Following the conference organised in January 2007 with the Association for Civil Harmony and Fraternity in the Balkans the Robert Schuman Foundation has published the proceedings of this meeting dedicated to the themes 'Nationalism and Religion in the Western Balkans," and "The Western Balkans' March towards the European Union". They can be ordered on-line.

Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva addressed on 4th September the European Parliament. He announced that one of the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency was to complete negotiations with regard to the Reform Treaty. He then highlighted themes such as economic growth, employment, globalisation and the environment insisting on the respect of the founding value of the European Union: solidarity.

In a resolution dated 4th September MEPs called on the European Union to develop specific tools to deal with natural disasters such as those encountered this summer in Greece and in the UK. These would take the form of additional aid together with a tool to monitor how the aid is used. They also stressed the importance of undertaking preventive action. In addition to this the creation of a European reaction force might be a possibility.

On 5th September Franco Frattini, European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security addressed the European Parliament about the EU's strategy with regard to the fight against terrorism. He pointed to progress achieved in terms of the number of attacks that had been foiled in several countries. He also announced some reforms with regard to the application of a European action plan on explosives security, the proposed amendment to the framework-decision on the use of the internet by terrorists, as well as the creation of passenger files for airlines (Passenger Name Record) enabling the recognition of a passenger and the storage of pertinent information about that person.

The EU's High Representative for the CFSP, Javier Solana talked with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, on 3rd and 4th September during a tour of the Middle East. Just a few days before the inauguration of the autumn session of the UN's General Assembly they spoke of reigonal security, the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab peace processes, the Iranian nuclear programme and political instability in the Lebanon.

On 6th September the Central European Bank announced that its key interest rates would remain unchanged at 4%. This decision was interpreted by financial experts as an attempt to prevent an economic slowing after the turbulence of the financial markets in the summer.In his press conference on 7th September ECB Chairman Jean-Claude Trichet explained this decision saying it was linked to the present economic and monetary situation.

The European Investment Bank, the World Bank and the European Commission were joined by the International Financial Society on 4th September in the partnership which aims to help in developing the private sector in the Mediterranian area. In this partnership various programmes are pooled together - especially those which are linked to new technologies, urbanisation or investment.

Thomas Hammarberg, Human Rights Commissioner started a five day visit to Azerbaijan on 3rd September in order to assess the human rights situation in more detail. He met national political leaders, several ministers and politicians, the ombudsman as well as many eminent human rights experts from civil society.

During the German ambassadors' conference 3rd-6th September the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed how much the political and economic rise to power of the Asian continent reflected the development of globalisation, "with its opportunities, its challenges and its effects on all of us." He made an appeal to turn Asia into an international partner. To do this it is vital to develop cultural, educational and scientific exchange between Asia and Europe. On the second day of the conference debate was dedicated to economic relations. The diplomats discussed the international opportunities and perspectives provided to the German economy with some 800 company directors.

During his trip to Austria 7th-9th September Pope Benoit XVI said: "We often speak of the European model. By this we mean a social order which combines economic success with social justice, political plurality, tolerance, freedom and openness; however this also means maintaining values that provide this continent with its specific position in the world."

On 4th September the independent committee responsible for monitoring the links of political leaders and the civil service with the political police officially announced that the President of the Bulgarian Republic Gueorgui Parvanov, the chairman of the Turkish minority party (member of ruling coalition), Ahmed Dogan, former Socialist Prime Minister Jan Videnov had all worked with the police under the communist dictatorship. MEP Evgueni Kirilov also appears on this list along with 139 MPs elected since the fall of Communism - including 16 who have seats in the present Parliament.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos and the leader of the northern part of the island occupied by Turkey, Mehmet Ali Talat met on 5th September to try and re-initiate the peace process and the unification of the island. The two men had not met in over a year.

On 9th September two groups of young people from Germany and France met at the former Franco-German border of Weiler-Sankt Germanshof shouting "Never again the border," "Freedom, Friendship in Europe". They brandished blue-starred flags, German and French flags and banners but also a number of historical flags of Europe, with a big green E on a white background - none of which had been seen for a long time. In this village that lies on the extreme northern border of Alsace, one that was well guarded in the past, the group of young people re-enacted the historical raid undertaken by the pioneers of European unification who on 6th August 1950 succeeded in destroying the wooden customs barriers without encountering any resistance in a symbolic abolition of the Franco-German border.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas advised on 4th September that the EU develops its trade and allows free exchange with Moldava and Georgia. It also recalled that the EU ought to pay more attention to questions pertaining to the conflicts in these countries.

On 3rd September the Lithuanian research centre on the genocide and resistance put original KGB documents on-line. It enables internet users to consult the KGB archives and to learn about its activities in the Baltic States between 1940 and 1991. In June the Robert Schuman Foundation published "The KGB and the Baltic States: 1939-1991" with the publishing house Belin.

On 6th September during a meeting of the representatives of the 27 Member States in Brussels Poland vetoed the proposal to create a "European Day against the Death Penalty" on 10th October,to coincide with the World Day against the Death Penalty which already exists. This proposal by the European Commission was supported by the European Parliament and required the unanimous support of the Member States if it were to be adopted. Poland would like to see the creation of a Day in Defence of Life instead, which would condemn both the death penalty, abortion and euthanasia. Portugal, which presently is responsible for the presidency of the Union hopes to convince Poland to change its mind by 9th October; this is when a European declaration in favour of the universal abolition of the death penalty during an international conference in Lisbon is due to be signed.

The French Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Bernard Kouchner travelled to Romania on 3rd and 4th September to meet the President of Romania, Traian Basescu and his Romanian counterpart Adrian Cioroianu. He also spoke to the Romanian diplomatic corps as part of the annual Ambassadors'meeting. He said that Europe's unity was "the only solution" to the Kosovo issue.

British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown declared on 4th September that he could not exclude the possible organisation of a referendum for the adoption of the reform treaty in his country if the text did not respect the demands made by the UK. The British "red lines" were established before the end of the last European Council.

On 5th September Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt accepted the resignation of his Defence Minister, Mikael Odenberg who is against the government's intention to reduce the defence budget. Mikael Odenberg believes that this budgetary cut is unfounded. The Swedish government wants to reduce material costs incurred by the Swedish armed forces and yet strengthen Sweden's capability to participate in international operations. The military budget has been the focus of a debate for several months now in Sweden dividing the centre-right government coalition. The new Defence Minister is Sten Tolgfors.

On 7th September the Foreign Ministers of Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Antonio Milososki and Sven Alkalaj met in Skopje. They believe that political relations are good, but economic exchange between the two countries is still inadequate. The two ministers agreed on the development of a joint protocol between the two ministries in order to proceed to the exchange of experience in the area of integration into the EU and NATO.

On 2nd September Russian President, Vladimir Putin established 2nd December as the date for the general elections in Russia. After this the next electoral date in Russia will be the presidential election in March 2008; this will lead to the appointment of the successor to President Putin. He will not be able to stand for another term in office given the Russian Constitution which makes more than two mandates impossible.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly (the only chamber in parliament)voted on 5th September in favour of the government that was formed after the elections on 22nd July last. The Chairman of Parliament said that 337 MPs voted in favour of the government versus 197 against. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) whose leader is the present Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan has 341 seats of the 550 in Parliament.

According to estimates published by Eurostat on 5th September in July 2007, compared with June 2007, the volume of retail trade1 grew by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU27. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade increased in six Member States, fell in ten and remained unchanged in Spain. The largest increases were observed in Denmark, Latvia, Sweden and the United Kingdom (all +0.8%), and the highest decreases in Belgium (-3.5%), Lithuania (-2.8%) and Austria (-1.6%).

The International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia created in 1993 met in Bosnia-Herzegovina for the very first time so that the accused could bear witness. Rasim Delic, former chief of staff of the army of Bosnia-Herzegovina is on trial for murder, cruel treatment, and the rape of Serb and Croat civilians and solidiers.

On 3rd September the WTO commenced new discussions in Geneva to re-launch the Doha Round that started in 2001 and which is still in stalemate. Peter Mandelson, European Commissioner for Trade said that negotiations on the liberalisation of world trade were in great danger of failing if the USA did not adopt a new policy with regard to agricultural subsidies. Trade negotiators also met for debate during the APEC Summit on 6th-9th September.

On 5th September the OECD made a negative revision of its growth forecasts with regard to several countries notably Germany (2.6% in comparison with 2.9%), France (1.8% in comparison with 2.2%) and the USA (1.9% in comparison with 2.1%). The growth outlook for the UK is positive (3.1% instead of 2.7%). The downturn can be explained by the decline in the housing market in the USA and by a slowing of activity.

British Finance Minister, Alistair Darling confirmed his support for Dominique Strauss-Kahn on 5th September as head of the International Monetary Fund. Alistair Darling, who said two months agon that the post should not always go to a European, finally put an end to all ambiguity. Since its creation in 1944 the IMF has always been managed by a European.

On 4th September Hubert Védrine, former Foreign Minister delivered a report to French President Nicolas Sarkozy with regard to France's position in the world. In the report, published on 5th September,Hubert Védrine promotes a change in political and psychological attitude on the part of the French with regard to globalisation. He looks into a change in France's foreign policy. Notably he advises making the most of continuing the pursuit of France's national interests via its non-alignment (neither with the European federalist nor the with Atlantic/Western options), increasing its work with African and Arab countries and protecting its strategic interests.