The 'Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2025' is available in French and English. As every year, it brings together leading contributions, such as the article by Florent Menegaux, unpublished maps and commented statistical studies to deal with the major issues for Europe: defence and security, competitiveness, and the need for investment in the space sector. Order your copy now!

For the last two years the Schuman Network has brought together 22 organisations from 13 European countries. With over 190 publications shared, the Schuman Network strives to promote cooperation between European research centres in order to share reliable and high quality analyses. Through this work the Schuman Network, led by the Foundation, is asserting its role as an essential platform for strengthening intellectual cooperation and supporting the debate of ideas in Europe.

On 26 November, the European Commission approved new disbursements for Greece, Portugal, Slovenia and Austria under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). A total of €4 billion has been disbursed: Greece has received its 6th instalment of €2.1 billion, Portugal has received its 7th instalment of €1.06 billion, Austria has received its 3rd instalment of €515.5 million and Slovenia has received its 4th instalment of €439.7 million. Details of these disbursements are available on the Foundation's website.

On 25 November, the European Commission adopted the autumn package of the European Semester, which sets out the priorities for economic and employment policy to boost competitiveness. In an increasingly difficult geopolitical environment, the Commission is calling for coordinated action to boost productivity, innovation and investment. This package of measures is based on the autumn 2025 economic forecasts, which show that the European economy remains resilient, with moderate growth. Moreover, the excessive deficit procedure has been suspended in the case of the nine Member States subject to the said procedure (Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Poland, Romania and Slovakia).

On November 27, the European Commission adopted a new framework for a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy. With this new strategy, the European Union supports activities using biological resources in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, biomass and biotechnologies, with the aim of moving towards a more circular and low-carbon economy and reducing its dependence on fossil fuel imports.

On 25 November, MEPs adopted a regulation to strengthen the European defence industry. It aims to implement the first European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). This programme strengthens the European defence technological and industrial base by speeding up the production of armaments and joint procurement. The budget amounts to €1.5 billion, of which €300 million is to be devoted to the Ukraine Support Instrument.

On 26 November, MEPs voted in favour of new targeted solutions to simplify the 2023 European legislation on deforestation. In particular, companies will have an extra year to comply with new EU rules aimed at preventing deforestation. The legislation aims to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation linked to the EU's consumption of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal, printed paper and livestock products.

On 26 November, MEPs adopted a resolution warning against military build-up and geopolitical competition in the Arctic. They condemned the growing militarisation of this region by China and Russia and the need for the European Union to strengthen its cooperation with NATO. They also called for greater protection of marine infrastructures.

On 26 November, MEPs adopted new rules aimed at reducing the number of dangerous toys sold in the European Union and protecting children from the risks associated with them. The current ban on substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction has been extended to include endocrine disruptors, substances that are dangerous to the respiratory system, and products that are toxic to the skin and other organs. Before placing a toy on the market, manufacturers will have to carry out safety assessments covering all potential hazards.

On 26 November, the European Parliament adopted the EU budget for 2026. It amounts to €192.8 billion in commitments and €190.1 billion in payments. More than €372.7 million has been added for energy and transport infrastructure, humanitarian aid, civil protection and research. MEPs also increased funding for major programmes such as Horizon Europe.

On 24 November, the trade ministers examined the state of play of the European Union's trade relations with the United States, China and India. They stressed the need to speed up the diversification of rare earth supply sources. Finally, the ministers (Germany, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden) reiterated their demands for additional customs duties on products imported from Russia and Belarus, on the basis of a Commission proposal. On 28 November, the Council adopted its negotiating mandates for two tariff settlements under the EU-US Joint Declaration agreed on 21 August 2025.

On 26 November, the Council approved proposals to simplify certain provisions relating to security and the defence market. The proposals simplify the management and implementation of the European Defence Fund (EDF), and reduce the eligibility of costs for tests outside the EU or countries associated with activities in Ukraine. They also introduce additional incentives to increase the participation of SMEs in EDF projects.

On 27 and 28 November, the ministers for education and culture discussed aligning learning with the needs of the labour market, while ensuring quality standards in education. They discussed how the Erasmus+ 2028-2034 programme could contribute to strengthening the resilience of young people in Europe, with a particular focus on civic and democratic engagement. They approved the conclusions of the European Shield for Democracy, presented by the Commission on 12 November. Finally, they discussed a report on the AgoraEU programme project, which promotes Europe's cultural and linguistic heritage, as well as artistic and media freedom.

On 27 November, negotiators from the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement aimed at making the payment services sector more effective in protecting against fraud and data breaches. The aim of the regulation is to harmonise payment services and strengthen fraud prevention throughout the EU. The directive aims to ensure fair competition between payment service providers, in terms of authorisation and supervisory powers, and to improve access to cash, particularly in remote areas.

On 24 and 25 November, the leaders of the European Union and the African Union met in Luanda, Angola. They expressed their support for multilateralism and the reform of international institutions, including the UN Security Council, and insisted on continued support for peace in conflict zones. On the economic front, they emphasised the implementation of the 'Global Gateway investment package' and the acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area. A major commitment was agreed to invest in infrastructure to provide clean electricity to 100 million people by 2030.

The first EU-Chile Joint Council was held on 26 and 27 November under the new trade agreements. Both parties consider that these agreements reflect their close and lasting partnership, based on trust, common values and shared interests. They remain committed to achieving their full ratification. To this end, Chilean and European representatives will meet at regular intervals to review progress and identify opportunities to strengthen cooperation.

On 28 November, ministers from Europe and the southern Mediterranean partner countries met in Barcelona to officially launch the Pact for the Mediterranean, presented by the Commission on 16 October. The launch took place on the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, which promotes cooperation and stability between the EU and Mediterranean countries through shared initiatives. It is a step towards a common Mediterranean area that is more stable, secure and prosperous.

On 27 November, the ministers of the 23 Member States, Associate Members and Cooperating States approved the largest contributions in history, totalling €22.1 billion. This Ministerial Council was the first stage in the implementation of the 2040 strategy, defining the course of European space ambitions and the objectives to be achieved for Europe. During the meeting, two announcements were made: the signing of a letter of intent with Norway for the opening of the first Arctic space centre in Tromsø, and the opening of discussions for the creation of an Agency centre focusing on security in Poland.

On 28 November, the European Space Agency's (ESA) first Scout mission launched two HydroGNSS satellites from California. These satellites will improve global understanding of water availability and the effects of climate change on the Earth's water cycle. They will measure soil moisture, freeze-thaw, flooding and above-ground biomass.

On 27 November, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the introduction of a 'voluntary national service' from 2026. The aim is to mobilise 2,000 to 3,000 people on a voluntary basis in the first year, with a target of 50,000 by 2035. Open to French men and women aged between 18 and 25, it would last ten months.

On 25 November, the Members of the European Parliament adopted a second interim report on the persistent undermining of the rule of law and Hungary's ongoing violations of the values of the European Union. They denounced the threats to judicial independence, as well as the Supreme Court's review of EU Court of Justice rulings before they are applied in Hungary. The MEPs repeated that Hungary had transformed itself into a 'hybrid regime of electoral autocracy'.

On 27 November, Portuguese MPs adopted the 2026 budget, forecasting a public surplus of 0.1% of GDP. Following surpluses in 2023 (1.3%) and 2024 (0.5%), Portugal should record a surplus of 0.3% this year. Public debt is expected to fall to 87.8% of GDP next year, compared with more than 130% at the height of the eurozone crisis in 2011. According to the budget forecasts, Portugal's economy is set to grow by 2% this year and 2.3% in 2026, following a 2.1% rise in GDP last year.

On 25 November, the French President, the British Prime Minister and the German Chancellor co-chaired a videoconference meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which was attended by the Ukrainian President, the leaders and representatives of the 35 member countries, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the NATO Secretary General. For the first time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took part. The participants reiterated that any peace solution must fully involve Ukraine, respect its sovereignty and guarantee its long-term security, recalling that borders must never be changed by force. The Coalition of the Willing plans to create a platform to centralise discussions with the United States on security guarantees for Ukraine.

At an informal meeting on 26 November, the foreign ministers discussed the latest developments in the negotiations in Geneva aimed at ending Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. They exchanged views on the need to maintain pressure on the Russian regime while increasing military and financial support for Ukraine. On the same day, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a speech to the European Parliament, calling for a 'just, lasting and secure' peace for Ukraine. She stressed the need for an agreement that fully respected Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, guaranteeing the security of the whole of Europe.

Following discussions between 17 and 21 November, the IMF announced that it had reached an agreement to support Ukraine for 48 months under the Extended Fund Facility. The IMF has approved the principle of a potential 5.94 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), or around $8.1 billion, corresponding to 295% of Ukraine's quota.

On 27 November, Members of the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the European Union to assume greater responsibility for European security and to support peace in Ukraine as proactively as possible. They argued that any lasting peace must be preceded by an effective ceasefire and backed up by solid security guarantees from the EU and the United States. Finally, they demanded that any peace agreement should provide for full compensation by Russia for the material and immaterial damage it has caused in Ukraine.

On 27 November, European Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho found procedural shortcomings in the way the European Commission prepared several projects she considered urgent. Taken together, these failings constitute a case of maladministration. The negligence occurred in the context of legislative projects concerning corporate sustainability due diligence, the common agricultural policy and the fight against migrant smuggling. In two recommendations to the Commission, the Ombudsman called for predictable, consistent and non-arbitrary application of better regulation rules and for future urgent preparation of legislative proposals always to be transparent and evidence-based.

On 27 November, Interpol's General Assembly unanimously adopted a new Strategic Framework which will serve as a five-year roadmap in the fight against evolving global criminal threats, such as cyber fraud, trafficking in human beings, illicit financing and fraud centres. The delegates also elected the new Executive Committee, which will be chaired by Frenchman Lucas Philippe. He is the third Frenchman to head Interpol since its creation 102 years ago.

On 27 November, the OECD published the 2025 edition of its annual report, Pensions at a Glance, in which it estimates that the working-age population will shrink by 13% over the next 40 years, and that GDP per capita will fall by 14% by 2060 as a result. Countries will face downward pressure on their revenues, against a backdrop of rising expenditure linked to demographic ageing. The normal retirement age will range from 62 in Colombia (for men), Luxembourg and Slovenia to 70 or more in Denmark, Estonia, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. The Robert Schuman Foundation regularly updates a pensions table listing the specific features of the pension schemes in the 27 Member States of the European Union.

On 1 December, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published new data on global arms sales, which rose sharply in 2024. The 100 largest arms companies sold $679 billion worth of weapons and military services in 2024, a record increase of 5.9%. This increase in demand is being driven by the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as by the steady rise in military spending.

Until 13 December, the Lisbon Fine Arts Fair is exhibiting the finalists in the 2025 edition of the Sovereign Prize. The aim is to raise the international profile of Portuguese artists and those from the Portuguese diaspora, while funding arts programmes for disadvantaged children. The winner is Edgar Martins, whose work addresses the themes of war, migration, urbanism and technology.

Until 1 March 2026, the Prado Museum in Madrid is presenting an exhibition devoted to Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779), a figure at the dawn of Neoclassicism and one of the most influential artists of the XVIIIᵉ century. The exhibition offers an in-depth review of his work, thought and legacy, in dialogue with the great masters of the past.

Until 8 June 2026, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN) will be presenting the exhibition 'The Power of Words in Jewish Languages', featuring the languages that have accompanied Jews scattered around the world over the centuries. It tells the story of how these languages became a space for cultural development for a people living in dispersion. The exhibition features dozens of original objects relating to the different chapters of this long history.

Until 1st March 2026, the Musée National de la Marine in Paris is hosting the exhibition 'Magellan, a voyage that changed the world'. Visitors are taken on an immersive journey through the major stages of the expedition, punctuated by giant projections, evocative sets and embodied narratives. The scenography highlights the tensions and violence, as well as the discoveries and wonder, while taking a contemporary look at how the world was represented during the Renaissance.

La Scala's 2025-2026 season opens on 7 December with a new production of Dmitri Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, conducted by Riccardo Chailly and directed by Vasily Barkhatov. The season promises to be extremely varied, combining ten operas, two complete cycles of Richard Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen and seven ballets, not to mention numerous symphony concerts, recitals and children's shows.

The 'Tobias Pils' exhibition is on at the Museum of Modern Art in Vienna until 12 April 2026. The exhibition presents new drawings that combine abstract and representational elements in pictorial worlds concerned with birth, death and becoming. For the artist, drawing is like a filter, like a beginning and an end, through which his entire artistic practice is reflected and unfolds into the future.

Until 12 April 2026, the Wallace Collection in London is hosting the exhibition 'Caravaggio's Cupid'. The Cupid Victorious, on loan from the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and presented to the public for the first time in the United Kingdom, is the centrepiece of the exhibition. It is displayed alongside two ancient Roman sculptures that, more than four centuries ago, formed part of the same prestigious collection. These three works belonged to the Marquis Vincenzo Giustiniani (1564-1637), one of the most famous collectors of his time.

Until 19 April 2026, the Henry Moore Foundation is hosting Beyond the Visual. It is the first major sculpture exhibition in the UK where blind and partially sighted artists are at the heart of the selection process and make up the majority of participating artists. The exhibition brings together sixteen international artists and features both historical and contemporary works, demonstrating the importance of touch and indeed other senses.

Every year since 1852, the city of Lyon is illuminated from 5 to 8 December. This is the perfect time to admire the many light installations and projections on the city's emblematic buildings. The 'Lumignons du Coeur' operation is also designed to promote solidarity.