On the occasion of the French Presidency of the EU the review "Défense nationale et sécurité collective," has published a special issue addressing defence and security issues. Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation has written an article on "The Defence of Europe at the start of the French Chairmanship of the EU."

Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation is the author of an article on L'Express.fr entitled "Il faut enfin s'extraire des débats nationaux." ("We must finally leave national issues behind") This article heralds the start of a partnership between the Foundation and L'Express.fr. For the 27 weeks of the French presidency the Foundation is offering internet users on L'Express.fr a series of 27 presentations of the Member States of the European Union. This week there was an article on Germany.

On 1st July, the first day of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU French President Nicolas Sarkozy together with the entire government received the 27 European Commissioners for a day of work. It provided an opportunity to recall the priorities of the French presidency and to establish the important dates over the six months of the presidency. Meetings between the European Commissioners and the French ministers took place. For example French Ecology, Energy and Sustainable Development Minister, Jean-Louis Borloo discussed the energy and climate package with European Commissioners, Andris Piebalgs (Energy) and Stavros Dimas (Environment). The Immigration and Asylum Pact, Agriculture, Social Policy and issues regarding justice and security were also addressed.

The 7th Ministerial Conference "Euromed Trade" met on July 2nd in Marseilles rallying Trade Ministers from the 27 EU Members and 13 partners on the Mediterranean,(Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Syria, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia, Turkey and Libya with observer status). They looked into the results of the economic unification of the Mediterranean and on-going trade negotations. Co-chaired by the French secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Anne-Marie Idrac and by the European Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, this first ministerial meeting of the French presidency is in preparation for the Summit of the Union for the Mediterranean that will take place on 13th July in Paris.

Food prices rose sharply last year. In 40 years time the planet will have nearly 9 billion inhabitants. Political experts and leaders from all over the planet who met in Brussels on 4th July tried to draw up solutions in order to feed the world's population in the future. Europe must drive towards greater development aid with regard to agricultural productivity, according to the president of the Development Commission in Parliament, Josep Borrell. To do this investment has to be increased since the share of agriculture in European aid has dropped from 17% thirty years ago to 4% at present. The European Commissioner for Development Louis Michel suggested the use of budgetary margins in the Common Agricultural Policy (ie export subsidies planned for 2008 but not used because of the rise in prices) and to allocate them to "the prevention of food insecurity that will leader, sooner or later to outright insecurity."

15% of Europeans suffer from some form of disability, and many face barriers such as reading a website's small text or even knowing how to access websites and online services. Despite repeated calls by the EU and government leaders to improve this situation, progress remains limited: by far the majority of websites fail to use universally accepted user-friendly solutions. On 2nd July the European Commission launched a public consultation on further measures to make websites in Europe accessible, starting with those of public administrations, and invites stakeholders to give their views. It also addresses other technologies like digital television. The consultation is open until 27 August 2008.

On 2nd and 3rd July, the Commission adopted a social agenda to empower and equip Europeans, in particular also young people, to deal with rapidly changing realities. The Renewed Social Agenda contains 19 initiatives in the areas of employment and social affairs, education and youth, health, information society and economic affairs. The initiatives are centred on the following priorities: preparing for tomorrow, children and youth,investing in people, managing change, supporting longer and healthier lives, fighting discrimination,strengthening instruments,shaping the international agenda; combating poverty and social exclusion. The Commission is for example proposing legislation to fill the gaps of the existing legal framework and to protect against discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation outside the field of employment. Another legislative proposal contained in the package aims to facilitate patients' access to healthcare in other European countries.

As part of its "Renewed Social Agenda: Opportunities, Access and Solidarity in 21st century Europe" adopted on 3rd July the European Commission proposed the launch of an initiative to create more opportunities for young people to volunteer across Europe. The initiative concerns young people in the European Union under the age of 30 who wish to volunteer in a country other than their own. Such voluntary activities differ from formal employment, since they are usually unpaid (except for some pocket money and expenses) and cover a limited period of time, typically several months. Volunteers are active in a whole range of areas, from civil protection and social inclusion to cultural preservation and the environment.

On 2nd July the European Commission adopted its 2007 Environment Policy Review. It believes that the main commitments under the 6th Environment Action Programme have been delivered. It looks into the additional work needed to improve the implementation of environment legislation by Member States which is often incomplete. With this in mind the Commission would like to increase effort via an improved exchange of information, advice and training. Finally the text analyses future challenges: sustainable development, biodiversity and climate change.

A Green Paper, adopted by the European Commission on 3rd July encourages national education policies to address problems of immigration flows in a better manner.In the EU early school leaving is more frequent amongst immigrant children than that of children native to the host country. In some countries second generation immigrant children sometimes have poorer school results than the first generation. Amongst the priorities listed in the Green Paper are preschool education, language learning, additional school support. It also aims to see how the EU can help Member States to draw up their education policies in the future. Interested parties are invited to give their opinions before 31st December next.

On 7th July the European Commission made a proposal to change the VAT Directive so as to provide Member States with the flexibility to apply reduced VAT rates for some specific services on a permanent basis. The Commission proposal covers areas where there is sufficient evidence that reduced rates do not create problems for the proper functioning of the Internal Market. The sectors concerned are mainly so called labour-intensive services and locally supplied services, including restaurant services. The proposal is also part of the small business act as SMEs dominate the sectors concerned. The proposal does not alter the principle that the application of reduced rates is optional for Member States.

The 27 Environment Ministers who met on 3rd and 5th July discussed the reduction of CO2 gases to a total of 20% in principle by 2020. The EU is now aiming for a reduction of 30% in carbon dioxide emissions that will lead to achieving scientific recommendations that advise for a limitation of a 2 degree increase in the world's temperature. This aim is not agreed upon by all "because Central and Eastern European countries are worried about the price" to pay to achieve this. France is suggesting nuclear energy but again there are differences in opinion. The main opponent to this is Germany whose "energy mix" is very different from that of France.

Finland and Italy appointed new Permanent Representatives for the European Union on 1st July: Jan Store and Ferdinando Nelli Feroci.

The Bundestag (Lower chamber) adopted a draft law on 27th June aiming to facilitate participation in the capital of SME's or young companies by means of exonerating company tax. This means easier access to private funding for these companies given that they play a vital role in terms of innovation, growth and employment. To benefit from the new law investment companies and young companies must respect a certain number of criteria. The Bundestag also adopted another draft law that aims to limit the risks of financial investment; this is part of Germany's desire to become an internationally competitive financial market.

Between 5th and 8th July on the occasion of the anniversary of the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), a conference entitled "Return to the avant-garde : opportunities and possibilities for Franco-German youth exchanges", rallied 300 players in Franco-German youth exchange operations in Berlin, both initiated and new comers, together with 100 young French and German people; a second meeting will take place in the autumn in Paris. The aim is to establish a summary and to draw up guidelines for the future in order to enhance co-operation. A memorandum including the various proposals will then be published.

The Austrian coalition government was reshuffled on 1st July after the departure of Interior Minister Günther Platter (ÖVP) who has become the governor of Tyrol. He has been replaced by a woman, Maria Fekter. In addition to this Doris Bures (SPÖ), Minister for Women's Affairs, left the government to take over the position of secretary general of the SPÖ. She has been replaced by Heidrun Silhavy.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mehmet Ali Talat met on 1st July in Nicosia to look into the possibility of launching a new initiative in view of reunifying the island which has been divided for over 30 years.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on 3rd July during a meeting with workers of ArcelorMittal in Creusot that France would be building a second third generation nuclear reactor. This decision is driven by the need for energy independence as oil and gas prices are rising dramatically. He did not say where the new plant would be but he said that the start of construction would be in 2011.

French President, Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed Bulgarian Prime Minister, Serguei Stanichev on 4th July. They signed a strategic partnership agreement that notably includes the development of their military co-operation in the naval sector. This agreement includes a road map for the Black Sea with the countries of the Caucasus and the Mediterranean. During this meeting, Serguei Stanichev suggested the organisation of a "conference, a kind of energy summit in Sofia and to invite the 27 EU countries, those that lie on the Black Sea, the main gas and oil suppliers." This summit might take place in the autumn during the French presidency of the European Union.

The Polish Council of Ministers has issued an ordinance on the adoption of the National Plan for the Division of Authorisations to carbon dioxide emission in the years 2008-2012. The plan envisages that Polish enterprises will be able to emit 208.5 million tons of CO2a year, ie 11% less than the present emissions, in line with a European Commission decision. Polish Environment Minister, Maciej Nowicki said that this would bring about a 4% rise in energy prices and would therefore oblige companies to rationalise their energy consumption.

According to Eurostat figures published on 3rd July the volume of retail sales increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU in May 2008 in comparison with April 2008. The food, drinks, and tobacco sector, increased by 0.5% in the euro zone and by 0.8% in the EU. The non-food sector rose respectively by 1.7% and 1.6%.

According to Eurostat figures published on 2nd July in May 2008 compared with April 2008, the industrial producer price index rose by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU. In May 2008, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector rose by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU. Prices in the energy sector increased by 4.1% and 3.3% respectively. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases were registered in Denmark (+3.0%), Greece and the United Kingdom (both +1.7%). The only decrease was recorded in Sweden (-0.3%).

A Eurobarometer survey entitled "Discrimination in the European Union" Over half of all Europeans have friends or acquaintances who are of a different religion or have different beliefs from them (61%), who are disabled (55%) or of a different ethnic origin to them (55%). Discrimination based on ethnic origin (62%) is seen to be the most widespread form of discrimination in the EU, followed by discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation (51%) and disability (45%). 15% of Europeans say they have suffered from discrimination over the last year. The most frequently mentioned reason for discrimination is age: 65% of those interviewed say they have suffered from age-based discrimination over the last year and three percent on the basis of gender.

A Eurobarometer survey on the attitude of Europeans with regard to radioactive waste reveals that most Europeans request the concrete implementation of nuclear waste disposal facilities and for the development of a more common European approach in this field. Almost nine out of ten respondents consider that each EU Member State should establish a management plan for radioactive waste with a specified fixed timetable. Finally support for nuclear energy has increased in the European Union since 2005 nearly two thirds of European citizens now recognise the key beneficial effects of nuclear energy, such as diversification of energy sources, decrease in the dependence on oil and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

In his report "Higher Education: the ranking challenge" Joël Bourdin (UMP, Eure) Chairman of the Senate Delegation for Planning, looks into international ranking whose success is particularly notable in France. The aim of placing establishments in the world's first 20 and the first 10 of the best 100 bears witness to the legitimacy of this type of assessment.

Whilst nearly half of the Germans believe that globalisation is a greater source of danger than opportunities for them the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has published a study entitled "Deutschland in der Globalisierung. Auswirkungen und Handlungsansätze für eine bessere Balance zwischen Gewinnern und Verlieren"(Germany and globalisation. Effects and suggestions for a better balance between winners and losers).

The Centre for European Reform has published a study entitled "Willing and Able? EU Defence in 2020." Since Europeans are increasingly requested to go on peacekeeping or for humanitarian aid missions authors ask whether the EU will succeed in meeting the rising demand. In their opinion this will only be possible if European governments reform their armies and pool forces and if the EU and NATO co-ordinate their work together better. They appeal to Europeans to stop thinking that the EU will never be committed to armed conflict and invite them to start debate on the circumstances in which the use of military force might be foreseen.

The "Documentation Française" has published "L'Europe du traité de Lisbonne" by François-Xavier Priollaud and David Siritzky who explain the changes provided by the Lisbon Treaty. It is designed for all citizens who want to learn about and understand how Europe is run. The chapters are illustrated with concrete examples.

The Avignon Festival takes place between 4th and 26th July. This festival, created in 1947 by Jean Vilar and his troop presents a point of view on modern theatrical creations in France and opens up the way to the future and other theatrical traditions.