As part of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union the Robert Schuman Foundation has established four partnerships to speak of Europe with its citizens; it has associated itself with L'express.fr, Autoroute FM, the newspaper of the Saône-et-Loire and Ouest France.

French Culture and Communication Minister, Christine Albanel took part in a European seminar on 17th and 18th July on public service media in the digital age in Strasbourg at the European Parliament and also in the buildings of Arte. The aim of this meeting was to promote debate and to come to a consensus between Member States. The challenge for the European audiovisual model is to adapt to the diversity of national situations and to technological developments, services, broadcasting platforms and habits. The results will be used to provide information for an informal meeting between Audiovisual Ministers on 21st and 22nd July.

The 27 European Ministers responsible for Research who met on 17th and 18th July worked on "a vision for 2020" for European Space Research (ESR) that will be put forward for adoption by the Competitiveness Council in December 2008. Working in thematic workshops they focussed their attention on the future of European research using four challenges as a base: the food crisis and its effects on agriculture and the management of ecosystems, climate change that make it necessary to use new energy forms, the transition over to the society of knowledge and the ageing European population.

In a Communication to the Council and the European Parliament adopted on 15th July, the European Commission has proposed a Strategic Partnership with Mexico. This partnership would establish a strong political framework thus enhancing dialogue and co-ordination between the EU and Mexico on global, regional and bilateral issues. The European Commission indicates that the main areas requiring closer co-operation are in the spheres of politics, security, environment and energy . The Commission is also proposing a Euro-Mexican Summit every two years. This proposal now has to be debated and adopted by the Member States before being discussed again with Mexico.

On 16th July the European Commission adopted a proposal to align the copyright term for performers with that applicable to authors. This would rise from 50 years to 95 thereby bridging the income gap that performers face toward the end of their lives. The European Commission also adopted a Communication on new industrial property rights strategy for Europe. Apart from the urgent adoption of the proposals for a community patent and the creation of an integrated jurisdiction across the EU in terms of patents, the measures put forward aim to establish effective control in the field to fight against counterfeiting and piracy. The Commission hopes to establish effective collaboration between the Member States in the areas of information exchange on counterfeit merchandise and pirated goods.

On 17th July the European Commission threatened 15 Member States with legal action for not transposing European measures over to their national law in the fight against terrorism. The countries involved are Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden, Spain, Greece and Malta. These countries have not respected the transposition deadlines established for 15th December 2007 for the third European directive on laundering which specifically targeted financial sources of terrorist networks. This directive plans notably for identity controls on accountants' or lawyers' clients and enhances the obligation to indicate any suspicion of terrorist funding.

On 17th July the European Commission warned that it might prosecute European internet sites which sell mobile phone services (ring-tones, wallpapers). A survey undertaken in June revealed that an overwhelming majority of these sites infringed European laws deliberately deceiving consumers. Many sites do not mention certain obligatory details with regard to the suppliers' identity. Other problems related to the deceptive nature of information: important information appears in small print and is difficult to find on the site; the word "free" is used falsely to lead the consumer towards concluding a long-term contract. The value of ring-tone sales across Europe was estimated to a total of 691 million euros in 2007. Seven countries (Norway, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Iceland, Romania and Greece) have published the names of the websites where irregularities have been witnessed.

On 16th July the European Commission presented a Report and a proposal for a Directive to amend the current EU excise duty legislation on tobacco. It aims to contribute to reducing tobacco consumption by 10% within the next 5 years, whilst smoking leads to 650,000 deaths per year in the EU. The draft Directive foresees a gradual increase in the EU minimum taxation levels on cigarettes and fine cut tobacco up to 2014. The current percentage of 57% will be increased to 63% of the weighted average price and the rate of €64 will rise to 90 euros for all cigarettes by 2014, under the new proposal. This rise would not apply to France, Germany, UK and Ireland where taxes are already very high. In addition to this the Commission suggests changing the means of calculating taxes to harmonise them and to avoid Europeans buying cigarettes in countries other than their own.

The rises in food prices in 2007 and 2008 have had a negative impact on many developing countries. The European Commission proposed on 18th July to establish a "facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries". The fund would be worth 1 billion euros and would operate for two years, 2008 and 2009. This money would be in addition to existing development funds and would be taken from unused money from the European Union's agricultural budget. It would be provided to developing countries which are most in need, based on a set of objective criteria. Amongst the positive results tabled for feature notably an increase in agricultural production and an improvement in food security in the countries receiving aid. The Commission hopes to use this took at the beginning of 2009.

The European Commission has refused to approve one of the main parts of the French government's aid plan for its fishermen that was presented at the beginning of the year; it planned for financial compensation due to high diesel price rises. European Commissioner for Fisheries, Joe Borg invited Paris to review its proposal on this key measure (N°9) to bring it in line with a vast European aid programme to restructure the fishing industry that was adopted last week. If the "ninth point is adapted to bring it in line with the European financial package, this might be the solution to achieving the Commission's approval and to completing the vital restructuring of some parts of the French fleet," said Joe Borg.

On 15th July the 27 Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers came to agreement on the emergency measures to be taken to overcome the crisis. European fishermen will benefit from an aid plan to a total of 2 billion euros. According to these measures governments will be able to increase the aid limit for fishing boats to 100,000 euro over three years. At present this limit lies at around 30,000 euros. In addition to this the Council adopted a regulation reviewing fishing opportunities of certain types of fish (cod and bluefin tuna) for 2008. Finally the council debated the orientation of the "healthcheck" for the reformed CAP.

Before the WTO meeing on 21st July and during an extraordinary meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18th July European Ministers addressed the problem of the obstacles preventing trade negotiations in the Doha Round. One of these involves the negotiations of customs tariffs on tropical products notably the banana which has brought the USA and Latin America into conflict with the EU. Pascal Lamy, WTO Director General made a compromise proposal that would commit WTO members to lowering their customs duties on bananas gradually until 2015. On 16th July the EU accepted this proposal thereby meeting the conditions set by the USA and Latin America. However developing countries such as in the ACP (Africa, Pacific, Caribbean) refuse this compromise since they have a preferential untaxed regime on bananas. They are threatening to block talks if the project is adopted.

On 16th July the German government adopted an action programme aiming to show that work migration can guarantee the continued existence of specialised labour in Germany. Although the government wants to privilege domestic sources (older people, women and migrants already established in Germany) it does however want to take several steps with regard to universities of Member States in the EU and third countries; the transitional measures involve the new Member States and payment of highly qualified staff. In addition to this an analysis of the labour market will lead to an improved identification of needs mid and long term including the offer and demand of jobs.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to Algeria on 16th July where she said she felt that both countries aspired to increase their relations adding that there was great potential for consolidation in economic relations and that this was part of a long tradition. She did however add that it was time to "provide new dynamism" and admitted that she was pathing the way for German companies. Simultaneously Angela Merkel thanked Algerian President Bouteflika for his commitment to creating the Union for the Mediterranean which is an integral part of the European Union and said that she has been convinced for a long time that only joint action on the part of all EU partners would enable a solution to the difficulties encountered by countries bordering the Mediterranean. She said that the countries of Northern Africa should start to involve themselves more in joint projects.

On 20th July, on the eve of the Belgian national day King Albert II called, "for union and tolerance" between the various communities of Belgium - since "this is the only means possible" for the country in crisis. "Our country is experiencing serious political problems," declared the king in his traditional speech on the eve of 21st July. "But I would like to say that difficulties and crises are also opportunities to make a comeback and to recover." "Division in mind is not a fatality, it is union and tolerance in the respect of the identity of each federate entity that represents the only possible means in our democratic society," insisted the king referring to the opposition between French and Flemish speakers that has been tearing the country apart for months. "We should invent new ways of living together in our country," declared Albert II referring to his brother King Baudouin, who was greatly respected by the Belgians in order to convince his countrymen.

On 17th July French MP Yves Fromion delivered a report entitled "Vers une industrie européenne de la défense" (Working towards a European defence Industry) to Defence Minister, Hervé Morin. The report suggests ideas to consolidate the European defence industry. Consolidation of the latter is incomplete, notably in the naval and terrestrial areas. The report advises "the resolute support of the launch of arms programmes under the banner of the European Defence Agency" in order to harmonise European demand. Created in 2004 the EDA rallies all EU Member States except for Denmark and is placed under the authority of Javier Solana, High Representative for the CFSP. The report includes 14 recommendations inlcuding that of granting the EDA part of the space imagery system, the examination of two draft directives relative to armament and the creation of a Franco-German group to enhance co-operation between the two countries in terms of arms.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 18th July euro area trade balance with the rest of the world in May 2008 gave a 4.6 bn euro deficit, compared with +1.4 bn in May 2007. In May 2008 compared with April 2008, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 3.4% and imports by 1.3%. In addition to this the first estimate for the May 2008 extra-EU trade balance was a deficit of 21.5 bn euro, compared with -14.7 bn in May 2007. More specifically the EU27 energy deficit increased (-118.7 bn euro in January-April 2008 compared with -81.0 bn in January-April 2007), while the surplus for machinery and vehicles rose (+48.3 bn compared with +33.9 bn).

According to figures published by Eurostat on 16th July the annual inflation rate in the euro area lay at 4% in June 2008 in comparison with 3.7% in May. This is a new record since the creation of the zone in 1999. Annual inflation levels in the EU lay at 4.3% in June 2008 in comparison with 4% in May. In June 2008 the lowest levels were seen in the Netherlands (2.3%), Germany and Portugal (3.4% each); the highest were in Latvia (17.5%), Bulgaria (14.7%) and Lithuania (12.7%).

The Bruegel Institute has published a report assessing the performance and competitiveness of European universities. A study undertaken by the University of Shanghai at the start of 2000 which established a ranking between the various universities in the world showed that Europe had lost its reputation and its excellence in terms its universities. This report provides some explanations to the decline of European establishments and puts forward several reforms.

The July/September issue of the review "Confrontations Europe" has just been published. It is dedicated to the French Presidency and the Lisbon Treaty. It notably includes an article by the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, entitled "Un nouvel élan pour l'Europe de la défense." (A new start for European Defence?)

The Architectural Centre of Bordeaux "arc en rêve" is offering an exhibition as part of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the new forms of collective housing in Europe. The exhibition explores architectural creations across Europe in terms of collective housing. Domestic and external life takes form via the work of artist-photographers.