The European elections will take place between 4th and 7th June 2009. To vote you must be registered on the electoral roll. If you have moved house this year, if you are EU citizen or if you will be turning 18 before 1st March 2009 registered with your townhall before 31st December 2008. It is vital to do this if you want to vote.

On 16th December German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced to the Centre for European Economic Research in Mannheim that her government would undertake new economic recovery measures in January, probably to a total of several billion euros. If the new American President Barack Obama succeeds in pushing through his economy recovery programme Germany will then start a new recovery programme. Angela Merkel wants to lay down a programme that includes various carefully planned elements," notably suggesting specific investment projects. She said that the State could not bring the economic system out of the crisis alone but that economic players also had a role to play. Finally she intends to watch how public debt develops so that a reasonable path can be found again and to avoid other crises.

On 16th December Nicolas Sarkozy presented the results of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union to MEPs. This presidency, which has been a success in terms of its ability to manage various crises, was based on the need for a strong and united Europe. With regard to the Russo-Georgian crisis, Europe succeeded in achieving the withdrawal of Russian troops without launching into an aggressive policy with regard to Russia. Confronted by the financial and economic crisis Nicolas Sarkozy stressed that only Europe's unity had lead to a recovery plan for the European banks, a real model worldwide. With regard to the energy/climate package he said that Europe had succeeded in fulfilling its commitments. Finally with regard to the institutional question the Irish government has promised to submit the Lisbon Treaty to the Irish again by the end of Autumn 2009 after certain guarantees were given with regard to specific issues.

On 17th December MEPs rejected the extension of working hours in Europe on second reading. By adopting the amendments delivered by Alejandro Cercas (PSE, ES) they voted against the agreement concluded by the Council in June. This specified that working hours in the EU must be limited to 48 hours except if a Member State introduced an opt-out clause and if a worker decided to use this clause. In their agreement the 27 Labour and Social Affairs Ministers decided on the classification active and inactive on-call time. However if someone worked during their inactive on-call times this was not counted as working time. MEPs have asked for the opt-out clause to be abolished three years after the application of the directive and for on-call time to be considered as working time even if it occurs during an inactive period. Negotiations on this directive will now enter a mediation phase.

On 16th December the Commission presented a "package" of measures to implement European Economic Recovery Plan and reinforce the Lisbon Growth and Jobs Strategy. The package includes two reports, one proposal and four communications. The Commission proposes to extend access opportunities to aid from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to workers who lose their work. A communication entitled "New skills for new jobs" assesses the necessary skills to develop in order to adapt to changes in the workplace by 2020. The other communication highlights the 347 billion euros of aid available from the cohesion policy to face the crisis. At the same time the European Commission adopted a temporary framework for State aid for companies facing the credit crunch thereby allowing for example direct aid of less than 500,000 euros - which does not have to be declared to the Commission.

On 16th and 17th December the 27 Health Ministers looked into the directive on the application of patients rights in terms of cross border healthcare and said they were pleased with the progress that had been made. All delegations wanted all the Court of Justice case-law on the application of the principle of free movement of goods and services in the field of health to be codified in the Directive. They also exchanged views on the proposed recommendation with regard to rare illnesses. Two texts were adopted on this subject. The first aims to improve European and international co-ordination to reduce the effect of sanitary crises on European citizens. The second establishes public healthcare strategies to fight neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease by improving research and exchanging good practice between Member States.

In a decsision taken on 18th December the Court of Justice of European Communities confirmed the fine(whilst reducing it) imposed by the European Commission on five French agricultural confederations from the cattle sector for agreements on prices. The European Commission accused them of having established minimal buying prices for certain types of cattle during the mad cow crisis in 2001 and of having suspended the import of beef into France in infringement of European law governing competition. The European Commission said it was pleased with this decision stressing that it had already reduced the fine significantly by 60% to take into account the context of the crisis.

European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes and Minister President Kurt Beck (Rhineland-Pfalz) and Günther Oettinger (Bad-Württemberg) welcomed the signature of Germany's 12th inter-State Treaty on broadcasting on 18th December. The signature will conclude the 16 Länders' endeavours to bring the activities of ARD and ZDF in line with the applicable Community rules while considering the interests of commercial operators. The treaty will enter into force on 1st June 2009 thereby closing a long standing discussion on the application of Community rules.

Following the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 16th December Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann indicated that all measures taken by the government would focus on fighting the economic crisis. An intense period of negotiations should begin in January to draw up proposals rapidly with regard to fiscal reform, improving buying power, reducing public spending and the privatisation of some companies - notably transport companies.

On 19th December Belgian Prime Minister, Yves Leterme suggested the resignation of his government after accusations of pressurizing the legal system in the Fortis affair. Belgian King Albert II who still has not said whether he accepts this decisionhas been consulting the country's political leaders. A scenario that is being privileged is that of a transition government with the outgoing coalition parties before early elections in June 2009. A decision is to be taken quickly before the end of year speech by the King on 24th December at midday.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Serguey Stanishev met President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso on 18th December. After their meeting Mr Barroso made a speech focussing on the problem of the freezing of European funds to Bulgaria in the wake of accusations of embezzlement. Stressing that the Commission was not harder with Bulgaria than with any other Member States he warned that he would not tolerate EU funds being used for "political games". Some Bulgarian political parties have been accused of redistributing funds and granting EU projects within their own circles of influence.

On 3rd December Touteleurope.fr launched an online survey in the 27 Member States. By taking part in the European consultations 2009 citizens will be able to debate together and with decision makers on the theme of ; "What can the EU do to shape our economic and social future in a globalised world?" Touteleurope.fr will host the on-line debate undertaken simultaneously in the 27 Member States. For three weekends in March 2009 1,500 citizens who are representative of the population will take part in national consultations. Participants will each set down 10 recommendations to improve economic and social performance in the EU. The recommendations that emerge from all of the Member States will then be submitted to a vote on the part of the 1,500 selected citizens. A final list of 15 recommendations will be presented to European decision makers in May 2009 during an event that will take place in Brussels.

On 15th December Italy received 35 million euros in aid from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to help nearly 6000 workers from the textile industry who have been laid off. It is the highest amount ever given since the creation of the fund in 2006. The aim is to assist workers to find new jobs, to train or to create a company.

On 18th December Romanian Prime Minister Emil Bloc announced the composition of the future government of the coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The PDL appointed Adrian Videanu as Economy Minister, Gheorghe Pogea as Finance Minister, Radu Berceanu will take care of Transport, Mihai Stanisoara, Defence. PDL members will be responsible for the Regional Development, Culture, Communications and the Youth and Sport Ministries. The PSD will be responsible for Employment, Education, Research and Innovation (Marian Sârbu), the Administration and Home Ministry has been given to Gabriel Oprea, Foreign Affairs to former Justice Minister, Cristian Diaconescu. The PSD won the position of Deputy Prime Minister - Dan Nica - and that of President of the Senate - Mircea Geoana, who is also chair of the PSD. The Justice Ministry, an area in which Romania is being monitored by the European Commission will be managed by an independent executive.

Britain's military budget for Afghanistan will rise by 50% in 2009. The cost of British operations in Afghanistan will rise from 1.5 billion pounds (1.69 billion euros) for the financial year 2007-2008 to 2.32 billion pounds (2.59 billion euros) in 2008-2009, ie a rise of 54% according to Finance Ministry figures released by the parliamenary commission on 15th December. In Iraq the budget will decrease from 1.46 billion pounds (1.63 billion euros), ie a decrease of 4.1%.

On 15th December Montenegro officially presented its candidature to join the EU. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic delivered his country's request to Nicolas Sarkozy in his capacity of President of the Council of the EU. The latter congratulated Montenegro on its candidature. Montenegro which has been independent since 3rd June 2006, "is a potential candidate" for membership - a status granted to the Western Balkan countries by the European Council of Thessaloniki in 2003. A stabilisation and association agreement was signed between the EU and Montenegro on 15th October 2007. Following this request the Council now has to decide whether or not to start the accession procedure: if it does this the Commission will be invited to give an opinion before the Council provides the country with the title of official candidate. For the time being Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia (FYRoM)enjoy this title.

On 16th December the Ukrainian President Viktor Yushenko's party and that of Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and a small independent party signed a fragile coalition agreement in Parliament after three months of political crisis. Three days later disagreements were all the more evident. On 20th December Ms Timoshenko said she was now on the opposition benches asking the Court and an NGO to investigate into the devaluation of the national currency, accusing Mr Yushenko of being responsible for this. On 21st December Viktor Yushenko accused Ms Timoshenko of being "incapable" of fighting the economic crisis. "Undoubtedly the situation has escaped the Prime Minister's control for a long time," he said in a presidential press release accusing her of being responsible for the 22% inflation rate forecast in 2008.

In an interview in the Financial Times on 15th December ECB Chairman Jean-Claude Trichet re-iterated the importance of respecting the Stability and Growth Pact whilst using the appropriate room for manoeuvre it provides - this is the position Mr Trichet adopted during the informal Ecofin Council on 18th December. He also recalled that automatic stabilisers would play a greater role in Europe than in the US, due to the importance of the social protection systems here.

The Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved the Bank's Corporate Operational Plan for 2009-2011. This plan aims to increase the EIBs lending activities. The total lending volume will increase by 30% (15 billion euros) which may generate additional investments of around 72 billion euros based on a historical leverage effect of five times the Bank's financing. The additional loans will notably benefit SMEs, car manufacturers as part of the "clean transport" tool and some Member States (as part of convergence). To enable the EIB to meet these increased lending targets, the Board of Directors agreed to propose to the Board of Governors that the Bank bring forward the capital increase previously envisaged for 2010. The EIB's subscribed capital will be increased by some EUR 67bn to EUR 232bn. As usual, the paid-in capital will be 5 percent of the subscribed capital. The increase in paid-in capital will be effected through a transfer from the EIB's additional reserves to its capital.

According to Eurostat figures published on 15th December the EU will host around half a billion inhabitants (499.7 million) on 1st January 2009 and the enlarged euro area (with Slovakia) 328.6 million. The population increased by 2.2 million in 2008, three quarters of this increase was due to immigration.

The results of the Eurobarometer Standard survey N°70 of Autumn 2008 published on 18th December show that the assessment of the economic situation is increasingly pessimistic. 49% of Europeans believe that things have taken a turn for the worse in their country, opinion is rather more divided with regard to the EU: 35% believe that the EU is going in the right direction, 34% the wrong one. In spite of the negative mood support for the EU (53%), the perception of the advantages of belonging to the EU (56%) and confidence in the European institutions remain stable, even though the EU's image has suffered slightly (-3). However this survey reveals a trend to trust the EU more with regard to its support of Europeans during the economic crisis: 54% of Europeans want the EU to take decisions with regard to inflation and 51% with regard to the economy, although 57% of Europeans believe that the fight against unemployment should be undertaken on a national level.

The TransEuropean Policy Study Association has published a paper entitled "Priorities and Challenges for the Czech Presidency". The TEPSA notably recommends teamwork between the three Presidencies (France/Czech Republic/Sweden) to complete the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and to rise to challenges. TEPSA stresses that presidency projects can be disturbed by external factors and that flexibility is a vital quality to overcome challenges.

François Roth has published a biography of Robert Schuman (1886-1963) with Fayard - "a visionary of post-war Franco-German reconciliation". The author notably explains how "frontier Lorraine" was the source of the birth of the European Community of Coal and Steel in 1950, that was the forerunner of the present European Union.

During the end of year festivities many classical music concerts have been organised in Vienna including the famous New Year Concert.