Europeans like rules. They rightly believe that the law, which is equal for all, is necessary for life in society. Our various codes are constantly expanding. Our nations continue to legislate, and the second level of democracy that we have organised with the European Union finds expression in this, as it is based on the rule of law. However, the weight of European regulations is partly responsible for the 20% loss in productivity that Europe has suffered over the last 30 years compared to the United States. If the Union and our national governments made more of an effort to think long term instead of acting on a whim, they would succeed in preserving the European model without ruining its industry, i.e. simplification without rolling back, through incentives rather than constraints.

The 'Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union' is available in French and English. As every year, it brings together leading contributions, original maps and annotated statistical studies addressing major issues for the European Union: prospects for enlargement, European competitiveness and the need for investment in the space sector. Order your copy now!

On 12 November, the European Commission gave a positive assessment of Finland's third payment request, amounting to €244.9 million. On 13 November, it assessed Lithuania's fourth payment request, amounting to €514.5 million. Details of the recovery plan are available on the Foundation's website, with a regularly updated map.

On 13 November, the European Commission launched an investigation into a potential breach of digital market legislation by Google. The proceedings aim to determine whether Google applies fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory access conditions to publishers' websites on Google Search, as required by the European Union since May 2023. The investigation focuses on Google's 'site reputation abuse policy,' which leads to the downgrading of certain sites and makes their monetisation much more complex, and on how this policy applies to publishers.

On 12 November, the European Commission presented the European Democracy Shield, which aims to empower, protect and promote strong and resilient democracy across the Union. A European Strategy for Civil Society was also presented. The Shield and the Strategy set out measures to protect the freedom of individuals, free and fair elections, independent media, a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions.

On 11 November, the European Commission marked a milestone in the implementation of the pact on migration and asylum, adopted in April 2024, by launching the first annual cycle of migration management. This cycle identifies the migration situations that Member States face and proposes an annual solidarity reserve, which must be adopted by the Council. It is essential to ensure the effective implementation of the pact from June 2026 onwards.

On 12 November, the European Commission presented its Cultural Compass for Europe, which focuses on four areas: defending and strengthening European values and cultural rights; empowering artists and cultural professionals, accompanied by increased support for audiences; leveraging culture and heritage to strengthen the Union's competitiveness, resilience and cohesion; and promoting international cultural relations and partnerships.

Annual growth in the European Union is expected to reach 1.4% in 2025 and 2026, then accelerate to 1.5% in 2027, according to the autumn economic forecasts published by the European Commission on 17 November. It indicates that European economic growth exceeded expectations in the first nine months of the year, with GDP growth higher than anticipated in the spring. It was supported by a surge in exports ahead of expected tariff increases, but also by more dynamic than expected investment in equipment and intangible assets. Inflation is expected to continue to decline in 2025, falling to 2.1% in the eurozone. In the European Union, it is expected to reach 2.2% in 2027.

On 13 November, MEPs adopted a resolution setting out the priorities for the future strategy for gender equality. They called on the Commission to strengthen the EU's action in this area for the period 2026-2030. This resolution calls for a more ambitious and cross-cutting strategy, with greater emphasis on the effective application of standards and the mainstreaming of gender in a wider range of policies.

On 13 November, MEPs approved, at second reading, the Council's position on the new regulation on the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). This regulation replaces the previous one from 2002 and adapts the Agency's tasks, governance and functioning to current maritime safety needs. Among other things, it will play a more active role in maritime surveillance, particularly in detecting suspicious activities such as ships deactivating their AIS, ship-to-ship transfers and "ghost" fleets.

On 13 November, MEPs adopted a position on the Commission's proposal to amend the European Climate Law. This sets a new binding interim climate target for the European Union for 2040: a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels.

On 13 November, MEPs approved their negotiating position on simplifying corporate reporting requirements on sustainability and due diligence by 382 votes to 249, with 13 abstentions. On sustainability (CSRD), only companies with more than 1,750 employees and annual net turnover exceeding €450 million would be required to produce a social and environmental report. Due diligence obligations (CS3D) would only apply to large companies with more than 5,000 employees and annual net turnover exceeding €1.5 billion.

On 12 November, Eurogroup ministers reviewed global geopolitical and technological developments and took stock of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They also discussed policy priorities ahead of the 2026 euro area recommendations. Finally, ministers exchanged views on the way forward for stablecoins in the context of the digital euro project. The Foundation has just published a study on the digital euro.

On 13 November, Ministers for Economy and Finance agreed to combat the sharp increase in low-value imported parcels. In particular, they abolished the rule allowing goods worth less than €150 to enter the European Union without paying customs duties. The ministers held a policy debate on the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive.

On 13 November, the Council formally authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the United Kingdom with a view to reaching an agreement on a common sanitary and phytosanitary area and linking greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes (ETS).

On 13 November, ministers adopted the legislative package on 'one substance, one assessment'. The new rules streamline the European Union's approach to chemical assessment and shorten the gap between the identification of a potential risk and the necessary regulatory action. The package creates a new common data platform, which will be managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and will serve as a one-stop shop for information on chemicals.

On 11 November, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached an agreement to simplify the requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The agreement promotes the reduction of certain administrative and regulatory obligations: land considered arable on 1 January 2026 may retain this status even if it has not been worked, farmers are not subject to multiple official checks in the same year, and the aid ceiling for small farmers is increased. The reduction in administrative formalities could generate annual savings of up to €1.6 billion for farmers and more than €200 million for Member State administrations.

On 12 November, negotiators from the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to combat unfair cross-border trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain. The agreement improves cross-border cooperation in cases where suppliers and buyers are located in different Member States, introduces a mutual assistance mechanism, and also establishes a coordinated action mechanism.

On 15 November, negotiators from the Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the European Union's budget for 2026, before the end of the conciliation period. The budget will strengthen competitiveness, Europe's defence preparedness and tackle migratory pressures, with an overall level of commitment appropriations of €192.8 billion. At the same time, the budget will provide the necessary flexibility to respond quickly and effectively to needs and crises.

The Canada–European Union Joint Declaration, adopted in Niagara on 11 November, underlined the strength of the strategic partnership between the two sides, based on democracy, the rule of law and multilateralism. Canada and the European Union express their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and their resolve to strengthen cooperation on security, defence and military interoperability, including through industrial partnerships. The declaration also highlights the economic complementarity between the two parties through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Finally, it emphasises the defence of the rules-based international order, the reform of multilateral institutions and the fight against disinformation.

On 12 November, G7 Foreign Ministers pledged their continued support for Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire and condemning military assistance to Russia by several states. In the Indo-Pacific, they denounced China's coercive actions and committed to strengthening maritime security, economic resilience, energy security and the reliability of critical mineral supply chains.

On 11 November, the Court of Justice (CJEU) rejected Denmark's appeal, thereby confirming the validity of most of the directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union. Denmark had brought the case before the Court, seeking the complete annulment of the directive on the grounds that it infringed on the division of powers between the EU and its Member States. According to Denmark, the directive constituted direct interference in the determination of wages within the EU and in the right of association, which, according to the treaties, fall within the competence of the Member States.

On 12 November, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, announced that irregular entries into the European Union had decreased by 22% in the first ten months of 2025, representing 152,000 irregular entries.

On 12 November, the Council of Economic Experts submitted its report: 'Creating new prospects for tomorrow – not squandering opportunities'. This report comes at a time of stagnation in the German economy. The experts stress the need for major reforms to stimulate German growth. The report also addresses the importance of securing Europe's future by deepening the single market and strengthening defence capabilities, and proposes measures to reduce the tax burden on businesses, reform inheritance taxes and reduce excessive bureaucracy, factors considered essential for shaping structural change and improving competitiveness.

On 12 November, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Toulouse for the inauguration of the Space Command (CDE). He took time to present the national space strategy (SNS) ahead of the European Space Agency (ESA) ministerial conference on 26 and 27 November in Bremen, and the space summit that France will host in spring 2026. The strategy includes five key points: access to space, rethinking the industrial, commercial and strategic capabilities model, adopting a more offensive approach and reviving Europe's space industry.

On 13 November, French President Emmanuel Macron commemorated the attacks of 13 November 2015 in Saint-Denis and Paris. The aim of the day was to pay tribute to the victims, the wounded and the survivors, as well as all the emergency services. On this occasion, many institutions joined France in remembering that night. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in her statement that the Parliament remained determined to fight terrorism. Europol Director Catherine de Bolle reaffirmed Europol's commitment to the fight against terrorism.

On 13 November, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in the case of A.R. v. Poland that there had been a violation of the right to respect for private and family life. The case concerned restrictions on the right to abortion in Poland.

On 10 November, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva signed the agreement on European Union programmes (EUPA) in Bern. This component of the Switzerland-EU package can thus be applied in advance and on a provisional basis, with retroactive effect from 1 January 2025. It allows Switzerland to participate in Horizon Europe, the Euratom programme and the Digital Europe programme, while paving the way for participation in ITER, Erasmus+ and EU4 Health.

On 13 November, at the Investment Conference in Warsaw, the European Union and Ukraine reiterated their commitment to strengthening their economic partnership. Ukraine is committed to accelerating reforms to ensure a stable business environment, while investors insist on regulatory predictability and uniform application of rules. The conference, organised as part of the ReBuild Ukraine Expo, brought together more than 5,000 Ukrainian and international participants.

During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Athens, Ukraine and Greece signed an agreement on 16 November for the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Kyiv between the Greek company DEPA and the Ukrainian company Naftogaz for the winter period from December 2025 to March 2026.

On 12 November, the International Energy Agency published its World Energy Report. It estimates that demand for fossil fuels will continue to rise until 2030. Coal and oil will stagnate, while demand for natural gas will continue to rise. Global demand for electricity will increase by 40% by 2035 due to the AI sector. Today, around 730 million people still live without electricity, and this problem is not expected to be resolved before 2035.

On 13 November, the European Central Bank (ECB) published a report analysing trade and investment between the European Union and the United Kingdom since Brexit. The report indicates that Brexit has resulted in significant economic costs, mainly due to the emergence of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and increased trade costs. Estimates suggest that UK exports to the European Union contracted by 40% after the transition period. Finally, until 2023, total foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from the European Union to the United Kingdom decreased by 3.9% and those from the United Kingdom to the Union by 4%.

The OECD published its Health at a Glance report on 13 November. According to the study, countries have generally recovered from the pandemic, but major challenges remain. In particular, obesity rates continue to rise in most countries, while harmful alcohol consumption and smoking remain major public health problems among both adults and children. Finally, although life expectancy has recovered and is rising again, it will still be below its pre-pandemic level in 13 countries in 2023.

Until 15 March 2026, the Charleston Museum is hosting the Roger Fry exhibition. This is the first major exhibition in over 25 years devoted to Roger Fry as a painter, revealing a lesser-known aspect of one of the most influential figures in 20th-century British art. He played a decisive role in introducing post-impressionism to England.

Until 5 April 2026, the MuMa museum in Le Havre is hosting the exhibition 'Ports en vue'. This exhibition is designed as a stroll through the port landscape from Raoul Dufy to Pierre et Gilles. Around 120 works are featured in this exhibition, which focuses on ports as places that promise travel, but above all as places of work. Essentially fluid, the port landscape is constantly changing to adapt to the needs of maritime transport.

Until 6 April 2026, the Gemäldegalderie in Berlin is hosting the exhibition 'Tribute to Vittore Carpaccio'. This exhibition presents The Preparation of Christ's Tomb in its thematic and artistic context, placing it alongside other works. Two priceless pieces, on loan from the Kupferstichkabinett, are on display: a preparatory sketch by Carpaccio depicting the dead Christ and an engraving by Andrea Mantegna, which inspired the Venetian painter.

Until 5 April 2026, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm is hosting the exhibition 'Late Picasso'. The final part of the artist's career was marked by relentless intensity. The exhibition presents around fifty works created between 1963 and 1972.

Until 3 May 2026, the exhibition 'The Woman Question 1550-2025' is open at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, highlighting the sustained and dynamic creative activity of women over the last 500 years. It features nearly 200 works—ranging from recent creations to paintings by Renaissance, Baroque, and 19th-century artists—and offers a visual history spanning several centuries of women's 'emancipation.'

Until 13 December, the historic rooms of Palazzo Borromeo d'Adda are hosting the exhibition "Hayez and his time". This project brings Manzoni and Verdi's Milan, a crossroads of passions, ideas and art, back to the forefront of the cultural scene. The exhibition aims to promote the city as the capital of Italian Romanticism, celebrating the season when painting, music and literature dialogued in a common language of emotion and modernity.

Until 22 February 2026, the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona is hosting the exhibition 'Miró and the United States'. This exhibition presents an intergenerational dialogue between Joan Miró and several world-renowned artists. It illustrates how their creative practices were mutually enriching and contributed to the development of 20th-century art. The exhibition features more than 130 works from American and European collections, as well as from Joan Miró's personal collection.