Robert Schuman Foundation chairman Jean-Dominique Giuliani has published an editorial on his site entitled "Buy European".

Czech President Vaclav Klaus announced on 10th February that the European elections will take place on 5th and 6th June in the Czech Republic. The political parties have until 31st May to deliver their lists and the names of their candidates, ie 66 days before the elections. Czech citizens will be electing 22 representatives ie two less than in 2004 as planned in the Nice Treaty.

According to figures published by the national statistics and economic studies institute (INSEE) on 10th February French industrial production declined by 1.8% in December 2008, after a downturn of 2.8% in November. The manufacturing industry (except for energy, agricultural and foodstuffs industries) suffered a 2.8% downturn in December after a decline of 3.6% the previous month. Car manufacturing continued to fall in December (-7.7%), likewise intermediary goods manufacturing which dropped by 7.6%. Capital goods production recovered slightly (2.6%). Economy, Industry and Employment Minister Christine Lagarde announced on 12th February that growth in France was negative by -1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2008. After having been one of the rare European countries in which activity had increased in the third quarter (+0.1%), France therefore suffered at the end of 2008 the effects of the financial crisis which emerged in September last just like its European neighbours did.

Mirek Topolanek, the Czech Prime Minister and President of the Council of the EU travelled to the Caspian Sea area between 11th and 14th February. He held talks with the high representatives of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Apart from issues relating to bilateral co-operation, talks focussed on the enhancement of mutual trade and deliveries of raw energy materials for the EU. He likened one of the possibilities of more intensive co-operation, the so-called Southern Corridor, to a modern version of the silk trail and added that Central Asia should not just ensure supplies of oil and gas to Europe, but that people, goods, investments and information should flow both ways. Mirek Topolánek also underlined the importance of political cooperation and strengthening democratic principles in Central Asia.

On 11th February the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee at the European Parliament adotped Elisa Ferreira's report (PES, PT), which looks into the European economic rescue plan. MEPs believe that a lack of co-ordination on a European level between the various national economic rescue plans may damage the smooth running of the single market. It may also damage the EU's role as a world player. Hence MEPs are asking Member States to respect fiscal discipline and to continue investments and to make structural reforms. In order to stimulate the European economy and to fight against mass unemployment MEPs are suggesting the release of community funds, the facilitation of access to loans for private parties and companies and the strenghtening of the financial monitoring and the world regulation systems.

On 10th February 17 major internet sites signed the first European agreement to improve the safety of children who use social network sites. The sites are Arto, Bebo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Giovani.it, Google/YouTube, Hyves, Microsoft Europe, Myspace, Nasza-klaza.pl, Netlog, One.lt, Skyrock, StudiVZ, Sulake/Habbo Hotel, Yahoo!Europe and Zap.lu. Social networking sites are a social and economic phenomenon that are in full swing attracting more than 41.7 million regular users in Europe and which change the way internet users interact on the web. The use of social networking sites increased by 35% in Europe last year and the figure is due to double by 2012 with 107.4 million users. The agreement signed in Luxembourg as part of the Safter Internet Day will provide adolescents with the means to react to threats they may have to face, notably cyberbullying and the revelation of private information.

On 10th February the 27 Finance and Economy Ministers discussed the implementation of the European economy recovery plan that will be the focus of an assessment during the European Council in March 2009. With regard to reduced VAT rates Ministers favoured the establishment of a list of sectors for which a reduced VAT rate would help towards the economy's growth. With regard to the single euro payments area (SEPA) that comprises creating an integrated, competitive internal euro payment market, the Ministers gave their support to the project but said that the pace had to be stepped up in terms of the migration of national payments towards this system. They called on the Commission to come to an anti-fraud agreement with Liechtenstein. Finally they adopted a recommendation to the European Parliament on the discharge to be given to the Commission for implementation of the EU general budget for 2007.

On 10th February European justice condemned France to pay the costs for not having adopted in time the measures relative to the free movement of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens who became EU members on January 1st 2007. Notably France did not transpose measures into its legislation that were designed to enable Bulgarians and Romanians working as independent professionals - doctors, dentists, lawyers - to establish themselves, explains the European Court of Justice in its decision. If France does not comply with this ruling by rapidly adopting these measures it may have to pay a fine issued by the European executive.

German Foreign and Home Ministers, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Wolfgang Schäuble, defended the constitutionality and the advantages of the Lisbon Treaty for the EU before the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. The German government believes that there is no doubt about the conformity of the Lisbon Treaty with the Fundamental Law. The Constitutional Court is to examine the treaty ratification law since several complaints have been lodged against it by German MPs. The treaty is being accused of transferring too many competences over to Europe, notably with regard to justice and security; it is also accused of depriving the Bundestag of its decisional powers. The text was ratified by both assemblies; German President Horst Köhler has to sign the ratification law but he prefers to wait for the conclusion of the procedure before the Constitutional Court.

On 11th February shareholders in the Belgian insurance-bank Fortis met in a General Assembly in Brussels and refused the plan whereby the bank would be taken over the BNP Paribas. The Belgian state will therefore remain the owner of the bank. During the take over of assets on Euronext Brussels on 12th February the Fortis share lost 18% on the opening of the Exchange. Belgian Finance Minister, Didier Reynders said that discussions relative to the future of the bank were continuing with the various players involved - ie BNP Paribas, the French Economy Minister, Christine Lagarde or the Luxembourg authorities.

The director of the Bulgarian tax administration, Marie Murgina, resigned on 12th February in response to accusations made by the press over the involvement of high ranking officials employed in her services in fraudulous VAT activities. Her name was quoted in the scandal. An investigation has been launched.

On 12th February Spanish government chief José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke to the AEJ (Association of European Journalists) of the three priorities of the future Spanish presidency of the EU during the first half of 2010: provide impetus to a new economic model, enhance and strengthen social Europe, the adaptation of Europe to a multi-polar world, notably via its ability to speak with one voice. The Spanish leader indicated that the Spanish presidency would be an ambitious one based on two ideas: innovation, both technological, institutional and political and equality, notably between men and women.

On 12th February the Finnish government approved a Russo-Finnish regional co-operation programme to a total of 21.2 million euros in 2009. This programme fosters economic co-operation, the protection of the environment and nuclear safety. In addition to this it contributes to the fight against threats associated with contagious diseases, drugs and organised crime; support is provided to civil society and the reform of the administration and legislation. Based on an agreement signed in 1992 this co-operation is now based on a balanced partnership; both countries have established joint objectives and cost sharing. Every year nearly 200 projects, mainly of a bilateral nature, are established.

On 9th February French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a vast plan to support French car manufacturers. These measures come in addition to the 1000 euro bonus given to all of those who give up their old car to buy a new one. As part of the "Car Pact", the French State is to agree to two participative loans of 3 billion euros to Renault and Peugeot Citroën (PSA) and 0.5 billion to Renault Trucks in exchange for continued activity on the various car assembly sites. On a visit to Brussels on 12th February French Prime Minister, François Fillon defended the French car plan saying that thousands of jobs in Europe depended on this as he faced a sceptical European Commission that was determined to defend the "integrity" of the European Single Market. François Fillon spoke with his Belgian counterpart Herman Van Rompuy who criticised the French plan saying that he "was amongst those who were concerned about the application of the anti-trust rules in the internal European market."

According to the most recent survey by TNS MRBI published on 16th February in the Irish press, 51% of the Irish are ready to approve the Lisbon Treaty, rejected by 53.4% of the population during the referendum on 12th June 2008. The approval level with regard to the Lisbon Treaty has increased by 8 points. Amongst those interviewed around 33% (-6 points) said they wanted to vote "no" to the treaty if another referendum was organised and 16% (-2 points) were still undecided. If the undecided are excluded from the survey 60.7% are in favour and 39.3% against. In the wake of the "no" to the referendum on 12th June 2008, the Irish government accepted the organisation of a second vote, on a date that still had not been defined, after notably achieving the guarantee of maintaining an Irish European Commissioner in Brussels.

Finance Ministers and central bankers from the G7 countries (Germany, Canada, USA, France, UK, Italy and Japan) said on 14th February that world economic stabilisation was their "highest priority". "The G7 promises to take all new measures necessary to re-establish total confidence in the world's financial system. We shall continue to work together to avoid undesirable contagion and distortion. Our fiscal policy measures adhere to principles that will increase their effectiveness: be frontloaded and quickly executed; include the appropriate mix of spending to stimulate domestic demand and job creation and support the most vulnerable; increase longer term growth prospects addressing structural weaknesses through targeted investments; be consistent with medium-term fiscal sustainability and mostly rely on temporary measures."

On 11th February Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Dan Nica was appointed Minister for the Civil Service and Home Minister. He was sworn in after receiving a vote of confidence on the part of Parliament with 310 votes in favour, 113 against. Dan Nica replaces Liviu Nicolae Dragnea, who announced his resignation on 2nd February. The latter resigned because he indicated that the means planned for in the new budget for his ministry were inadequate and therefore he found it impossible to achieve his objectives.

According to figures published on 11th February by the National Statistics Office the unemployment rate rose to 6.3% over the period October-December 2008 ie 1.97 million people, its highest level since June-August 2007. In one year the number of unemployed increased by 369,000 people. Employment rates October to December 2008 lay at 74.1%, ie 0.7 points down on the same period in 2007.

On 9th February Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt met the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso in Brussels. They spoke of the Swedish presidency which will start on 1st July next. In the President of the Commission's opinion the future Swedish presidency will come at an especially important time for the future of Europe. Apart from the future of the Lisbon Treaty, he explained that the Commission and the Swedish government would work together to make the Copenhagen Conference on Climatic Change a success. The economic issue was of course the focus of long discussion which led to the conclusion that both Sweden and the Commission shared the same approach on the basis of the Rescue Plan initiated by the Commission.

On 10th February Croatian and Albanian Prime Ministers Ivo Sanader and Sali Berisha spoke of their interest in the construction of a regional nuclear power station in Albania to deliver electricity to the Balkans.

The French singer of Armenian descent, Charles Aznavour announced on 12th February that he had accepted to become the Ambassador of Armenia in Switzerland. "It is a great honour that Armenia has offered me to become Ambassador in Switzerland," said the singer.

On 12th February Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Enlargement inaugurated the new offices of the Commission's delegation in Belgrade together with Serb President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Bozidar Djelic. In Olli Rehn's opinion this shows the EU's support for Serbia's European integration. He confirmed that Serbia's European future depends on the country itself: like other countries in the region it has to fulfil the required conditions to join the EU and more specifically guarantee total co-operation between Belgrade and the ICTY in the Hague; it also has to fight against corruption and crime and implement legal reform. An increase in European aid funds for pre-accession are planned for this year to a total of 400 million euros.

In a declaration published on the government's site on 12th February Ukrainian Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk presented his resignation saying that he was "a hostage of the political situation" in the Ukraine just as the country is suffering a serious economic crisis. In the present circumstances the Finance Minister has become a "political hostage" and he "cannot change this situation," he explained, apparently referring to the conflict between Viktor Yushchenko and his Prime Minister Yuliya Timoshenko which has been ongoing for months.

In a speech on 12th February at the European Parliament on the reform of the European regulation and supervisory architecture, Lorenzo Bini-Smaghi, member of the ECB executive board called for the latter to be given powers that include macro-supervision of the markets in general and the micro-supervision of cross-border institutions. He stressed that necessary co-ordination to restore confidence could only be credible if it was based on an independent, effective institution; he said the ECB could play this role and that it was ready to do so if the political decision to grant it this role were taken. He said that there would be no need to modify the treaty but on the basis of Article 105.6 the Council could, in line with the opinion of the European Parliament, unanimously accord the ECB new tasks.

The first world assessment of the phenomenon of human trafficking, published on 12th February by a UN agency reveals that the perpetrators of these criminal practises are women more often than not. "It is shocking to see that former victims are taking their part in the trafficking now," stressed Antonio Maria Costa Director, General of the UN Office against Drugs and Crime (UNODC). According to the report in 30% of the 155 countries under scrutiny taking part in this assessment and which provided data on the sex of the authors of human trafficking, most of the criminals were women. According to figures covering 2003-2007, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia women even represented over 60% of the people convicted for human trafficking.

On 12th February the OSCE decided to extend the mandate (which expires on 18th February) of its military observers in Georgia until 30th June. "This decision shows that all the States acknowledge the organisation as a vital part of international work to ensure long-term stability in the region," said Dora Bakoyannis, the OSCE chairman in office and Greek Foreign Minister. The extension of the mandate involves 20 unarmed military observers deployed in September to monitor the cease-fire after the conflict between Russia and Georgia in September last.

According to Eurostat figures published on 12th February in December 2008 compared with November 2008, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 2.6% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU. In November production decreased by 2.2% in both zones. In December 2008 compared with December 2007, industrial production declined by 12.0% in the euro area and by 11.5% in the EU. Compared with 2007, the average industrial production index for 2008 fell by 1.7% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU.

On 9th February the European Court of Auditors published a report on the implementation of the ISPA programme (2000-2006), that has been provided with 3.2 billion euros and is designed to help candidate countries apply the EU's environmental standards as well as improve and develop transport networks including links to the trans-European network. The report shows that 84% of the projects have been seriously delayed or that changes have been made mid-term. Only the Czech Republic has managed to avoid delays in the implementation of the projects whilst other countries such as Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania have suffered delays varying from one to four years.

"Autrement" publishing has released a book by Viviane de Beaufort entitled "Lobbying, portraits croisés - pour en finir avec les idées reçues". The author draws up an overview of lobbying by identifying the various types of players (cabinets, companies, professional federations, think-tanks), and analyses the place of political decision-makers in France and in Brussels together with their attitude towards lobbying. The author clearly raises the issue of the development of this multi-facetted profession.

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, received the German Media Prize on 10th February - it was delivered in his presence. In a speech Roland Koch, Minister President of the Land of Hessen stressed the Dalai Lama's policy of peace. "It is thanks to the Dalai Lama that Tibetans have chosen a pacific path in their fight for autonomy and cultural and religious freedom," he said. "It is only with him that there is a chance of peaceful agreement between Tibet and China." The German Media Prize is granted by a panel of German journalists and editors. Created in 1992 by the German company Media Control in Baden Baden this prize has been granted to politicians such as Helmut Kohl, François Mitterand, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabbin, Boris Eltsine, Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton. On 9th February the Dalai Lama became an "honorary citizen" of the city of Rome.