The Croats are being called to renew the members of the Hrvatski Sabor, the only Chamber in Parliament on 25th November next. The Hrvatski Sabor comprises around 150 MPs (their number varies according to the governments in office: no less than 100 and no more than 160," stipulates the Constitution), elected for four years by a proportional voting system. In every general election Croatia is divided into ten constituencies each electing 14 MPs. A political party has to win a minimum of 5% of votes to be represented in Parliament. The official campaign starts on 3rd November and will end on 23rd November at midnight.

The conference entitled "Europe and new Criminal Threats" co-organised by the Robert Schuman Foundation and the Department for Research on Modern Criminal Threats at the University Paris II will take place on 30th October in Brussels. Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Foundation will present the issues raised by a European response to new criminal threats in Europe.

The Danes are being called to renew the Folketing (Parliament) in early elections which are due to take place on 13th November next. The Folketing, the only Chamber in Parliament includes 179 members elected for four years by a proportional voting system. The province of Greenland and the Faroe Isles each have two representatives. The other 175 seats are divided across three regions: Copenhagen, Jutland and the islands. These three regions are subdivided in three urban and seven rural constituencies. The number of seats allocated to each of the constituencies, proportional to the number of inhabitants, is reconsidered every five years. 135 of the 175 seats are constituency seats, 40 are compensatory. Outgoing Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been the Danish leader since November 2001.

A conference on anti-doping was held on 24th October in Lisbon. The Council of Europe and the Portuguese presidency of the European Union said they were pleased with the inclusion of measures with regard to sport in the reform treaty. They insisted on various measures in the World Anti-Doping Code 2003 and put forward suggestions for improvements with regard to punishment and education campaigns.

On 26th October European and Russian leaders met for the EU-Russia Summit. The latter said they were pleased with progress achieved in relations notably with regard to the application of facilities with regard to visas and readmission agreements. The European Union highlighted progress made by Russia with regard to joining the WTO and encouraged it to continue work. Energy issues were addressed notably with regard to the establishment of an early warning mechanism in the case supply difficulties. Likewise the issue of queues on borders was discussed. An agreement protocol to encourage the exchange of information with regard to illegal drug consumption was signed. Finally Russia and the European Union discussed ideas for co-operation in the fight againt climate change.

On 24th October the European Parliament agreed that professional qualifications acquired in any Member State should be comparable across the entire Union by 2012. However national authorities should allow themselves one additional year in order to apply the European Qualifications Framework.

In a report adopted on 24th October by 323 votes in favour, 214 against and 120 abstentions, the European Parliament hopes to provides its support fiscal incentives for investment in R&D and environmental projects, healthy tax competition, lower rates of VAT for labour intensive services and a common consolidated corporate tax base.

The European Parliament adopted the 2008 budget on first reading on 25th October 2008. The overall amount of payment appropriations are higher than in the Commission's preliminary draft budget (0.97%) and the Council's draft budget (0.95%), while not exceeding 0.99% of the EU's gross national income (GNI). The greatest increases in funding concern Galileo as well as aid to Palestine and Kosovo. MEPs also hope to increase the sums dedicated to the Lisbon Strategy (competitiveness, growth and employment). For the first time in the 2008 budget there will be more money available for growth and the creation of jobs in agriculture.

On 25th October the European Parliament adopted a resolution by 464 votes in favour, 30 against and 44 abstentions proposing measures to protect consumers and farmers from price rises in basic foodstuffs (cereals, meat and milk). Apart from some immediate measures such as a rise in milk quotas, MEPs are suggesting that the European Union includes actions as part of the CAP Health Check and that it fights against excessive price rises undertaken in by major retailers. Measures should stabilise markets and reassure citizens.

MEPs adopted the report by Luciana Sbarbati (ADLE, IT) which approves the activities of the European Ombudsman over 2006. In 2006 the Ombudsman received 3,830 complaints (-2% in comparison with 2005 but on the same record level in 2004). 57% of the time complaints were sent via e-mail. 3,619 complaints were lodged by individual citizens, only 211 came from associations or companies. Elected by the European Parliament the Ombudsman's task is to look for amicable solutions to conflicts involving the European institutions. Over 2006 complaints primarily targeted the European Commission (66%), then the European Personnel Selection Office, the European Parliament and the Council. The main reasons for complaint were the lack of or refusal to give information (25%), injustice or abuse of power, inadequate procedures, unjustified delays or negligence.

On 23rd October MEPs adopted on first reading in the codecision procedure two reports relative to the authorisation of the marketing and sustainable use of pesticides. The aims are notably to reduce drastically the use of toxic products, to promote ecological alternatives and to protect sensitive areas. The European Commission's initiative should enable improved management of pesticide use and intends to respond to consumer concerns with regard to pesticide residues that may find their way into the foodstuffs. The use of pesticides in Europe has not really decreased over the last few years (an all time high was reached in 2000). In July 2006 the Commission presented a Thematic Strategy with regard to the sustainable use of these substances.

The Lux Prize awarded by European MPs was given to director Fatih Akin on 24th October for his film "Auf der anderen Seite". This prize is granted to a European film produced in the past year that opens up debate on the construction of Europe and reveals European values and diversity. The film that won is given financial support so that subtitles can be added in the European Union's 23 official languages. The Lux Prize is both a tribute to culture and to multilinguism.

On 23rd October the European Commission approved a Communication thereby expressing its desire to strengthen the role of Eurojust and the European Judicial Network in the context of the fight against organised crime and terrorism. Franco Frattini Vice President of the Commission responsible for justice, freedom and security indicated that these issues could only be dealt with effectively in a transversal manner and if all Member States work together. The Communication will be discussed at a Seminar in Lisbon 29th and 30th October 2007.

On 24th October the European Commission published its first report on sustainable development. The report recalls that Member State must work hard to fight against climate change, notably by using new energy sources and by drawing up ambitious policies with regard to non-pollutant transport systems.

On 24th October the ITER agreement came into force. It was signed on 26th November 2006. The agreement aims to show the feasibility of fusion as an energy source. This scientific collaboration brings together the European Union, India, China, South Korea, Russia, Japan and the USA. The first session of the ITER Council is planned for 27th and 28th November 2007.

On 23rd October the Commission adopted two legislative proposals in the area of economic migration. The first proposal aims at establishing a Framework Directive for the purpose of admission of highly qualified migrants to the EU, creating the EU Blue Card. The second proposal is a Directive establishing a single application procedure for a single residence and work permit and a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State.

In Lisbon on 19th October British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel co-signed a joint declaration in which they call for more effective management of financial markets in the face of the present crisis. This notably involves hedge funds. The Finance Ministers are to draw up proposals on the issue before the European Council in the spring of 2008.

Javier Solana, the European Union's High Representative for the CFSP held 'constructive' discussions on 23rd October with Saïd Jalili, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for relations with the European Union and with the former head Iranian negotiator on the nuclear issue, Ali Larijani. He indicated that the three negotiators would meet again "for another round of discussions" before the end of November.

Justice Ministers of the 47 members of the Council of Europe met on 24th and 25th October. 23 of them adopted a Convention for the Protection of Children against Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation. Five states have to ratify this convention for it to become effective. In addition to this the Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammaberg recalled that it was the authorities duty to provide children, migrants and asylum seekers with easier access to justice.

After the agreement between the 27 European countries on the new European Treaty that will officially be signed on 13th December German Chancellor Angela Merkel hopes that the German government will start the ratification process before Christmas. In a press conference on 19th October she said she was pleased that the final text had only been "slightly changed" in comparison with what had been decided in June at the end of the German presidency. The European Union will now be able to address economic and social issues.

Since the agreement that was reached on 19th October on the new European Treaty Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called on pro-European parties to meet to define a new European political framework. Negotiations are not to include the issue of the four Danish opt-out clauses nor that of a possible ratification of the treaty by referendum. The parties invited to negotiate a new Danish European policy are the Liberals (V), the Conservatives (KF), the Social Democrats (SD), the Social Liberals (RV), the Socialist People's Party (SF) and the New Alliance.

On 6th November, the "Lien Public", Sciences Po, and the Prometheus Foundation are organising a seminar on "France, Europe and Globalisation". Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation will speak at a round table dedicated to the theme of free trade.

On 26th October Ireland announced that it is to withdraw the 160 soldiers who were participating in the UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in the Lebanon) that has been monitoring the respect of the ceasefire since August 2006. The Irish contingent will start preparation for withdrawal next month.

According to Eurostat figures published on 22nd October in 2006, the government deficit of both the euro area and the European Union fell compared to 2005, while the government debt increased. In the euro area the government deficit decreased from 2.5% of GDP in 2005 to 1.5% in 2006, and in the European Union it fell from 2.4% to 1.6%. In the euro area the government debt to GDP ratio fell from 70.3% at the end of 2005 to 68.6% at the end of 2006, and in the European Union from 62.7% to 61.4%.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 25th October the European Union's external current account recorded a deficit of 14.6 billion euro in the second quarter of 2007, compared with a deficit of 18.9 bn in the second quarter of 2006 and a deficit of 28.1 bn in the first quarter of 2007. However a surplus was recorded in the services account (+23.6 bn euro) in the second quarter of 2007.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 25th October Russia is the European Union's third most important trading partner, after the USA and China, accounting for 6.2% of European Union exports and 10.4% of European Union imports in 2006, compared to 2.7% and 6.4% respectively in 2000. The European Union deficit in trade with Russia increased from 41 billion euro in 2000 to 69 bn in 2006. This increased deficit was due to imports of energy, which rose from 36 bn in 2000 to 94 bn in 2006, while exports of machinery and vehicles increased from 8 bn in 2000 to 34 bn in 2006.

In a paper published by the Research Centre for Applied Politics in Munich 'Rotation in the Council - Bringing Citizens Closer to the EU?' Sarah Seeger looks into the modifications introduced by the Reform Treaty with regard to how the Council operates and notably on the possibility provided by these reforms to bring citizens closer to the European Union.

In a paper entitled "Agenda 2014: a zero-base approach" published by the Swedish Institute for European Studies (SIEPS), Daniel Tarschys looks into financial perspectives 2014-2018/2020. Whilst a first examination of the budget is to start in 2008-2009, he advises the adoption of a zero-base approach which supposes that nothing can be taken for granted. This implies that the transfer of the budget from one year to the next is unthinkable and that every type of expenditure has to be justified.

On 24th October EurActiv.fr published the results of a survey on the French Presidency of the European Union undertaken amongst "players" in the socio-economic sphere. 32 players involved in European issues spoke of their priorities for the six months of the French Presidency of the European Union that will start in July 2008. This study includes 54 articles addressing eight themes: environment, competitiveness, energy, social Europe, Europe of the future, the internal market and consumers, European citizenship, financial perspectives and the CAP. The contribution made by the Robert Schuman Foundation is entitled "a European industrial strategy for the renaissance of electric infrastructures."