Jean-Dominique Giuliani, chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation and Jérôme Bédier, chairman of the Commission Europe of the MEDEF are organising a debate on the theme of "Y-a-t-il encore un plombier en Pologne? - Demographie, immigration and frontières en Europe" (Are there any plumbers left in Poland? - Demography, immigration and borders in Europe) on 15th January at 6:30pm. To take part in this event we strongly recommend prior enrolment.

On the eve of the publication of the "Energy and Climate Package" by the European Commission the Robert Schuman Foundation is organising a debate on the theme of "the renewal of energy production: a European challenge - an environmental, industrial and political challenge" on 22nd January at 6pm in Brussels. Herbert Reul MEP,( PPE-DE, DE), Helmut Schmitt von Sydow (Chief Advisor - DG Energy) and Antoine Pellion (Civil Engineer and graduate of the 'Ecole des Mines' and author of the new 'Note' by the Foundation 'Renewing Energy Production in Europe: an environmental, industrial and political challenge") will attend this conference.

On 8th February the 200 members of the House of Representatives and 81 members of the Senate will meet to elect the new President of the Republic. To date two people are standing: the present Head of State, Vaclav Klaus, and Jan Svejnar, a professor of economy. To be elected in the first round or second round a candidate must win the absolute majority of the votes within each of the two Houses ie 141. In the third round the simple majority is enough. The Czech President is elected for a five year period which is renewable once.

On 12th December last the president of the National Assembly, the only House in Parliament announced that the Serbs would be called to vote to elect the President of the Republic on 20th January next. The election initially planned for 2009 was made obligatory by the new Constitution approved unanimously by Parliament in September 2006 and adopted by 53.04% of the electorate on 28th and 29th October the same year. Six people are running for election to date: - Boris Tadic (Democrat Party, DS), Tomislav Nikolic, interim leader of the Radical Party (SRS), Cedomir Jovanovic, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP),Itsvan Pastor, candidate of the Hungarian minority supported by the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, Milutin Mrkonjic, chairman of the Socialist Party (SPS) and Bogoljub Karic, leader of the Strength of Movement (PSS). If necessary a second round will be held on 3rd February.

The European Union's present system of imports of Chinese textiles based on restrictive quotas came to an end on 31st December 2007. It was replaced on 1st January by a monitoring system which will undertake a double check on eight of the ten textile categories. The new system is based on the granting of new export permits by the Chinese authorities for local manufacturers together with better monitoring in Europe. However European textile manufacturers fear that there will be a massive in-flow of low-priced Asian clothes on the European market.

On 4th January the Commission announced that it will contribute 30 million euros to towards metrology and the ecosystem of the Baltic sea. These actions are being developed under the Seventh Framework Programme. A platform bringing together 32 national metrology institutions, will receive 21 million euros, with Member States contributing a further 42 million euros to carry out research into precise and reliable measurements. The European Commission will also allocate 9 million additional euros to BONUS+, a research programme to develop an ecosystem-based approach to management of the Baltic Sea, which will involve 8 Member States that border the Baltic, and Russia. The countries concerned will contribute a further 18.7 million euros. These programmes are part of a sustainable natural resources management procedure.

On 19th December, after three days of negotiations, the 27 Agriculture ministers adopted a reform package with regard to the European wine industry which moderates the major wave of modernisation planned for by the European Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel. After pressure from Italy and France less vineyards will now be destroyed and surplus will continue to be distilled into alcohol.

On 19th December the 27 European Fisheries Ministers came to an agreement on the distribution of fish and species capture quotas for 2008. The main issue at stake concerned the fishing of cod, of which the European Commission requested a 25% decrease in capture possibilities according to scientific opinion. They decided on a quota reduction ranging between 9% and 18% depending on the zones for this fish. With regard to anchovy fishing is still frozen for both French and Spanish fishermen.

On 20th December last the 27 European Health Ministers, who met in Brussels, called on the Commission to increase the integration of community health and environment policies. They insisted on the importance of the pilot biosurveillance project that includes the study of effects of pollutant substances on humans and notably on the blood. They encouraged the Commission to increase its information policy as well as the funding of research. Finally they called for specific care with regard to children and the elderly in the fight against the effects of pollution on health.

The migration report 2006 published on 19th December indicates that most of the 8.8% of foreigners in Germany have been there for a number of years and have had a positive influence on the age pyramid in Germany. The Federal Government delegate for integration, Maria Böhmer stresses that more emphasis should be placed on education and training particularly amongst young migrants. In 2006 nearly 662,000 people arrived in Germany whilst 639,000 left. The migratory balance, ie the difference between arrivals and departures was therefore the lowest since 1984: +23,000. The report on migration published regularly by the Federal Interior Ministry includes full statistics on the migratory phenomenon.

In 2007 an average 39.7 million people had a job, ie the highest level since reunification. The number of unemployed has dropped by 1.1 million since 2005, 595,000 of whom (-1.7%) found employment in 2007 alone. In 2008 a 0.7% increase in salaries is expected (or 2.5% given an inflation rate of 1.8%). Economists expect between 200 and 300,000 new jobs to be created in 2008.

According to the results of a survey published on 28th December a majority of Danes believes that the regulations relative to immigration ought to be adapted so that Denmark can attract more foreign workers. Over the last few years there has been a growing lack of specialists, researchers and carers. Half of those interviewed said they had worked with a foreigner and in over half of these cases the experience had been a positive one, versus 15% who thought it negative. Finally the survey shows that one third of Danes would be in favour of a simplification of the legislation with regard to the employment of foreign workers in Danish companies. 40% of those interviewed believe that the present legislation is adequate whilst 15% say they would support stricter rules.

On 28th September Bosnia's caretaker Prime Minister, Nikola Spiric, was confirmed in office by his country's parliament two months after he resigned in a row with the international community after his opposition to a measure imposed by the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Miroslav Lajcak. He announced he would form a government by mid-January. He will focus on continuing the accession procedure to the European Union, with the signature of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement becomign his main priority. This Agreement was started at the beginning of December 2007 but has still not been signed. He has also promised to improve relations between the government and parliament.

Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements between the EU and five countries of the Western Balkans entered into force on 1st January last. Citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will continue to benefit from a reduced visa handling fee (35 euros instead of 60 euros). Many categories of applicants may also now obtain visas free of charge. In the majority of cases, visa procedures have been simplified. In addition, with the recent enlargement of the Schengen area, applicants from the above-mentioned countries will now be able to apply for a single Schengen visa only.

The Kosovo parliament that emerged after the elections on 17th November and which may soon proclaim the province's independence, met on 4th January for a constituent session in Pristina. The meeting was convened on the last day of the deadline set one month after the official publication of the legislative results - 4th December - which is part of the constituional framework of the province administered by the UN since June 1999. The president will be elected in the next session on 9th January. PDK chairman Hashim Thaci, appointed Prime Minister, announced that his party will start the first stage in negotiations with the other parties to form a coalition.

The Saarland Modern Art Museum (Germany) is presenting an exhibition until 24th February 2008 which reviews the work by Pablo Picasso in the 1950's. These years heralded a transitory pahse in the artist's work. The work achieved at this time has become synonymous with "modern art" and has influenced how modern art has been usued in some areas of daily life (design,advertising, fashion etc ...) to the present day. It is from this point of view and for the first time ever that the exhibition takes an indepth look into major work that emerged from this creative period. The exhibition has the patronage of the Minister President of the Saarland, Peter Müller.