The Alcide de Gasperi Foundation is organising an international seminar in Rome on 10th December entitled "Europe's Political Unity as an Instrument for International Balance, Stability and Peace in the World" in which the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani will take part.

On 8th November last the President of the Republic Mikhail Saakachvili announced that early presidential elections would take place on 5th January next, slightly less than a year before the originally planned date. This decision came after a week of serious political crisis. The President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage for a mandate of five years. To date 22 people are running for the post of president. Amongst them are Mikhail Saakachvili, Levan Gatchetchiladze (candidate of the opposition coalition), Davit Gamqrelidze, supported by the New Right, Industry will save Georgia and the National Democrat Party and Shalva Natelashvili, leader of the Labour Party (SLP). Mikhail Saakachvili, who was obliged by the Constitution to resign 45 days before the end of his mandate, quit office on 25th November last. The interim is being ensured by the President of Parliament, Nino Bourdjanadze.

On the occasion of the 2nd EU-Africa Summit on 8th and 9th December in Lisbon the Robert Schuman Foundation published its 42nd Note on "The European Union/Africa : the strategic partnership". This Note can be purchased on the Foundation site in book form or in PDF.

On 3rd December, after having presented Slovakia's convergence plan to Joaquin Almunia, European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared to MEPs that Slovakia would fulfil the necessary criteria to join the Euro Area in 2009: budgetary deficit under control, low inflation rate, stable exchange rate, and low interest rates. In his opinion Slovakia's budgetary deficit should rise to around 2.5% of the GDP ie well below the 3% established by the European Union.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy publisehd a new Communication on 5th December. It sets out what actions are needed by the Member States and the Commission, particularly in the fields of trade, mobility and tackling frozen conflicts in the EU's neighbourhood. A number of actions are foreseen in 2008 to reinforce sectoral reforms in the neighbourhood countries. A further communication next spring will address the performance of the neighbourhood partners, with progress reports on each.

On 5th December the European Commission presented its new Defence "package" which aims to create a real European Defence Market for military equipment. The proposed new legislation will contribute to creating a genuine European market in this sector without sacrificing Member State control over their essential defence and security interests.

Olli Rehn, European Enlargement Commissioner travelled on 4th December to Sarajevo to sign the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA). Bosnia-Herzegovina, the last Balkan country to conclude the pre-accession agreement with the European Union promised in return to take concrete steps to implement the political reforms which have been demanded. This agreement aims at three goals: stabilisation and rapid transition over to a market economy, promotion of regional co-operation, and the road to membership.

On 7th December the Commission decided to give a favourable opinion to the initiative of Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania (NEK) of Bulgaria to build a new nuclear power plant at the site of Belene, according to the requirements of articles 41 to 44 of the Euratom Treaty. Those requirements state that any new investment related to nuclear activities has to be communicated to the Commission which should, in return, send a report with its views to the Member State concerned.

On 6th and 7th December the Justice and Internal Affairs Council finally approved the entry of eight States of central Europe and Malta into the Schengen area on 21st December. The 27 ministers also debated the issue of migration, in association with employment and the Lisbon Strategy. They recalled the importance of fostering integration policies and fighting against illegal immigration. Counter-terrorism Co-ordinator Gilles de Kerchove said that sharing information, the funding of technical assistance for developing countries and the implementation of Europe-wide measures to counter terrorism effectively were primordial. Finally they made a declaration against cocaine trafficking.

During the ECOFIN Council on 4th December the 27 Economy and Finance Ministers adopted new measures for VAT on services. The new rules notably mean that as from 2010 in business-to-business services the supplier will no longer be taxed but rather the client. They also adopted an extension in their membership agreements of provisionally reduced VAT levels for the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Malta, Poland and Slovenia. Initially it was planned for the agreement on these levels to expire at the end of the year; they will now be maintained until 31st December 2010.

The Helmholtz Association of German Scientific Research and the French Commissariat for Atomic Energy (CEA), two major bodies in energy research have decided to increase their scientific co-operation together to develop new technologies. They signed a framework agreement on 3rd December in Berlin. This text offers a means to organise future co-operation in areas such as renewable energy sources, fuel cells, hydrogen technologies, the means to store energy, nuclear security, environment and climate. After the start of the first workshops in January the first bilateral partnership agreements will be signed in Paris on 29th February during the 3rd Franco-German Research Forum.

In 2007 Germany is set to remain the world's leading exporter of goods ahead of China. Provisional figures produced by the WTO published on 5th December by the German Minister for the Economy reveals that German exports have increased by 19% over the first nine months of the year. They rose to 659 billion euro, placing Germany in the lead of world exports for the 5th consecutive year. According to the WTO the last quarter will not change this ranking.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel concluded the Christian Democrat congress on 4th December in Hannover. She declared to a thousand delegates that the conservatives now occupied the centre of the political field and approved a new political programme that is more socially oriented.

On the occasion of the 32nd informal Franco-German Summit on 6th December in Paris German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany would provide its support to the French Presidency of the European Union in the second quarter of 2008, whose main task it would be to implement the Lisbon Treaty. The German Chancellor and the French President spoke in favour of enhancing European Union co-operation with the Mediterranean region. With regard to the Iranian nuclear threat, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel said they were convinced that a policy of "firmness and dialogue" should continue. Boosting European Defence will be the theme of the next informal Franco-German Summit.

Romanian Justice Minister, Tudor Chuirariu officially announced his resignation on 9th December during a press conference. This is the response to the request made by Romanian President Traian Basescu, to replace two members of Government, Labour Minister, Paul Pacuraru and Justice Minister Tudor Chiuariu, both targeted by an anti-corruption investigation on the part of the Prosecutor's office.

According to a Eurostat study published on 3rd December on the internet competences of European citizens 5% made telephone calls via the internet in the first quarter of 2007 in comparison with 9% in the first quarter of 2006 and 7% in the first quarter of 2005. More and more Europeans chat on line: 24% in the first quarter of 2007 against 18% in the same period in 2006 and 2005. In all 54% of European households had access to the internet in the first quarter of 2007 in comparison with 49% a year before and 42% had a broad band connection, in comparison with 30% a year previously. There are major differences between Member States. Only 19% of Bulgarians had internet access in the first quarter of 2007, 22% of Romanians and 25% of Greeks whilst 83% of Dutch, 79% of the Swedes and 78% of the Danes had an internet connection.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 3rd December the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.2% in October 2007, compared with 7.3% in September. It was 8.0% in October 2006. The European Union unemployment rate was 7.0% in October 2007, the same as September. It was 7.8% in October 2006. In October 2007, the lowest rates were registered in Denmark (2.9%) and the Netherlands (3.1%), the highest in Slovakia (11.2%) and Poland (8.8%).

According to Eurostat figures published on 6th December between 2000 and 2006, the European Union's export of goods to Africa rose from 66 billion euro to 92 bn, while imports increased from 85 bn to 126 bn. The European Union deficit in trade with Africa rose from 19 bn in 2000 to 35 bn in 2006, corresponding to 18% of the total European Union external trade deficit. Africa accounted for around 9% of the European Union's total external trade in goods in 2006. Among the European Union Member States, France (21 bn euro, or 23% of the total) was the largest exporter to Africa in 2006, followed by Germany (16 bn or 18%) and Italy (13 bn or 14%). Italy (31 bn or 25%) was the largest importer, followed by Spain (21 bn or 17%) and France (20 bn or 16%).

Eurobarometer has published a survey undertaken in April and May last which focussed on scientific research in the media. According to the survey's conclusions the population is most open to information on scientific subjects in the original Member States; 62% of those interviewed said they were interested in scientific research. But this percentage rises only to 38% in the new Member States. Figures range from 80% in Sweden to 24% in Bulgaria. In addition to this TV is the most appreciated media (61%) and the one believed to be the weakest with regard to scientific research (47%), the traditional channels (47%) being preferred to the thematic ones (27%). Nearly one European in two (49%) reads scientific articles in the generalist daily papers and magazines. One European in three listens to radio programmes (26%) and consults information on the internet (28%) on this theme.

The Economic and Social Council has published a study on "The Western Balkans and the European Union" by Alain Terrenoire who raises the question of the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. The study focusses on presenting the advantages and difficulties of the ongoing integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union.

The Centre for Global Development (CGD) has published a study on climatic risks for developing countries. According to its conclusions by 2060 all emissions by developing countries would rise beyond the 450 parts per million CO2 which the intergovernmental group of experts on climate change associates with irreversible climate change. According to the study director, David Wheeler "only focussing on CO2 emissions on the part of developed countries is a dangerous diversion." To avoid a global catastrophe rich countries must reduce their emissions and help developing countries move towards a carbon free future whilst taking on board their legitimate aspirations for a better life.

On 5th December the Centre for Applied Political Research in Munich (CAP) published a study that looks into options for manoeuvre in membership negotiations between the European Union and Turkey. These result from the new Lisbon Treaty, but also from the AKP's victory in the general elections in July last.

The review "Internationale Politik" has dedicated its latest issue to poverty in the world. Never before have the differences between the richest and poorest been so high, ranging from 1 to 50. This divide seems to be increasingly difficult to close. In spite of the aid provided to developing countries some are at present in a more serious situation than in the 1960's, when the industrialised countries started to provide them with help.

Until 17th February 2008 the Victoria and Albert Museum is running an exhibition of unusual modern art. The exhibition entitled "Out of the ordinary: spectacular craft" shows the work of eight artists (Olu Amoda, Catherine Bertola, Annie Cattrell, Susan Collis, Naomi Filmer, Lu Shengzhong, Yoshihiro Suda and Anne Wilson) who "all have the same concerns, that is to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary, transform something familiar into something unexpected." The artists use a wide range of technologies, from the most traditional to the most modern and also a wide variety of materials - paper, dust, nails - to make a curious series of works.