Michel Foucher, a member of the Robert Schuman Foundation's Scientific Committee set out his point of view on the borders of Europe on 12th October in an article in the newspaper, Le Monde.

The special committee on the financial, economic and social crisis elected as its chair Wolf Klinz (ALDE, DE) during its inaugural session on 15th October. This special committee established on 7th October in view of analysing and estimating the extent of the crisis within the EU will present an interim and then a final report to Parliament with recommendations on the measures and initiatives to take.

On 14th and 15th October the 27 Competitiveness Ministers addressed priorities in the enhancement of the European single Market. They discussed improving Member States' coordination in the application of community legislation and the need to develop a more responsive consumer policy to encourage cititzens to consume beyond the borders of their own countries. They highlighted on the services single market, the community patent, innovation and relations with third countries. They also stressed the need to move as quickly as possible towards an eco-performant economy based on sustainable companies which respect the environment.

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the European Parliament spoke on the annual enlargement strategy adopted by the European Commission on 15th October together with European Commissioner Olli Rehn. MPs supported the proposal to open negotiations with Macedonia (FYRM), asking for the cooperation of the new Greek government. They also welcomed the proposal to liberalise visas with the Balkans and insisted on the need not relinquish pressure on these countries.

On 14th October 2009 the Commission adopted its annual strategy document explaining its policy on EU enlargement. Negotiations with Croatia that were started in October 2005 likewise Turkey are "close to reaching their conclusion" and may be settled by the summer of 2010, before accession the following year. Macedonia (FYRM) has made further progress towards integration after the Commission recommended the opening of membership negotiations in spite of the issue of the country's official name which is a point of conflict with Greece at present. As far as Turkey is concerned however the European Commission demanded new reforms to take its EU membership negotiations forwards - which are for the time being at a standstill. It condemned breaches of fundamental freedom in Turkey which hinder the freedom of the press. It also believes that sexual equality is still a "major challenge" and finally it demands that Turkey opens its ports and airports to the Cypriots. The Commission also drew up a report on Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo.

On 12th October the 27 European Healthcare Ministers adopted a strategic European approach to the influenza pandemic. They agreed that vaccination strategies were a national competence but invited Member States and the Commission to cooperate to guarantee everyone access to the vaccine, to control its effectiveness, inform the public and take the necessary measures to guarantee vital functions of society if a pandemic should arise.

On 16th October the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Liberals (FDP) have entered a decisive phase in their negotiations in view of forming a new government coalition. The negotiators have notably decided to amend the reform to the fiscal policy known as 'Hartz IV'. In the area of energy the future 'black-yellow' coalition intends to correct the projects to abandon the use of nuclear power established ten years ago. Finally the partners did come to agreement in the area of justice and freedom that was however considered as one of the most sensitive areas of the negotiation procedure. The Chancellor would like to come to an agreement by 23rd October and see the government enter office by 9th November.

On 15th October during the third joint work meeting between the Austrian and Hungarian governments discussions focused on the general economic situation and on solutions available to face this but also on internal security and joint initiatives to fight crime. Issues relative to energy, environment, transport as well as training, culture and science were also addressed. Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai signed a joint declaration indicating that they wanted to enhance relations between their two countries.

On 12th October the Belgian government decided to delay the first phase of abandoning nuclear power for another ten years (2025). A Monitoring Committee will be established and will be responsible for assessing, on a yearly basis, the development of production costs and market prices. This process will go together with an ambitious plan for energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boïko Borissov travelled to France on 12th October on his first bilateral visit abroad. He spoke with President Nicolas Sarkozy and his French counterpart François Fillon. They debated the opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in terms of justice, maritime defence, nuclear energy and the training of executives for the civil service; Sofia would like to launch an institution like the ENA. He then met the chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation.

On 13th October the Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou received Swedish European Affairs Minister Cecila Malmström. They discussed the issue of Turkey's membership. The Swedish minister reassured her counterpart saying that the settlement of the Cypriot issue was still a vital condition for continued negotiations and that if the situation did not open up before December there would be "consequences" for Turkey. Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger called on Turkey on 15th October to step up the pace of its reforms notably to settle the Cypriot issue, a serious impediment to Turkey's accession to the EU. "Changes must come for the implementation of the Ankara Protocol," he declared after a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Markos Kyprianou.

On 13th October the President of the Spanish government, José Luis Zapatero travelled to Washington for his first official visit with American President Barack Obama. Coming out of the crisis, the development of renewable energies, international security and peace, the reduction of nuclear arms and the stakes of the Spanish presidency of the EU were the main subjects addressed by the two leaders.

During his meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende confirmed his country's support for Estonia in its project to join the euro area if it fulfil's all of the Maastricht criteria. The two leaders spoke of bilateral relations and of the Lisbon Treaty that will "make the EU stronger."

On 15th September the Finnish government adopted its report on long term perspectives for its energy and climate policy. It establishes the reduction of its CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050 as its goal, which is part of international work in this area. This report sets the way for a low carbon print Finland by 2050.

On 13th October Hungary asked the EU to open a legal procedure against Slovakia due to the incident that took place on 21st August when Slovakia refused entry to Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom. According to Hungary, Slovakia did not respect the Schengen Treaty which stipulates the free circulation of people between member states.

On 16th October Ireland completed the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty with the signature by President Mary McAleese of an amendment which modifies the Irish Constitution. This ratification comes just two weeks after the positive result in the Irish referendum.

Dutch Foreign Minister Jacques Marcel Verhagen spoke with his Latvian counterpart Maris Riekstins on 12th October. Discussions focused on bilateral relations and opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries. The Ministers also spoke of the economic and financial situations in their respective countries and of the situation worldwide; they mentioned the need for concerted action and for the representation of the interests of all European States within the G20. Finally they spoke of the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty and Atlantic relations.

On 14th October the liaison office between the EU and the Arab League was inaugurated in Malta. Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi received European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa on this occasion. Officials from the European Commission, the Arab League, and Malta will coordinate matters from this office whose aim is to promote more open dialogue and to enhance bilateral cooperation between the EU and the Arab League.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk appointed new members of the Council of Ministers on 13th October. Jerzy Miller has taken over the Interior Ministry, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski the Ministry of Justice and Adam Giersz, has become Sports Minister.

Portuguese Prime Minister José Socrates was re-appointed as head of government by President Anibal Cavaco Silva announced the presidency in a press release. On 15th October the Prime Minister said he was going to form a minority Socialist government after having consulted the opposition parties who all refused to take part in a coalition.

On 13th October the Romanian Parliament refused to give its confidence to the present Prime Minister Emil Boc's government. Romanian President Traian Basescu asked an independent economist, Lucian Croitoru to form a new government on 15th October before the vital deadline for an IMF loan for Bucharest was reached. "I have decided to appoint Lucian Croitoru as Prime Minister," he said during a televised speech.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, the last European leader not to have signed the Lisbon Treaty indicated that he would sign the text in an interview published on 17th October. "At the rate things are moving along, ie very fast it is no longer possible to stop the treaty nor to go backwards even though some of us would like to do this," he declared to the newspaper Lidove noviny.

On 14th October British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that 9,500 additional soldiers may be dispatched to Afghanistan under certain conditions. The deployment of additional troops will be for the training of more Afghan soldiers and policemen. Mr Brown also spoke of Pakistan and his hope of fighting against the terrorist threat of Al-Quaida and the Taliban. Additional humanitarian aid totalling £10 million will make it possible to provide better economic assistance and basic services in areas in which security is improving.

The Macedonian parliament ratified the agreement demarking the border with Kosovo on 17th October thereby opening the way to the full establishment of diplomatic relations. The agreement was ratified by 72 votes of the 120 MPs in the Macedonian Parliament. 11 MPs voted against the motion.

According to statistics published on 12th October by the OECD, unemployment in OECD countries lay at 8.6% in August ie +0.1 points more than in July and +2.3 points more in comparison with August 2008. In the euro area unemployment is said to have reached 9.6% in August ie +0.1 points in comparison with July and +3.6 points more than a year ago.

On 14th October the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pilla inaugurated the first office for human rights in the EU in Brussels. This marks the enhancement of cooperation between the UN human rights system and the European institutions.

On 14th October Eurostat published statistics relative to industrial production in August 2009. With regard to the euro area production rose by 0.9% in comparison with July 2009 whilst it only totalled 0.6% in the EU. In comparison with August 2008 production declined by 15.4% in the euro area and by 13.5% in the Union.

The German Society for Foreign Policy (DGAP) has published a study on the German climate policy "Klimapolitik: Das Zugpferd lahmt. Deutschlands Außenpolitik braucht ein neues Großprojekt" (Climate Policy: the draught-horse is losing momentum. German foreign policy needs a major new project). According to Marcel Viëtor and Oldag Caspar Germany is no longer playing the driving role given to it in terms of the global climate policy. This policy may however become a major stake in the foreign policy.

Wilfried Martens, Chair of the European People's Party has just published his autobiography, "Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome". In this work he reviews the story of his political commitment and his fight for Europe. The work is prefaced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On 14th October the 53rd London Film Festival (LFF) was inaugurated. This is an opportunity to discover all kinds of new things in the world of cinema: fiction, documentary, short and feature films and experiments, cartoons, including 14 premiers.