On the occasion of the bicentenary of the French Court of Auditors and of the 30th anniversary of the European Court of Auditors the Robert Schuman Foundation has published a study entitled, "What controls exist for Europe's public funds?" This work will be presented at the Court of Auditors on Tuesday 27th November.

On 18th and 19th November during the first ministerial Euro-Med meeting on migration ministers addressed the relationship between development and migration, both legal and illegal. In their conclusions they recalled that good management of migration can help in optimising the social and economic benefits of this phenomenon brought to the countries of origin, transit and destination. Likewise they stressed the need to enhance the join management of migratory flows, the need to strengthen the joint management of migratory flows, in a spirit of partnership, shared responsibility, mutual benefit and solidarity. They believe it necessary to promote services and effective financial products to help make safe the transfer of money.

On 20th November the Eurogroup chairman, Jean-Claude Juncker, told MEPs of his concerns with regard to inflation. He also warned against an attitude of "benevolent indifference" in the face of the rapid changes ongoing on the monetary markets.

On 20th November the European Commission unveiled its blueprint for streamlining and further modernising the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy. The so-called 'Health Check' of the CAP will build on the approach which began with the 2003 reforms and make it fit for new challenges. The Commission puts forward three main questions: how to make the direct aid system more effective and simpler; how to make market support instruments, originally conceived for a Community of Six, relevant in the world we live in now; and how to confront new challenges, from climate change, to biofuels, water management and the protection of biodiversity. This document heralds the launch of a wide-ranging six-month consultation which is due to last until the spring 2008 and which should lead to an in-depth review of the CAP.

On 19th and 20th November the 27 Foreign Ministers and their Defence colleagues adopted the European Defence Agency's 2008 budget. They approved "a joint research and defence technology strategy" and also adopted two measures to improve European civil and military crisis management capabilities. They re-iterated their support for the troika and its activities in Kosovo and the work undertaken by the High Representative in the Middle East. Finally they insisted on strengthening restrictive measures against Burma.

On 19th November on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke in support of closer co-operation between Europe and the USA. The two entities are not only linked by good economic relations but also by values and joint responsibilities. Within this context it would seem appropriate to pool capabilities in research areas to a greater degree.

The Lisbon Treaty was the focus of intense discussion at the Nationalrat, the lower house of the Austrian Parliament on 23rd November. The SPÖ (Social Democrat Party), the ÖVP (People's Party) and the Greens support the treaty and welcome the progress made to improve the running of the European Union thereby making it more democratic. However the FPÖ (far-right Liberal Party) has been extremely critical fearing for the sovereignty and neutrality of Austria.

On 22nd November Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that he would submit his country's accession to the euro area to the vote again. At present Denmark benefits from an opt out clause in this area after the rejection of the project by referendum in 1992. The Prime Minister did not mention a specific date for the organisation of this referendum. According to a Gallup poll undertaken in October 51% of the Danes would like to see the repeal of the exemption clause with regard to the single currency.

Estonian Economy Minister Juhan Parts and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip disagree with each other with regard to Estonia adopting the euro, which would only be possible in 2011. The Economy Minister is therefore endangering the government coalition.

On 23rd November the Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the annual Commission Legislative and Work Programme which introduces the Commission's main political objectives, individual legislative initiatives and other key measures. The programme places special emphasis on growth and jobs, sustainable development, migration, citizens' well-being and the European Union's international role.

On 26th September last 69 French MPs formed a 'group of Europeans' which will aim to "rally MPs who want to commit themselves resolutely to a new Europe in the National Assembly - a new Europe which is both political and concrete, and closer to the citizen". On this occasion they wrote a founding text developing European values that they want to promote and the aims they have set themselves.

French and Greek Defence Ministers, Hervé Morin and Evangelos Meimarakis agreed on 23rd November to enhance their co-operation and to push for progress on the issue of European defence.

During the 2nd session of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly on 24th November MPs provided their support to the French initiative of a Mediterranean Union. The Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly created in February 2005 rallies MPs from 22 countries, including 19 countries which lie on the shores of the Mediterranean and three assimilated countries (Jordan, Macedonia and Portugal). The inaugural session was held in September 2006 in Amman.

The Diet, the lower house of Polish Parliament swore in the new government led by Donald Tusk during a vote of confidence on 24th November: 238 votes in favour, 204 against and 2 abstentions. In his inaugural speech he said how he intended to modernise Poland which was half as rich as the European Union average so that it could also reap the fruits of its "own economic miracle." Donald Tusk also promised to bring Poland to the heart of the European Union. He maintained that it was in Poland's interest to prepare itself for a more rapid entry into the euro area. However he said that he was giving up re-integrating the European Charter of Fundamental Rights included in the European Treaty which he is due to sign shortly.

For the first time since their country joined the European Union in 2007 Romanians elected their MEPs on 25th November. According to still incomplete results relative to 95.5% of the votes, the Democrat Party (PD), close to President Traian Basescu came out ahead with 29.1% of the vote in an election that was marked by a particularly low turn out rate ie 28.38%. The Social Democrat Party (PSD) is due to come second with 22.15% of the vote whilst the National Liberal Party (PNL) led by Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu is due to come third with 13.36% of the vote. The Liberal Democrat Party is forecast to win 8.04% and the Democratic Union of Magyars (UMDR) 5.82%.

According to statements made by European negotiator Wolfgang Ischinger on 23rd November the troika of mediators for Kosovo aims to reach agreement at least on future co-operation between the Serbs and Kosovars, if the issue of Kosovo's status still has not been settled on 10th December when a report is due to be delivered to the UN. On 20th November bilateral discussions between Serb and Kosovar representatives did not lead to agreement. Kosovo is about to proclaim its independence from Serbia which is rejected by the latter. Serbia is suggesting however to provide greater autonomy to the province, the majority of whose population is Albanian and which has been managed by the UN since 1999. Serbs and Kosovars started three days of talks on 26th November in Austria as part of a last bid to define the future status of the province.

The Social Democrat Party (SDP) and the Democratic Union (HDZ) led by outgoing Prime Minister Ivo Sanader are running neck and neck after the Croat elections on 25th November according to results that still have to be finalised. The HDZ is forecast to win 60 seats versus 57 for the SDP. Results cover around 95% of some 6,000 polling stations. The votes of Croats living abroad still have to be counted.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakachvili resigned on 25th November to start the campaign for the early presidential election that will take place on 5th January. Together the opposition, comprising about ten parties, appointed a single candidate, Levan Gatchechiladze, to run against Mr Saakachvili. The President of Parliament, Nino Bourdjanadze, will ensure the interim presidency.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich presented the resignation of his goverment on 23rd November during the first session of Parliament after the general elections which took place on 30th September last. All of the former cabinet ministers resigned from their functions just after MPs had taken oath in Parliament. Ministers will undertake their functions until a new government is formed by the ruling coalition.

The 8th Conference of European Healthcare Ministers took place on 22nd and 23rd November under the auspices of the new Slovakian presidency of the Council of Europe which started on 1st November. Hence Ministers were able to discuss solutions to provide to the challenges of migration and other forms of mobility faced by healthcare systems. At the end of their meeting they adopted "the Bratislava Declaration on migration, healthcare and Human Rights."

On 21st November the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1785 which extended the mandate of the multinational stabilisation force in Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR-Althea) for one more year; this force comprises around 2,500 soldiers (2,200 from the Union member states and 300 from non-member states) which took over from SFOR (NATO) in December 2004.

According to Eurostat figures published on 19th November seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector, remained stable in the euro area and rose by 0.1% in the European Union in September 2007, compared with the previous month. In August, production increased by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the European Union. Compared with September 2006, output in September 2007 gained 1.5% in the euro area and 2.5% in the European Union. In August the annual growth was 2.6% in the euro area and 3.6% in the European Union.

The Strategic Analysis Centre has published work on the economic and social situation of Europe with regard to globalisation.

On the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaties the Museum of Europe in Brussels is running an exhibition entitled, "It's your History!" This exhibition reviews the major stages in the construction of Europe from the end of the Second World War to today.