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... 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... 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... 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... 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... "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... 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... 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... 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... 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... Iran
Council
European Foreign Ministers decided on 26th July to step up sanctions against Iran whose nuclear programme represents “a serious cause for... 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,... 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... 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... Spain
Unemployment
The Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) announced on 30th July that the unemployment rate in the second semester had reached 20.09%... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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.... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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 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... 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... 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... "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... Brussels
Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court in Brussels delivered a decision on 29th July that suspends the Flemish decision imposing Dutch speaking inspectors on... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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...