/Reports
Thierry Chopin, Jean-François Jamet and Christian Lequesne have co-signed an article published in the Echos on 7th May in which they ask France to... Treaty ratified
Italia
Italian deputies have voted at the unanimity on july, 31th the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, just one week after the positive vote from the... Eurostat
Population
According to data released by the European statistics office, Eurostat, published on 27th July the EU’s population has risen above the 500 million... Kosovo
Council
French General Xavier Bout de Marnhac is the new director of the Police and Justice Mission in Kosovo (Eulex). The decision was taken on 27th July by... ITER
Agreement
At an extraordinary meeting at Cadarache on 27th and 28th July the seven project partners of the Iter project (European Community of Atomic... New VAT rules for good purchases
Commission
On 10th May the European Commission proposed the modernisation of VAT rules applicable to the voucher sector that notably comprises prepaid telephone... Unemployment up in Greece
Financial Crisis
The unemployment rate in Greece continued to rise in February to lie at 21.7% in comparison with 21.3% in January announced the Greek Statistics... On the road to a true Economic and Monetary Union?
Studies/Reports
The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) has published a study entitled "On the road to true Economic and Monetary Union? The challenges... Franco-German Relations - how to combine austerity and growth?
Germany
After the elections in Greece and France, Germany said it was concerned about the results in Greece, but confident about Franco-German relations.... France
Unemployment
The Employment, Solidarity and the Civil Service Ministry has just published the latest unemployment figures for June 2010. The number of category A... Finally Yulia Tymoshenko is being taken care of
Ukraine
On 9th May Yulia Tymoshenko was transferred from the prison of Kharkiv to a hospital where she received the care of a German doctor, Lutz Harms. The... Foreign Affairs Council Meeting
Council
On 14th May the 27 Foreign Ministers adopted a fifteenth series of sanctions against the Syrian regime - at the same time they looked into the means... The Budgetary Pact approved by the lower Chamber of the Polish Parliament
Financial Crisis
On 14th May the Polish Diet, (lower chamber), gave the greenlight for the ratification of the European Budgetary Discipline Pact 294 votes in... You said "European Defence?"
UK
The choice of the F-35B American to equip British aircraft carriers, announced on 10th May in London is a heavy blow to the concept of... Europe Beyond the Institutions
European Council
On 11th May in a speech delivered in Copenhagen the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, declared that the resolution of the crisis... Effects of the French presidential election for Germany and the EU
Studies/Reports
The "Wissenschaft und Politik Stiftung" has published a study on the effects of the French presidential election for Germany and the EU. The authors,... Spain
Unemployment
The Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) announced on 30th July that the unemployment rate in the second semester had reached 20.09%... Nikki de Saint-Phalle in Malmö
Culture
The Museum of Modern Art (Modernamuseet) of Malmö is organising an exhibition devoted to the French artist Nikki de Saint-Phalle until 9th September... France
Andorra
The President of the Republic of France, Nicolas Sarkozy visited Andorra rapidly on 28th July; the heads of the French State are joint princes of... Commission
Loans
The European Commission paid the second part of its loan to Latvia to a total of 1.2 billion euros on 27th July together with the first payment of... Conclusions of the Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Council
Council
On 10th and 11th May the 27 Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministers came to agreement on some draft regulations, one pertaining to the... The Employers' Confederation forecasts Growth of 1% in 2012
Financial Crisis
On 8th May in its quarterly economic survey the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) believed that the country's economy would grow by... Spain in Figures
Spain
The 2012 Statistics Handbook for Spain has just been published. Put together by the National Statistics Institute since 1858, it offers precise data... 25th Luso-Spanish Summit
Portugal
The 25th Luso-Spanish summit took place in Porto on 9th May. On this occasion the president of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy deemed it... Open Day at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 20th May
Parliament
As part of the European institutions' "Open Days", the European Parliament in Strasbourg is open to the public on 20th May. A raising of flags will... Lithuanian President meets Yulia Tymoshenko
Lithuania
On 11th May during a trip to Ukraine, Lithuanian President Dalia Grubauskaite met Yulia Tymoshenko in the hospital to which she had been transferred....

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