The Lisbon Treaty entered into force on 1st December. To understand the issues better consult "The State of the Union 2009, Schuman Report on Europe". This is a work of reference on all issues concerning Europe.

The National Belgian Bank published its economic forecasts for 2009 and 2010 on 7th December. According to its 2010 forecasts there will 1% growth in the GDP (in comparison with -0.2% in its June 2009 estimates). The Bank believes that pubic finances in 2010 will decline into a -5.4% deficit. This is slightly less than the figures forecast by the government (-5.6%).

The European Council that took place on 10th and 11th December was the first since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. The Heads of State and government said they were pleased with the new, stable, sustainable institutional framework, that will help the Union focus on future challenges. They asked the Commission and the High Representative to put forward proposals with regard to the citizens' initiative and the European External Action Service. They did not however make any decision with regard to the appointment of additional MEPs which some States will have in virtue of the treaty, limiting themselves to consulting the European Parliament and the Commission. A Spanish proposal plans to allow the States that are interested to choose between an adhoc election, to refer to the results of the Euroean elections or to appoint MPs from the national parliaments. The latter possibility was the cause of lively protest on the part of the MEPs who qualify this as undemocratic.

On the occasion of the meeting of EU trade ministers, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Faroe Islands and the 10 countries that line the shores of the Mediterranean on 9th December a roadmap was adopted that should lead to the establishment of a major free trade area at the end of 2010. The Euromed Partnership that has resulted from the Barcelona Process (1995) may in the future also embrace the countries of the Western Balkans.

The 27 Foreign Ministers who met on 7th and 8th December said they were ready to support new sanctions against Iran at the UN in the event of stalemate in negotiations on its controversial nuclear programme. They adopted conclusions on the peace process in the Middle East and called for the urgent resumption of neogotiations in view of reaching a solution as soon as possible based on the co-exsitence of two States, Israel and an independent, democratic Palestine to live in peace and security. Finally they addressed the issue of enlargement, notably the stabilisation and association process for the Western Balkans. With regard to Serbia, given the work it is undertaking to cooperate with the ICTY they agreed to bring into force the EU-Serbia interim agreement.

On 7th December the chairman of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean-Claude Trichet delcared to MEPs that the euro zone economy would develop at a moderate pace in 2010 but that this would be shrouded with a certain amount of uncertainty. He pleaded in favour of gradual monetary exit strategies to be accomplished at appropriate times. He said that the ECB's main interest rates were adapted to present levels and that he would not change them.

The General Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission started the last stage of the competition to appoint the new European organic logo on 7th December. European citizens have until 31st January 2010 to vote on line on the DG's site for one of the three logos. The aim of this new logo is to enhance consumer protection and to encourage organic agriculture. This logo will have to be displayed on all pre-packed organic goods produced in the 27 Member States and which satisfy the corresponding standards.

According to the Federal Statistics Office France was still Germany's leading economic partner in 2008. As Germany's leading economic client it absorbed 93.7 billion euros of German goods last year ie nearly 10% of all German exports. Conversely France sold 63.4 billion euros worth of goods to Germany which makes it Germany's second economic supplier after the Netherlands (68 billion euros). Slightly less than 8% imported goods in Germany came from France in 2008. Germany is still France's leading client and supplier. The Robert Schuman Foundation recently published a study by Jean-François Jamet on the French and German economies; it is available on-line.

The Austrian oil and gas company OMV, the leader in Central Europe and the Wiener Börse created a "Gas Exchange" on 11th December that aims to become the leader in Europe together with Russian Gazprom. The new entity will use a distribution platform, Central European Gas Hub (CEGH) operated by OMV.

On 11th December the A400M, the new military transport plane built by Airbus took off from Seville airport, this first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will then receive a certification on the part of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as well as a qualification on the part of the military authorities. 184 orders have already been placed on the part of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the UK.

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip spoke to the Riigikogu (Parliament) on 8th December presenting the government's work in terms of investments in R&D. This increase in investments will bring the share of research in R&D up to 2% of the GDP in 2011, which is more than the EU average. He hopes to show that Estonia belongs to the most developed countries and make it more attractive for investors and scientists.

On 8th December Pierre Lellouche, French Secretary of State for European Affairs distributed a "Euro-Kit" to all of the government members and MPs which reveals the new prerogatives given by the Lisbon Treaty to the European Parliament.

During the visit of the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy in Vilnius on 9th December the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite asked for the EU's help to fulfil her obligation to dismantle the nuclear plant in Ignalina for the end of the year, inlcuding its replacement in 2018 which was the subject of a call for tender published in the EU's Official Journal on 8th December. These energy network interconnection policies and the construction of a new nuclear plant should guarantee the Baltic region's autonomy with regard to energy. The President asked for these projects to be included in the Union's new financial perspectives.

The Polish Environment Minister, Maciej Nowicki who was president of the UN conference on climate for a year announced he was resigning on 8th December the day after the inauguration of the Copenhagen Summit.

A re-count of the voting slips ordered by the Constitutional Court after accusations of 'fraud' confirmed that Romanian President Traian Basescu had won said the Central Electoral Bureau on 13th December.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown travelled to Afghanistan on 12th and 13th December where he visited British troops and spoke to President Karzaï and the Afghan authorities. In Kandahar he met the main military leaders before travelling to the Helmand province where most of the British troops are stationed. He congratulated them on "their bravery, professionalism and devotion."

The European Investment Bank and the Bank of Tirana signed a loan of 10 million euros on 11th December that mainly aims to support SME's. Other sectors will also benefit such as infrastructure, the protection of the environment, health and energy. The Bank of Tirana is also due to pay an equivalent sum that will make a total of 20 million euros.

Once again the Moldovan Parliament did not succeed in electing a president for the country on 7th December thereby opening the way to early general elections or a constitutional reform in an attempt to put an end to interminable political confusion. The head of the Democratic Party, Marian Lupu, the only candidate running won the votes of 53 of the MPs of the Alliance for European Integration (a coalition rallying the pro-European parties) but the support of 61 MPs was necessary to be elected president. The Communist Party which has the other 48 seats boycotted the election. According to the Constitution this dual failure thereby leads to the dissolution of Parliament but this cannot happen before 16th June 2010, since the assembly which had already been dissolved in June 2009 cannot be dissolved again in under a year.

Eurobarometer published a study on European attitudes with regard to corruption. According to European citizens corruption is present in all institutions: on average 77% of EU citizens agree to say that corruption is present nationally, 75% support this opinion with regard to local institutions and with regard to regional institutions the result is 73%. EU citizens tend to believe that both male and female politicians are corrupt (46%), followed by civil servants who are responsible for public procurement (43%), and civil servants who deliver building permits (42%). On average over half of EU citizens believe that most corruption is due to organised crime (54%), whilst 35% think the contrary and 11% have no opinion.

On 8th December Eurostat published its statistics relative to asylum seekers in the EU. These show that Member States provided protection to 76,300 asylum seekers in 2008.

The Center for European Reform has published a study by Charles Grant entitled "Cameron's Europe: Can the Conservatives achieve their EU objectives?" David Cameron, leader of the British Conservative Party has unveiled a new strategy for the EU. The author assesses its viability and believes it will be difficult for Cameron to implement his project of freeing himself of the European treaties.

John Harper Publishing has released a book by Karl von Wogau, former chairman of the Defence and Security subcommittee at the European Parliament, entitled "The Path to European Defence - New Roads, New Horizons".

The Czech group Gentlemen Singers have made a compilation of some of the main European musical works on a CD. The album is called "Europam natus est".