On 2nd July the Robert Schuman Foundation and the association "Femmes, Débats et Société" organised an international conference "Women for Europe" under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, and under the banner of the French Presidency and with the support of the European Commission. This week we have published the report, videos and photographs of this conference.

On 10th September French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Culture Minister, Christine Albanel and the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë inaugurated a giant map of the European Union in Paris. It was unfurled on the Champ de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower; it is the result of a European project "Discovering Europe". Until 2nd November people will be able to discover more about Europe by walking on the 1375m2 comprising the EU and get to know each Member State thanks to the information panels on display.

On 10th and 11th September in Brussels as part of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the two assemblies of the French Parliament organised a working day focussing on the theme of "Europe: Migration and Integration". This interparliamentary meeting that rallied MEPs as well as delegates from national parliaments looked into legal and illegal immigration and asylum. Just as Europe is facing a brain-drain and as its population is ageing they insisted on the fact that the use of immigration must no longer be considered as a threat. They maintained that they wanted to regulate migratory flow Europe wide, as planned in the "Immigration Pact" put forward by the French Presidency of the Council of the Union.

On 8th September in Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia), Louis Michel and Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioners for Development and Energy signed a "common declaration on the application of the first action plan in the EU-Africa partnership for energy" with the Commission of the African Union. This declaration plans for the establishment of guidelines for electricity for Africa to enhance African production capabilities, the implementation of a co-operation programme in the area of renewable energies and the promotion of interaction in the energy sector in Africa and between Africa and the European Union. The Commission is also planning to increase the funds dedicated to this subject as part of the 10th European development fund.

The 27 Healthcare Ministers who met on 8th and 9th September for an informal meeting discussed health security, a priority of the French presidency. The aim is to compare national practices in terms of the management of healthcare risks to put forward measures to co-ordinate matters within the EU. Communication and more effective co-ordination might lead to a more rapid response to diseases such as avian flu. Discussions focussed on the constitution and management of healthcare product stocks - the cut in supplies of technetium were mentioned. Finally ministers stressed the need for an intersectoral approach in view of finding solutions to sanitary crises.

On 9th September the German government approved the update of its strategy in Afghanistan which will provide 140 million euro in aid towards civilian reconstruction in 2008 and 2009 ie an increase of 40 million euro per year. In 2009 the funds will be used to prepare the general and presidential elections in Afghanistan. Germany has re-iterated its military commitment by raising the maximum size of its contingent within the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) from 3270 to 4500 soldiers. One of the vital missions undertaken by the Bundeswehr soldiers in Afghanistan is helping to establish and train an Afghan police and armed force. The German government decided to triple the means affected to its aid effort in 2008 bringing this to 35.7 million euro. Finally the government released 30 million additional euro to help towards development and reconstruction and to attenuate the acute food crisis that is spreading across Afghanistan.

Heidrun Silhavy, the Austrian Minister for Women, Media and Regional Policy announced on 11th September the publication of a new brochure dedicated to violence against women and the launch of a new toll free number (0800 20 20 11) targeting victims of violence. She recalled that even in Austria women were the victims of genital mutilation, forced marriage and crimes of honour. To fight against this violence, condemnable according to Austrian law, it would simply require improved information campaigns and the raising of awareness. Adapted aid structures must be developed.

The Danish government reshuffled after the resignation on 9th September of Bendt Bendtsen, Deputy Prime Minister, Economy Minister and Chairman of the Conservative Party. He will be replaced in the latter two posts by Lene Espersen, who has been Justice Minister unti now - she will be replaced by Brian Mikkelsen. The latter leaves the position of Culture Minister to Carina Christensen, who was formerly Transport Minister, a position now occupied by Lars Barfoed. Bendt Bendtsen would like to be elected by the Conservative party to stand in the European elections in 2009.

On 10th September José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, head of the Spanish government presented his plan to counter the Spanish crisis to the Congress of Deputies. He warned that the next few months will be "hard" for the economy. The GDP might rise by 1.6% on average in 2008 and by 1% in 2009. Growth lay at 0.3% in the first quarter of 2008 in comparison with 4th quarter of 2007 and by 0.1% in the second quarter of 2008 in comparison with the previous quarter. Spain emerged in 2008 from a decade of high growth but it is now suffering a downturn in the property market, the international financial crisis and the effects of oil price rises. The head of government announced two specific measures to support the property market: the creation of a system of "indexed investment companies in the property market" that "will help to boost the market" and the opening of loan possibilities in aid of property developers who are experiencing problems.

German Defence Minister, Franz Josef Jung travelled to Finland on 10th and 11th September to meet with his counterpart Jyri Häkämies. Discussions focussed on bilateral relations, the CFSP, the situation in Georgia as well as the development of NATO's role and the development of Russia. He also met the President of the Finnish Parliament, Sauli Niinistö, as well as Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb.

Pope Benedict XVI visited France between 12th and 15th September. This his first visit since his election three and a half years ago took place in two parts. He was French President Nicolas Sarkozy's guest at the Elysee Palace between 12th and 13th September. He delivered a speech on Christian values in which he recalled that the "roots of France, those of Europe, were Christian." He then travelled to Lourdes from 14th to 15th September.

On 10th September Micheál Martin, the Irish Foreign Minister published a report on the reasons why the result to the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was negative on 12th June last. This document mentions the concerns about Ireland's scope of influence, about company taxes, military neutrality as well as the loss of the Irish Commissioner, abortion, military conscription and workers' rights. The study shows that voters did not feel they were adequately informed about the treaty, the main explanation of the negative vote or abstention. However the Irish are still greatly attached to Europe and hope to continue to be fully involved - 70% of them believe that belonging to the EU is positive (8% think the contrary). The minister hopes that an enlightened debate on the future role of Ireland in the EU will help to reassure the population about the challenges Ireland and the EU are now facing.

On 12th September Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker was re-elected as Chairman of the Eurogroup. He will therefore be starting his third two year term in office as head of Eurogroup.

During an international economic forum in Krynica Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on 10th September that Poland would join the euro area in 2011. "It will be difficult but it can be done," he declared to the press. Until now Poland has always refused to set a date for its accession to the euro. However the EU membership treaty plans for Poland to adopt the euro as soon as possible.

The Czech government approved the so-called military agreement SOFA (Status of Force Agreement) in Prague on 10th September with regard to the deployment of American forces for the future anti-missile base which is planned to be established in the Czech Republic. This announcement comes as Moscow repeated its threats to move against these sites which will hold part of the American balistic defence shield. The SOFA military agreement which might officially be signed on 19th September completes the bilateral diplomatic agreement that was signed in July by Prague and Washington in view of deployment in 2012 at the same time as ten interceptors in Poland.

On 11th September British Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented an energy plan of one billion pounds sterling to help the poorest households to save nearly £300 per year on their energy bills. 90% of this package is due to be funded by the energy companies, with funds enabling the implementation of initiatives to save energy. The community energy saving programme should also help in this. The Prime Minister announced that he did not want energy companies to affect consumers by putting prices up. Other measures were announced to improve the energy efficiency of British households.

On 9th September the Serb Parliament ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement signed last May with Brussels before simultaneously approving an energy pact with Russia. According to Serb Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic this shows his country's desire to "bridge the gap between East and West." The SAA ratification is "an enormous step towards European integration and a better life." This association agreement, which will only come into force if full and complete co-operation is achieved from Belgrade with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, was approved 140 votes in favour, 28 against.

On 9th September the Commission announced that Kosice (Slovakia) had been chosen as one of the two European cultural capitals 2013. It is the first time that Slovakia is hosting a European cultural capital and this is due to "be the biggest cultural project in the country's history." Kosice will be European cultural capital together with a French town which will be chosen between 15th-16th September - it will either be Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseilles, or Toulouse. After Liverpool (UK) and Stavangar (Norway) this year, the future capitals will be Linz (Austria) and Vilnius (Lithuania) in 2009, Essen (Germany), Pecs (Hungary) and Istanbul in 2010, Turku (Finland) and Tallin (Estonia) in 2011.

On 11th September Russia warned the Ukraine about an "unfriendly" attitude that may threaten the friendship agreements between the two countries. Moscow notably accuses Kiev of its desire to join NATO as well as its criticism of the Russian intervention in the conflict in South Ossetia. Relations between Russia and the Ukraine have been tense since the "Orange Revolution" in 2004. In response to this the Ukrainian Foreign Minister accused Russia on 13th September of "destabilising" the Ukraine stressing that Kiev's aims of joining the EU and NATO were "irreversible".

On 8th and 10th September Sweden organised a European conference as part of its presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe - it focussed on children's rights. The aim was to draw up a joint strategy 2009-2011 to eradicate all forms violence committed against children.

The OECD published on 9th September the 2008 issue of its report "Education at a Glance" which provides governments with guidelines on how to improve how they spend funds on education given the rises in prices and the constraints made on public funding. The report reveals the increase in the number of young people in OECD countries who are enroled on university courses - rising from 37% in 1995 to 57% in 2006. It stresses that most costs in higher education are always paid by public funds but the share of private funding, a quarter at present, is rising. The report shows that this investment is justified since the advantages of having a diploma in higher education are growing; however in places like Germany, Sweden, Spain and France the earning advantage of higher diplomas is lower than in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic (around 5/8% against an average of 12%).

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer travelled to Riga on 12th September. He met Latvian President Valdis Zatlers as well as the Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. He also took part, as an observer, in the naval exercise Open Spirit 2008.

According to Eurostat estimates in the second quarter of 2008 the EU external current account recorded a deficit of 36.3 billion euro, compared with a deficit of 26.5 bn in the first quarter of 2008. This deficit is the equivalent of 1.2% of the European GDP. However in the second quarter of 2008, the EU external balance of trade in services recorded a surplus of 17.4 billion euro, identical to that recorded in the first quarter of 2008. In the euro area the current trade deficit lies at 28 billion euro and the services trade surplus at 11.3 billion.

A Eurobarometer survey on "Europeans' attitude towards climate change" published on 11th September reveals that 3/4 of Europeans believe that global warming is an extremely serious problem - 60% of those interviewed believe it can be resolved. 61% say that they are taking individual steps to fight global warming, especially with regard to sorting refuse (45%), reducing energy (39%) and water consumption(33%). However Europeans clearly think that industry (76%), citizens (67%), national governments (64%) and the EU (58%) are not doing enough to fight against climate change. The survey also reveals that they want to act but do not what measures they should concretely take to help.

According to an annual report by the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) with Eurofund, average weekly working hours negotiated by collective agreement in the EU in 2007 lay at 38.6. The EU average (EU15) was 37.9 hours in 2007 (the same as in 2006), in comparison with 39.6 hours (also the same as in 2006) in the 12 new Member States, ie a difference of 1.7 hours or 4.5%. The difference in working hours between Eastern and Western Europe is still great - with the weekly 40 hours still being applied in the new Member States.

The review 'Internationale Politik' dedicates this issue to "Borderless Employment" and looks into the challenges facing the labour market at present and its future. Three possible outcomes are put forward: multinational companies will dominate quite freely; ecological and social standards will be scrupulously applied; finally mass industrial production will be abandoned to be replaced by a much smaller network.

The Martin Gropius Museum in Berlin is presenting an exhibition from 12th September to 5th January on the theme of the tropics, imaginary crossroads of the hopes and fears of our 'civilised' societies. Entitled "Views form the middle of the globe" the exhibition rallies 280 works of art, sculptures, photographs both old and new which recall these regions that lie in the tropics. It presents a mythical universe of primitive people (spirits, magic and gods) as well as images of desolation (videos on the destruction of the rain forest, floods and poverty). The exhibition is organised by the Goethe Institute and the National Museums of Berlin covering the work of 40 modern artists from 15 countries.