As part of the French Presidency of the EU the first biomarine forum will take place between 20th and 24th October in Toulon and Marseilles. This forum will be opened by French Prime Minister François Fillon and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Elisabeth Walaas, Norwegian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Anna Wypych-Namiotko, Polish Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Joao Mira Gomes, Portuguese Secretary of State for Defence and Maritime Affairs together with Xavier de la Gorce, Secretary General for the Sea will take part in the final debate on the European integrated maritime policy; the debate will be chaired by Jean-Dominique Giuliani, chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation.

Irish Prime Minister, Brian Cowen spoke to his European counterparts on 15th October during the European Council. As agreed during the European Council in June he spoke of the post-referendum situation in Ireland. By December the Irish government is to put forward solutions in an attempt to remedy problematic issues (taxation, neutrality, size of the commission, abortion etc ...) which led to a negative vote during the referendum on 12th June. A parliamentary commission was established to look into the consequences of the Irish "no". Polls show that the Irish are still pro-EU and still want to be a member.

On 15th October G8 leaders (Germany, Canada, USA, France, Italy, Japan, UK and Russia) and the President of the European Commission published a joint declaration confirming their commitment to assuming their responsibilities to settle the present crisis, to enhancing their financial institutions, to restoring faith in the financial system and to providing a healthy economic base for citizens and companies. Although the immediate goal is to stabilise the markets and to restore confidence it would appear appropriate to modify regulation rules and the present institutional regimes in the financial area. A meeting between the main countries is due to take place soon in order to adopt a timetable of vital reform to face the challenges of the 21st century.

On 13th October the 27 Foreign Ministers spoke of the follow-up to the extraordinary European Council that took place on 1st September on Georgia and the EU's relations with Russia. They noted the Russian withdrawal without defining a precise date for an EU/Russia meeting. They addressed the situation in Belarus in the wake of elections on 28th September. In order to encourage dialogue with the Belarus authorities and to enhance democracy and the respect of human rights they decided to lift the present prohibition to travel and stay in the EU currently applicable to some leaders for a six month reviewable period. After this period they will look into the situation in the light of progress made by the Belarus authorities. They also spoke of the situation in Moldava and Uzbekistan and decided to establish a strategic partnership between the EU and Mexico.

On 15th October José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and François Fillon, French Prime Minister convened European social partners to discuss the effects of the financial crisis on the real economy as well as the effects of climate change and the energy policy on employment. The EU has said it is ready to help companies especially SME's to find the funding they need and to facilitate the social aspects of restructuring. Finally as part of the transfer over to a low carbon emissions economy the role of social partners may help in preparing companies, workers and employment markets to the new possibilities provided by "green jobs".

On 13th Octber the European Commission published guidance on how Member States can best support financial institutions in the current financial crisis. The guidance is based in particular on EC Treaty rules allowing for aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State (Article 87.3.b of the EC Treaty). This aid however must be non-discriminatory, precise and limited in time accompanied by obligations on the part of the banks. The Commission will aim to approve schemes that comply with this guidance very quickly (within 24 hours, if possible). Hence it already approved the British plan and the amended version of the Irish plan. Finally it published a memorandum illustrating the various measures established in the Member States.

On 17th October the President of European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering delivered the journalism prize for the first time stressing the important role played by journalists in bringing citizens closer to the EU. The competition was open to journalists from the 27 Member States who had contributed towards a better understanding of the Union's institutions and policies. Four categories were distinguished for the prize: the written press, radio, television and the internet.

Significant signs of a slowing in the world economy are growing and Germany, Europe's leading economy - which relies heavily on exports is being affected - on 16th October it decreased its growth forecast for 2009. At 0.2% the GDP growth will lie at its lowest level since 2003. Just a few months ago Berlin was betting on 1.2%. The Economy Minister who has published these figures has come in line with the forecasts made by the major economic insitutes, who, according to their autumn report, are planning on 0.2% at best next year

Belgian Prime Minister, Yves Leterme tried on 14th October to reassure the Belgians given the financial crisis during a general policy speech delivered to parliament in which the economy took precedence over the disputes between the Flemish and the French-speakers. The government also closed a "balanced" 2009 budget. The government was divided however on the asylum and immigration policy.

The Danish government will not organise an emergency referendum on Denmark's membership of the euro area in spite of the international financial crisis that is weakening the country said Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen on 14th October. "We do not want to take advantage of the financial turmoil to organise an emergency referendum on the single currency, even though we see how damaging it is to be on the outside of the euro area as the crisis goes on," he said. "I believe that we need clarification of the treaty situation (Lisbon) in the EU in the wake of the Irish "no" before we hold a referendum on the Danish exemptions," he believes. But "it is clear that Denmark is paying a heavy price on a political level," he said, since it "was excluded" from the last meeting in Paris of the 15 euro area countries. From an economic point of view there was also a price to pay since Danish interest levels are clearly higher than those in the euro area," indicated the Prime Minister.

On 23rd October the International Medef is organising a seminar entitled "Craquements et nouveaux mondes: l'économie mondiale dans tous ses états" in which Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Foundation will be taking part.

On 14th October Ireland admitted that it would witness a decline of its GDP by 1.3% in 2008 and by 0.8% in 2009 adding that it would tighten up on spending and increase taxes in order to fight against the deficits. Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan who presented his 2009 budget six weeks before the planned date admitted that it would be necessary to raise taxes - an action qualified as "patriotic" to attenuate the public deficit that will reach 7% of the GDP this year and 6.5% in 2009. He hoped that the deficit situation would progressively improve after that. The European Commission does not normally tolerate a deficit over 3% with regard to countries in the euro area.

The Social Democratic Party (CSSD) who lie in the opposition easily won the first round of the Czech senatorial elections on 17th and 18th October - this was designed to renew 27 of the 81 seats in the upper chamber of parliament announced the national statistics bureau (CSU). In the second round planned for 24th and 25th October the CSSD will be standing in 25 constituencies 19 of which will give rise to a duel with the ODS, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's party. Just three months from the start of the Czech presidency of the EU in the first half of 2009 these senatorial elections may affect the crucial vote on the Lisbon Treaty and the deployment of an American anti-missile radar. The ODS has enjoyed a majority in the Senate since 2006 with 41 of the 81 seats.

British European Affairs Minister, Caroline Flint received the Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Ivica Bocevski on 14th October. The two ministers spoke of Macedonia's future accession to NATO and the EU and consolidated bilateral relations between the two countries.

The presidential election in Azerbaijan won by the outgoing Head of State Ilham Alyev on 15th October does not match the principles of a "pluralist and democratic" election said the OSCE observation mission on 16th October. The election "does not reflect the principles of a truly pluralist and democratic election", noted the 400 observers amongst whom were members of the Council of Europe and the EU. The mission observed a "true lack of electoral competition."

On 15th October the Head of the European Police and Justice Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Yves de Kermabon talked of his hope that EULEX would be operational at the beginning of December and that it would be possible to achieve the end of Serb opposition on the deployment of his mission. The Serbs in northern Kosovo, where they are in the majority, are firmly against the deployment of EULEX, believing that this will mean the completion of Kosovo's independence. The 27 EU Member States decided in February to deploy the European mission in Kosovo where it is to replace the UN mission (UNMIK) in position since 1999. The European Mission is to comprise 2000 policemen, judges and customs officers who will be responsible for improving the "state of law" in Kosovo.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and her party BYUT, have started legal proceedings to reveal the unconstitutional nature of the decision to dissolve parliament taken by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushenko whilst the cabinet of ministers validated the provision of funds for the election. A delegation from the IMF which travelled to Kiev to look into the possibility of supporting Ukraine financially - since its financial sector has been severly affected by the world crisis - may grant a loan of 14 billion dollars.

American President George W Bush announced on 17th October that visas would no longer be necessary for citizens from six countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia) and South Korea in order to enter the USA. These countries "now meet the required conditions to be admitted into the American visa dispensation programme (...) Soon the citizens of these countries will be able to enter the USA to undertake business or as tourists without being obliged to have a visa," he said. The dispensation is due to be implemented in one month's time. He opened up the future possibility of visa dispensation to the six remaining EU Member States (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania).

On 15th to 17th October the 47 members of the Council of Europe, who met in Madrid on the occasion of the Forum 2008 for the Future of Democracy assessed the impact of ITs in the enhancement of democracy and increasing participation. The Forum organised on the theme of "Electronic democracy: who dares?" led to the examination of the role of e-activism and on-line campaigns amongst other matters - since the number of these has increased over the last few years; they are now becoming an inevitable part of political life; recent developments and challenges in terms of electronic voting were also looked into.

Discussions on the conflict in Georgia under the direction of the EU, the UN and the OSCE ended on 15th October without succeeding in organising a face to face meeting between the Russians and the Georgians. The meeting ended with the suspension of work and the decision to meet again on 18th November. In addition to this on 15th October the International Court of Justice ordered Russia and Georgia to guarantee the security of the ethnic groups living in the separatist provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and neighbouring areas in Georgia.

According to Eurostat figures published on 14th October industrial production increased in August 2008 in comparison with July 2008 by 1.1% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU whilst it declined in July by 0.2% and 0.1% respectively. The rise is visible in all types of goods except in the area of non-durable consumer goods.

The Centre for Applied Policy Research (CAP) has published a study by Daniel Grotzky and Mirela Isic entitled "The Black Sea Region: Clashing Identities and Risks to European Stability". The crisis between Russia and Georgia in August showed the explosive nature of the Black Sea region. It is a joint neighbour of both Russia and the EU. This study looks into general and specific challenges which the EU faces in its relations with the countries in this region.

Just as France is presiding the Council of the European Union, Documentation Française has published, as part of its series "Réflexe Europe", a paper by Yves Doutriaux and Christian Lequesne on "Les Institutions de l'Union Européenne." In this 7th issue the authors present the changes that would occur within the European institutions with the application of the Lisbon Treaty.

For the first time the Opera Europa association that rallies professional opera companies and festivals is launching in 2008-9 the Opass, a European passport for the Opera designed for young Europeans. This passport enables the under 31's to attend five shows in various operas around Europe for 90 euro. This season the programme includes nearly 120 shows in Belgium, UK, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Spain and Greece.