Reorganisation of the European Anti-Fraud Office -OLAF
Commission
On 1st February the European Anti-Fraud Office announced a major restructuring of its organisation and its working methods. These measures should... The Regions can no longer present a budgetary deficit
Spain
The Spanish government approved a draft law on budgetary stability on 27th January which includes the ban - for the country's 17 regions, on being in... Russian Transition - twenty years on
Publications
On the occasion of the Russian presidential election on 4th March 2012 Jacques Sapir, a teacher at the EHESS and specialist of the Russian economy,... Iran
Council
European Foreign Ministers decided on 26th July to step up sanctions against Iran whose nuclear programme represents “a serious cause for... 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... Reducing inequality and stimulating growth
Financial Crisis
On 23rd January the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published a chapter of the "Economic Policy Reforms 2012. Going for... The Spanish government approves the reform of the banking system
Spain
On 2nd February the Spanish government presented a draft banking reform approved on 3rd January 2012 by the Council of Ministers. This text obliges... European Law on Human Rights
Publications
La Documentation Française has published the proceedings of a series of conferences in the first part of its new collection "Rights and Debate"... 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,... Manifesto for a unified, integrated Euro zone
Front page!
Organised by Confrontations Europe, the Astrid Foundation and the Bertelsman Foundation, the European Economic Interviews led to a "Manifesto for a... 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... Presidential Election in Russia on 4th March, an unsurprising election
Elections
Five people are running in the presidential election that will take place on 4th March in Russia; Vladimir Putin, United Russia (ER), Guennadi... 82% of the French have a positive image of Germany
Germany
According to an IFOP poll undertaken for the German Embassy in Paris, published on 24th January, Franco-German friendship is a reality. 82% of the... From Hopper to Warhol
Culture
The Sums Palace of the Republic of San Marino is hosting an exhibition until 3rd June devoted for the first time in Italy, to 20th century American... Simplification of Adminstrative Procedures
Financial Crisis
Mario Monti's government adopted measures that aim to simplify adminstrative procedures which are very cumbersome in Italy and believed to be an... Seminar on European Demography
Front page!
As part of the European year of active ageing and solidarity, the Citizens for Europe association together with the Robert Schuman Foundation, the... Meeting with the new Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev
European Council
On 26th January the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev stressed that the Bulgarian... The European Union signs the international treaty against counterfeiting
Diplomacy
On 26th January the EU signed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement in Tokyo; this is an international agreement that aims to fight counterfeiting... Prime Minister Emil Boc announces his resignation
Romania
On 6th February Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc announced his resignation together with that of his government. The IMF and the EU had just said... 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... Spain
Unemployment
The Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) announced on 30th July that the unemployment rate in the second semester had reached 20.09%... The IMF invites Hungary to continue its austerity measures
Financial Crisis
In a report on Hungary, published on 25th January the International Monetary Fund (IMF) asked Budapest to continue implementing austerity measures... 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... Discussions over the reunifcation of the island
Cyprus
On 23rd and 24th January, near New York, discussions on the reunification of Cyprus between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Dimitris Christofias... Spain: unemployment reached a record high in 2011 totalling 22.85%
Financial Crisis
According to figures published on 27th January by the National Statistics Institute (INE), in the fourth quarter of 2011 Spain had nearly 5.3 million... Sanctions against Iran and Syria
Council
The 27 European Foreign Ministers expressed their concern about the situation in Iran and Syria on 23rd January 2012 in support of the action taken... 300th Anniversary of the Birth of Fréderic II of Prussia (Frederic the Great)
Culture
January 24th marked the 300th anniversary of the birth of Frederic II of Prussia (1712-1786), otherwise known as Frederic the Great. In 2012 there... Find out everything there is to know about the Citizens' Initiative
Commission
The conference on 26th January 2012 "Warming up for the Citizens' Initiative" marked a decisive stage in the last preparatory sessions devoted to the... Presentation of Danish priorities in terms of agriculture and fisheries
Council
On 23rd January the 27 Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers studied the proposals put forward by the Danish Presidency for the next six months. The... "Le passage à l'Europe : histoire d'un commencement"
Publications
The book by Luuk Van Middelaar "Le passage à l'Europe : histoire d'un commencement" has been published in French. The author analyses the policies... Sauli Niinistö, elected President of Finland
Elections
On 5th February 2012 Sauli Niinistö (KOK) was elected President of Finland in the second round of voting in the Presidential election. He won 62.6%... The Lyon-Turin TGV up and running after a Franco-Italian agreement
France
On 30th January French Transport Minister, Thierry Mariani and the Italian Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Mario Ciaccia signed a vital... What future is there for Europe in the Globalised World?
Studies/Reports
"Notre Europe", has published a column by its honorary Chairman and General Director of the WTO Pascal Lamy. Entitled "The future of Europe in the... Report on the European aspect of Sport
Parliament
On 2nd February MEPs adopted a report on the European aspect of sport. This document insists notably on the need to counter various practices that... France: unemployment increased by 5.6% in 2011
Financial Crisis
According to figures published on 25th January by the Labour, Employment and Healthcare Minister, across the entire year of 2011, the number of... Sanctions against Iran
Parliament
During a debate with Catherine Ashton, the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign... 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 Scottish Prime Minister reveals his roadmap for independence
UK
On 25th January Scottish Prime Minister, Alex Salmond, presented his Parliament with detailed proposals for the organisation of a referendum on the... Mariano Rajoy presents the main outlines of his economic policy in Brussels
Spain
The Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took part in a meeting with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, on 30th January.... Brussels
Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court in Brussels delivered a decision on 29th July that suspends the Flemish decision imposing Dutch speaking inspectors on... Adjusting the trade and investment policy
Commission
On 27th January the European Commission presented several proposals that aim to support the development of third countries by way of growth that is... Open letter from the British European Movement to the Government
UK
On 30th January, the leader of the British European Movement and former head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Charles Kennedy, wrote a letter which... Franco-German Council of Ministers
France
On 6th February 2012 the French and German Ministers and Heads of State and Government met in Paris to discuss the development of Franco-German... Adoption of a law on Competitiveness
Portugal
The Portuguese government adopted a law on competitiveness on 26th January that is designed to make the country's economy more "dynamic" and more... ICJ decision in the dispute between Germany/Italy
UN
Italy has not honoured its duty with regard to Germany since it allowed legal proceedings to take place that aimed to gain compensation from Berlin... Review of the Daphné Programme
Parliament
On 2nd February 2012 MEPs adopted the Daphné Report, which reviews the results of the Daphné Programe launched in 1997 with the aim to counter... 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... Former Romanian Prime Minister convicted of Corruption
Romania
Former Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase was sentenced on 30th January to two years in prison for corruption by the High Court of Appeal, after... Unemployment lying at 10.4% in the euro zone and at 9.9% in the EU in December
Eurostat
According to figures published on 31st January by Eurostat the unemployment rate in the euro zone lay at 10.4% in December 2011, which was stable in... France: 0.5% growth expected in 2012
Financial Crisis
French Prime Minister François Fillon announced on 30th January that the economic growth forecast for 2012 had been reviewed downwards by 0.5%, in... 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... Results of the Financial Aid Programme in Romania
Financial Crisis
On 6th February teams from the World Bank, the European Commission and the IMF published their review of the implementation of the financial aid plan... Open letter to the Czech Prime Minister encouraging him to sign the budgetary pact
Czech Republic
A group of 24 eminent Czech scientists invited Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas to sign the European budgetary pact in an open letter on 4th February... NATO Defence Ministers Meeting
NATO
On 2nd and 3rd February the Defence Ministers of the NATO Member States addressed the progressive transfer of responsibility of security in... Pierre Bonnard
Culture
Until 13th May 2012 the Beyeler Foundation is devoting a retrospective to Pierre Bonnard, one of the most fascinating painters of modern art. It is... Greece: continuation of negotiations on the reduction of the debt
Financial Crisis
On 27th and 28th January the leader of the IFF, Charles Dallara, Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos... 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... Resignation of the British Energy Minister
UK
The British Energy Minister Chris Huhne, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party announced on 3rd February that he was resigning. This decision... "Deep concern" on the part of the Council of Europe about the situation in Belarus
Council of Europe
On 25th January, in recommendation 1992 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed its "deep concern" about the respect of human... Belgium in Recession
Financial Crisis
According to an estimate published on February 1st by the Belgian National Bank the Belgian GDP had contracted in the fourth quarter of 2011 by 0.2%... Gerhard Richter honoured for his 80th birthday
Culture
On the occasion of his 80th birthday on 9th February 2012 the German artist Gerhard Richter will be the focus of two complementary exhibitions on... Protest still lively against V. Putin
Russia
Opponents to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are not standing down. On 4th February 36,000 demonstrators - according to the police - 120,000... Erasmus is 25 years old
Commission
On 30th January the European Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, commemorated the 25th... 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... Reorganisation of the Parliamentary Committees
Parliament
Following the election of the president, the 14 Vice Presidents and the five questeurs at the European Parliament last week, MEPs this week elected... What will the next multi-annual framework be?
Council
On 27th January the 27 Ministers responsible for European Affairs discussed the multi-annual financial framework for the period 2014-2020. The... Treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism (ESM)
Financial Crisis
On 2nd February the treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) was signed. The aim of this measure that will take over from the... Nicolas Sarkozy presents further reforms
France
On 29th January during a televised appearance, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a final package of reforms, which will be economic in... Labour Law
Court of Justice
In a decision delivered on 26th January the EU Court of Justice believed that the repetitive use of limited work contracts, for replacements, was not... Elizabeth II of England celebrates 60 years on the throne
UK
On 6th February Queen Elizabeth II who came to the throne on 6th February 1952 officially celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of her reign. To... 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... Rise in unemployment in Italy
Financial Crisis
The unemployment rate rose to 8.9% of the working population in December in Italy, in comparison with 8.8% in November according to a provisional... Janez Jansa, new Prime Minister
Slovenia
On 28th January the Slovenian Parliament approved the appointment of Janez Jansa as Prime Minister, 51 votes in support, 39 against. Mr Jansa led the... Unemployment rises again in Spain
Financial Crisis
According to data published on 2nd February by the Employment and Social Security Ministry there were around 177,500 more unemployed in Spain in... 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... The budgetary pact approved by 25 EU Member States
Financial Crisis
On 30th January, after a meeting of Heads of State and government 25 Member States of the 27 approved the treaty on stability, coordination and... Bosnia Herzgovina adopts two vital laws
Bosnia-Herzgovina
Bosnia-Herzegovina approved the texts of two laws on 3rd February, one enabling the organisation of a population census that will take place in April... Annual inflation in the euro zone estimated at 2.7%
Eurostat
According to an estimate published on 1st February by Eurostat, the annual inflation rate in the euro zone lay at 2.7%, which was stable in... Women's Rights
Council of Europe
On 26th January the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution aiming to protect women's rights better in the world.... 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... Analysis of Macedonia's Progress
Council
On 24th January during its eighth meeting the Stabilisation and Association Council between Macedonia and the European Union lauded the reforms made... 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... 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... Democracy working badly in Ukraine
Council of Europe
On 26th January in its resolution 1862 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed its concern over the legal proceedings launched... 42nd World Economic Forum in Davos
Financial Crisis
From 25th-29th January during the 42nd world economic forum in Davos many political and economic leaders spoke during debate, notably the President... The Italian Population is growing older and the number of immigrants is increasing
Italy
The Italian population is getting older and the number of immigrants in the country continues to grow, now totalling 8% of all of the country's... 62nd International Film Festival in Berlin
Culture
The 62nd international film festival in Berlin that is taking place from 9th to 19th February, is presenting 23 films. 18 of these productions are... Franco-German Prize awarded to Jean François-Poncet and Edzard Reuter
Front page!
On 24th January the French and German European Affairs Ministers, Jean Leonetti and Michael Link, awarded the de Gaulle-Adenauer Prize in Berlin to... France will sanction the negation of the Armenian genocide with criminal proceedings
France
On 23rd January the French Parliament adopted the draft law that sanctions the negation of the Armenian genocide after a final vote in the Senate... The Role of the European Union and the USA in Humanitarian Aid
Studies/Reports
The College of Europe of Bruges has just published a study entitled "The EU and the US as International Actors in Disaster Relief" by Erik Brattberg... 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... 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... Italian Cinema Festival
Culture
Bastia is holding the 24th Italian Cinema Festival on the theme of comedy until 11th February 2012. The 2012 selection includes 24 films, divided... 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... 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... Europe: Brighter Skies Ahead
Front page!
On the eve of the European Council of 30th January, the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani published an editorial on... UK: contraction of the economy at the end of 2011
Financial Crisis
The British economy contracted by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2011 according to an initial estimate published on 25th January by the Office for... China and Russia approve the repression
UN
On 4th February China and Russia, both permanent members of the Security Council, placed their veto on a UN resolution that called for an end to... New Satellites for Galileo
Commission
On 2nd February, three new contracts were signed as part of the Galileo project. Totalling 310 million euros, they will enable the launch of at least... The German Central bank believes that the budgetary pact does not go far enough
Germany
The chairman of the Bundesbank (German Central Bank) Jens Weidman said in a speech delivered on 1st February in Düsseldorf that the budgetary pact... Europe must adapt its economic model and not give it up
Financial Crisis
On 24th January the World Bank published a report on the advantages and inconveniences of the European economic model entitled "Restoring the lustre... New European Policy
Italy
On 25th January four motions were approved by the Italian Parliament, signed by the leaders of the majority to commit the government to a new... Regulation of the use of personal data
Commission
On 25th January the European Commission put forward a legislative proposal obliging the main internet companies to gain people's prior consent to use... New Foreign Minister
Romania
On 24th January Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc appointed Senator Cristian Diaconescu as Foreign Minister. On the same evening the new minister was... Report on the European Competition Policy
Parliament
On 2nd February the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the annual report of the EU's competition policy. In this report MEPs supported the... The IMF reviews its growth forecasts downwards in 2012
Financial Crisis
On 24th January the International Monetary Fund lowered its world economic forecasts in 2012 by 0.7% in comparison with the world economic outlook in... Niels Muiznieks elected Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
Former Latvian Social Integration Minister Niels Muiznieks was elected on 24th January by an absolute majority as the third Human Rights... Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
Jean-Claude Mignon, MP (Seine et Marne), was elected on 23rd January as president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). He... Social Europe and the Crisis
Studies/Reports
The Bertelsmann Stiftung has just published a new issue in its series "Europe in Dialogue" entitled "Solidarity: For Sale?" analysing the social... From Vermeer to Kandisky
Culture
Works of art from museums around the world are on show at the Sismondo Castle in Rimini (Italy) until 3rd June 2012 each presenting major nations... Rejection of the project to merge NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Börse
Commission
Deutsche Börse announced on February 1st that the European Commission had decided to reject its project to merge with NYSE Euronext, a negative... "Au fil des collections de Tiepolo à Degas"
Culture
Until 20th May 2012 the Hermitage Foundation in Lausanne is offering people an opportunity to see the treasures on show in the exhibition "Au fil des... The end of independence surveillance in Kosovo?
Kosovo
On 24th January the International Surveillance Group (ISG) declared after a meeting that was held in Vienna, that its surveillance mission in Kosovo... Angela Merkel on an official trip to China
Germany
On an official visit to China from 1st to 3rd February, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel explained to Chinese leaders that the euro zone countries... The Prime Minister presents his government
Slovenia
The Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa presented his government on 3rd February - it comprises five parties which are members of his coalition and... New issue of the Civic Review
Publications
The new issue of the Civic Review has just been published. Pascale Joannin, the General Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation, has published an... Hungary prosecuted for excessive debt
Financial Crisis
On 24th January the 27 European Finance Ministers officially acknowledged that Hungary had not taken the necessary steps to reduce its excessive... Subscribe to the Paris-Berlin magazine!
Publications
Subscribe to the Paris/Berlin magazine! Founded in 2004 and employing around thirty journalists in France and Germany, it is the only magazine in... German, Tom Enders appointed as the head of the EADS group
Germany
The EADS Board of Directors, that met in Amsterdam on 26th January appointed German Tom Enders, the present head of Airbus to take over EADS, as... 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... Security Conference in Munich
Diplomacy
From 3rd to 5th February there was a Conference on Security in Munich. This conference brought together various players - political, military,...