The Robert Schuman Foundation together with the SDA and the CEIS, are co-organising on 3rd and 4th November in Brussels the "Security&Defence Days 2008". This high level conference rallying players from the civilian and military environment to debate and exchange ideas on the future of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) will take place in presence of Michèle Alliot-Marie, French Interior Minister and Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission for Space, Justice, Freedom and Security.

One month after the American presidential election the Robert Schuman Foundation and the Center for Transatlantic Relations (Johns Hopkins University) are organising a Franco-American conference in Paris on 5th December entitled: "2009: what challenges for the Franco-American relationship?"; notably Jean François-Poncet, former Foreign Minister and Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Republic will be in attendance. Ten French and American experts will debate five themes: strategic challenges, the Mediterranean, Africa, the world economy and Russia.

18 million Romanians are being called to ballot on 30th November to renew their Parliament. The bicameral Parliament is renewed every four years. The Senate comprises 143 members and the Chamber of Deputies (Camera deputatilor) 346 MPs. National minorities have a number of seats especially set aside in the Chamber of Deputies. The Romanians will be voting for the first time during these elections for individual candidates ie employing a mixed majority system; they will no longer be voting by proportional representation according to lists drawn up by political parties. With this new voting method any candidate that wins over 50% of the vote may be declared victorious in the first round. However some principles from the proportional system will remain. Hence votes for candidates who are not elected are added together nationally and redistributed amongst the political parties. An MP has to rally 70,000 votes to his name and a Senator, 160,000 to be elected. The election will include 41 constituencies.

In an editorial on his site Jean-Dominique Giuliani highlights the effects the American Presidential election of 4th November will have on the EU.

On 29th October the Executive Board of the IMF approved the creation of a new financial tool "the short term liquidity facility" which will enable quick-disbursing financing for countries with strong economic policies that are facing temporary liquidity problems in the global capital markets. "We are offering some countries substantial resources on an expedited basis, with conditions based only on measures absolutely necessary to get past the crisis and to restore a viable external position," explained Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF's Director General.

Hungary avoided State bankruptcy and a major social crisis thanks to the aid of the international financial institutions declared Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. The IMF, the European Union and the World Bank came to Hungary's rescue on 27th October; the country's economy has been sorely tested by the financial crisis and it was provided with loans to a total of 20 billion euro (12.5 billion euro from the IMF, 6.5 billion from the EU and one billion euro from the World Bank).

On 29th October the President of the Commission, José-Manuel Barroso announced a plan to boost the EU in the face of the economic crisis. The Commission's priority is to "minimise impact on employment, on buying power and on the prosperity of our citizens." He indicated several ways such as enhancing the efficacy of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, encouraging Member States to reprogramme funds within the European Social Funds and enhancing the means available to the European Investment Bank. He called for a flexible application of European rules with regard to State aid and the Stability and Growth Pact, stressing that the Pact enabled Member States to launch policies in the event of recession. Finally the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia suggested doubling the funds from 12 billion euro to 25 billion thereby making it possible to come to the aid of ailing Member States - as was the case in Hungary.

The 18th Ibero-American Summit that met in Salvador on 30th and 31st October has called on a study for an emergency meeting between "heads of State and government at the UN, given the seriousness of the financial crisis." The summit that was initially devoted to the theme of "youth and development" focussed mainly on the crisis. Ibero-American leaders "recall the responsibility held by the financial system of developed countries in the present crisis." They stress "the importance of active participation on the part of the Ibero-American community in defining an international response, necessary to restore financial stability and to recover sustained economic growth."

On 27th October the Belgian government approved the agreement that was found during negotiations between the management of the KBC bank and the State which will enable the injection of 3.5 billion euro into the Belgian bank. KBC will issue 3.5 billion special securities to the Belgian state by the end of year. KBC is the fourth bank to be rescued by the Belgian State in the wake of the Belgian-Dutch bank, Fortis, the Franco-Belgian Dexia and the Dutch bank ING.

On 29th October the Swedish government adopted measures which aim to enhance financial stability. This programme managed by the National Debt Bureau aims to guarantee bank and loan institutions' loans mid-term and to reduce the cost of loans on the part of households and companies. The government ordered the Bureau to intervene when certain institutions faced serious financial difficulties, in line with the new legislation on State aid to loans institutions. These measures came into application on 30th October.

On 28th October the Central Bank of Iceland officially asked for help from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the American Federal Reserve (Fed) to get over the financial crisis which has ruined its banking sector said Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde who was taking part in an extraordinary meeting on the financial crisis in Helsinki with the Nordic Council. The Icelandic economy, heavily dependent on its financial system, has been flattened by the international financial crisis. Its currency, the Crown, has been heavily devalued (-40% since January), the three biggest banks were nationalised at the beginning of October and the government has been obliged to ask for international aid. The Faroe Islands' government (territory belonging to Denmark) decided on 28th October to offer a loan of 300 million Danish Crowns (40.2 million euro) to its Icelandic neighbour.

The Portuguese government has decided to contribute towards injecting capital into its banks as requested by the Bank of Portugal to a total of four billion euro - this measure aims to "strengthen their financial stamina". "The Bank of Portugal will demand of the financial institutions it helps to reach a solvency ratio of 8% of their own basic funds which will force the banks to enhance their financial stamina," said Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos after an extraordinary Council of Ministers on 2nd November. The Portuguese government will also suggest to Parliament the nationalisation of the Banco Português de Negocios (BPN), which has accumulated substantial financial losses.

On 31st October the Ukrainian parliament adopted on second reading an economic rescue plan on the request of the IMF; this involves the provision of 16.5 billion dollars. In all 243 MPs approved the draft law. This anti-crisis package presented by President Viktor Yushenko notably plans for a stabilisation fund financed by the revenue of privatisations to grant loans to banks and companies which do not succeed in covering their debts abroad because of the global lack of liquidities.

On 29th October there was a EU-Australia troika meeting. This led to the approval of the new partnership framework between the EU and Australia which will be the basis of bilateral relations over the next five years. This framework plans for the enhancement of co-operation in the areas of foreign policy and world security, world trade. co-ordination in Asia and the Pacific, energy, research, education and innovation.

On 30th and 31st October the French Presidency of the EU organised a conference rallying politicians, experts and patients' associations in order to improve European co-ordination in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease and similar illnesses. To respond to the dual European challenge that includes both the ageing of the population as well as the need to take charge of sick relatives this conference aimed to prepare a joint strategy to ensure the social support of the patients, to guarantee professional adaptation according to requirements, the development of knowledge and finally to develop research by means of European research programme co-ordination. The French Presidency hopes to submit a proposal on this theme to the Council in the near future.

The 5th meeting of the Permanent EU-Russia Partnership Council on 28th October led to an overview and an assessment of co-operation in view of the next EU-Russia summit on 14th November in Nice. With regard to regional and international issues Russian Foreign Minister Serguey Lavrov spoke of the proposal by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev for a European Security Treaty; he called for a rapid, high level meeting between the main players involved in Euro-Atlantic security. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner drew his attention to the situation in Georgia and stressed the importance of enhancing co-operation in view of discussions in Geneva.

On 30th October the French Presidency of the European Union convened a second intergovernmental conference with Croatia to continue accession negotiations. Chapter 30 bearing on external relations has been provisionally closed which brings the total of finalised chapters to four out of the 21 which have already been opened.

On 27th October the European Commission published a report on the EU's competitiveness. The report shows that the EU's market share in the world's merchandise trade is 19.5% and has decreased less (by 1.3 points) than that of the USA (13%, a decline of 4.4 points) or Japan (9.5%, a decline of 4.1 points). The EU is still the world's leading services and manufactured goods exporter, notably thanks to high quality goods. However the report warns against the loss of market share in Asia and in terms of high tech goods.

On 30th October the European Commission allocated emergency aid of four million euro in support of the victims of the violence in North-Kivu said European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel. He would also like to allocate 12 million euro from the European Development Fund to the populations who are affected by the conflict. In addition to this the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana declared that the Europeans were looking "at all options" to help in settling the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Improved safety and price transparency: these are the key features of the new Regulation on the single market for air transport which came into force on 1st November 2008. It lays down rules for the granting of licences, control of airlines and market access, thereby ensuring more competition in the air transport field and better quality for the public. The new legislation requires airlines to include all taxes and charges in their published ticket prices. This will enable passengers throughout the European Union to be better informed about prices and to compare offers. Price discrimination based on place of residence is banned.

In October for the first time in 16 years the number of unemployed in Germany dropped below the three million mark in spite of the turbulence on the financial markets. 40.6 million Germans have work ie a level that has never been achieved before. German Employment Minister Olaf Scholz stressed that the reforms started as part of the 2010 Agenda showed their effectiveness and made the labour market "waterproof" to any "bad weather". According to figures released by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) unemployment stood at 7.2% in October against 7.4% in September. However the crisis is expected to affect economic perspectives in Germany and the Research Institute on the Employment Market and Professions is forecasting an annual 3.3 million unemployed in 2009. The situation on the labour market in 2009 should not however experience any deterioration of consequence.

German banks facing the financial crisis have to leave their reserve behind and ask to take advantage of the rescue plan provided for them by the State said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on 1st November. "At present we want our banks and financial institutions to use this stabilisation plan because we want to ensure that they can continue to undertake their primary task and that is the distribution of loans and the management of savings," she declared.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on 30th October after their meeting that they wanted to work together to reform international institutions and encourage banks to lend again to avoid the extension of the financial crisis, notably to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The two leaders agree that this world problem requires a global response which implies co-operation. This meeting was part of the preparation for the world summit on the financial crisis that is to take place on 15th November in Washington.

The Austrian Chamber of Deputies (Nationalrat) held its inaugural session on 28th October. Of the 183 MPs 43 are making their debut. Barbara Prammer (SPÖ) was re-elected President of the Nationalrat; the second president is Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) and the third is Martin Graf(FPÖ). During this session MPs notably adopted a set of measures to revive the economy which includes funds for SMEs and measures to guarantee their liquidities. These measures were also adopted on 30th October by the Bundesrat, the Upper Chamber in the Austrian Parliament.

After a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek on 31st October in the Elysee French President Nicolas Sarkozy has put an end to any misunderstandings. According to European Affairs Minister Alexandr Vondra, the Czech Republic would take part as an observer in meetings at the euro area summit. For his part Mirek Topolanek said that the Czech Republic would be obliged to modify its presidency priorities in the wake of the financial crisis.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana have signed an article that was published on 1st November in the French daily "Le Monde" on the theme of European Defence.

British Foreign Minister, David Miliban, received his Cypriot counterpart, Markos Kyprianou on 29th October. They discussed Britain's commitment to supporting UN work to reach agreement on the situation in Cyprus that may become a bi-zonal or a bi-communal federation with political equality. During a press conference they stressed the importance of relations between the two countries and on-going negotiations on the future of Cyprus.

On 28th October British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to address the world financial crisis. The two leaders talked of the proposals they would make at the summit that will take place in Washington on 15th November. According to Gordon Brown the EU and the international community must focus on four priorities: prevent the spread of the crisis to other countries, notably to eastern Europe, support bank loans to companies and private parties, face up to the economic downturn and reform the international financial system. Nicolas Sarkozy believes that international dialogue must not just be limited to the issue of liquidities but it should also address world governance, whilst the IMF should be given more means to help countries in trouble. The EU could then, in his opinion, bring available funds up from 12 to 20 billion euro.

On 27th and 31st October a conference was held in Tirana with the Albanian ambassadors. Several personalities including Franco Frattini, Italian Foreign Minister and Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Foreign Minister took part. Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Foundation spoke on 31st October on the theme of "Challenges to and Developments in the EU".

According to a report about the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy published on 27th October by the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia, Croatia is at the top of the ranking of the 16 non-members of the EU, whilst in the general ranking it lies between Greece and Italy, ahead of Romania, Poland and Bulgaria. This report shows that in many areas related to the Lisbon Strategy Croatia is doing better than certain EU members. Although progress has been made in terms of reforming education, social inclusion and the promotion of creating companies thanks to a reduction in administrative impediments Croatia has to continue work. The Lisbon Strategy includes a certain number of necessary measures for structural reform that aim to make the EU the most competitive economy in the world and to achieve full employment before 2010.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are in conflict over the Nagorno Karabakh, promised on 2nd November to seek a "peaceful solution" to the dispute in order to "bring back stability" to the region, already been shaken by the war in Georgia. Armenian President Serge Sarkissian and Azeri head of State Ilham Alyev signed a joint declaration with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. The presidents "agreed to continue work to reach a political settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict (...) and asked their Foreign Ministers to accelerate the negotiation process in co-operation with the co-presidents of the Minsk Group." The Minsk Group, created by the OSCE, brings together Russia, the USA and France. For over ten years it has been mediating to try and come to a political settlement of the crisis.

According to Eurostat figures published on 31st October inflation in the euro area was estimated at 3.2% in October 2008. In September the rate lay at 3.6%.

According to Eurostat figures published on 31st October unemployment stood at 7.5% in the euro area in September 2008, unchanged in comparison with August. It stood at 7.3% in September 2007. In the EU the unemployment level rose to 7% in September 2008 in comparison with 6.9% in August. It lay at 7% in September 2007. Amongst the Member States the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (2.5%) and in Denmark (2.9%) and the highest were in Spain (11.9%) and in Slovakia (10%).

In the 2nd edition of the Europe Visions review the IFRI has published a study entitled "The fifth enlargement of the EU, five years on: the case of Poland and the Czech Republic". Piotr Maciej Kaczynski highlights the adaptation of the new state to European rules, the major trends in the Czech and Polish foreign policy and the contribution made by the new EU members in terms of foreign policy.

Just days before the American presidential election the Centre for Applied Policy Research (CAP) published a study entitled "Congratulations, Mr. President ..here is our agenda". Thomas Bauer indicates that transatlantic relations will not entirely depend on the arrival of either Barack Obama or John McCain to the White House. They will depend more on the EU's attitude to the new President and the way a new agenda is presented and how Europe can help in its implementation.

The German Society for Foreign Policy (DGAP) has just published a study entitled "Russische Energiemachtambitionen und die globale Finanzkrise" ("Russian Ambitions on Energy and the World Financial Crisis"). Although the financial crisis has put an end to Russia's economic boom and forced Russian president Dmitri Medvedev to postpone his economic reform and modernisation programme it has also been the first test of the strength of the Russian economic system. The financial crisis together with the reciprocal dependency of Russia and the EU in terms of energy, may favour co-operation between the two countries. To do this it would appear appropriate to depoliticize energy relations and to realistically assess the possibility of a strategic partnership.

As part of the month of the photograph in Paris and the European Cultural Season the "Maison des Photographes Signatures" and the "Cité internationale des Arts" together with the Robert Schuman Foundation is presenting the exhibitions "Europe échelle 27" and "XElles" at the "Cité Internationale des Arts" (18 rue de l'Hôtel Ville, Paris 4ème). The first of these exhibitions offers a photographic journey around Europe together with a book the texts of which were written by Laura Serani and Michel Foucher, a member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee. The second exhibition is a series of portraits of 27 female artists of the 27 Member States of the EU.