The Robert Schuman Foundation has published the report on the conference organised in Brussels on 19th November on "Women in Europe, reaching parity". It has also put some video excerpts from the conference on-line.

Whilst the 15th conference on climate in Copenhagen came to an end Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation Jean-Dominique Giuliani has published an editorial on his website entitled "Lessons of Copenhagen."

On 27th December 4.4 million Croats are being called to ballot to appoint the President of the Republic who will succeed Stjepan Mesic in office since 2000 and who cannot run for a third term in office. If no candidate wins the majority of the votes on 27th december a second round will be organised on 10th January next. The most recent polls place Ivo Josipovic in the lead as far as voting intentions are concerned (29.3% according to Puls and 19.2% according to Totus Opiniometar). But the race is due to be a close one as far as second place is concerned. According to Puls Nadan Vidosevic is due to win 13.9% of the vote, Milan Bandic 12.2%, Dragan Primorac 10.4%, Andrija Hebrang 7.6% and Vesna Pusic 7.2%. The 7 other candidates are due to win under the 5% mark. Totus Opiniometer puts Nadan Vidosevic in second place with 13.5% of the vote ahead of Andrija Hebrang (6.8%), Milan Bandic (6.3%) and Vesna Pusic (5.5%). The other candidates are due to win under 5% of the vote.

Five years after the Orange Revolution that was the source of so much hope the Ukrainians are voting to elect their president on 17th January next. Most of those running in 2004 are standing again in 2010 even though the balance of power has mainly been turned over. This election will take place under the scutiny of hundreds of international observers, and accusations of electoral fraud have already been raised by the main candidates against their competitors even before voting starts.

The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso spoke on 15th and 16th December on the European Council agreement with regard to the financial crisis. He defended the idea of a tax on financial transactions globally (Tobin Tax), saying that it would enable the generation of the financial means to protect the climate in a context of high pressure on government budgets. He called on States to be more ambitious, believing that the Commission's initial proposal had been overly diluted mainly because of British reticence and asked MEPs not to give up pressure with regard to this. Parliament promised to play "its role to the full".

According to data published on 17th December by the Italian National Statistics Institute the number of workers decreased in the third quarter 2009 by 0.5% in comparison with the previous quarter and by 2.2% in comparison with the same time last year. The unemployment rate reached 8.2%. Employment rates experienced a decline dropping from 59% in 2008 to 57.5%.

On 16th December the German government adopted its draft 2010 budget. Believing that there was no "reasonable alternative" but to increase the deficit to support growth in a period of economic crisis it is planning to use debt to a record figure of 86 billion euros. This money will notably be used to fund an emergency programme "of economic acceleration" that was examined by the Bundesrat on 17th December. Once the economy has stabilised Berlin does however intend to "return to the path of financial stability". As from 2011 the inclusion of a measure to prevent to debt in the Constitution will oblige the German authorities to address the structural deficit. The latter is due to rise to some 70 billion euros in 2010.

On 14th December the Austrian State saved the country's sixth biggest bank, Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA),from bankruptcy, by nationalising this institution which is well established in the Balkans. Finance Minister Josef Pröll spoke of "one of the most difficult situations for the banking sector" experienced by Austria announcing to the press that it had decided to nationalise the bank entirely which absolutely had to find 1.5 billion euros to meet its legal obgligations in terms of own funds.

The Belgian government decided on 15th December to extend a series of measures, albeit adapted somewhat, designed to limit the effects of the economic crisis on employment until 30th June 2010. The government's "anti-crisis" plan that has been in application since 1st July aims to help struggling companies "in order to prevent dismissals as much as possible". According to a press release by Prime Minister Yves Leterme the programme which was planned for an initial six months was extended until the end of the first semester next year.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou called on fellow citizens on 19th December to mobilise to rise to the unprecedented financial crisis that is affecting the country. "I am asking for national mobilisation, on the part of the parties, social partners, healthy movements in the business world and workers - all citizens in effect," announced Mr Papandreou to a parliamentary group comprising his party, PASOK (Socialist) just before the start of a debate on the 2010 budget. This budget is vital to face the deep crisis affecting Greece after the dramatic rise in its debt. The project notably plans for a 3.6% decrease in public deficit, 12.7% of the GDP in 2009 down to 9.1% in 2010.

The Irish economy emerged from recession in the third quarter with its GDP increasing by 0.3% in comparison with the previous quarter - this had declined by 7.4% over one year according to statistics published on 17th December by the Central Statistics Office. The GNP, which is the government's preferred benchmark because it excludes foreign companies' results, declined by 1.4% in comparison with the previous quarter and by 11.3% over one year.

The IMF said on 16th December that it was "encouraged" by developments in economic indicators in Romania and is planning now for a rise of 1.3% rise in its GDP in 2010, in comparison with 0.5% previously. "The macro-economic outlook for Romania seems better than in November 2009 due to a recovery in external demand," indicated the IMF after a three day mission to Bucharest.

On 18th December the International Monetary Fund announced that it was providing Hungary with the fifth part of its loan totalling 788 million euros, which the authorities do not intend to use however. The Fund's highest decision making body, its advisory council voted to release this part of the loan that "will help to provide a guarantee against the effects of any unplanned deterioration in external funding conditions," said the IMF. On 16th November the Budapest government announced that it was going to stop using the 11.5 billion euro loan granted by the IMF in November 2008, since there had been an improvement in the economic situation. To date Hungary has received 8.3 of the 11.5 billion euros granted by the IMF as well as 5.5 of the 6.5 billion euros of an EU loan.

On 16th December Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister presented the results of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union to the European Parliament. MEPs as well as the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso expressed a positive opinion overall with regard to the way that Sweden had managed matters. Criticism was raised however with regard to the agreement that was reached during the last European Council in view of the Copenhagen negotiations. Some MEPs also said they were sceptical about the real extent of the EU2020 strategy that aims to develop a "green" economy to help put an end to the crisis.

On 15th December MEPs adopted a report on the establishment in 2010 of a European microcredit system that will aim to help vulnerable people or the unemployed to launch their own micro-company (under 10 people and under 2 million euros turnover per year). They accepted the Commission's proposal to allocate an overall package of 100 million euros over four years to this project but they were opposed to funds being used from the European progress programme, that is designed to support vulnerable people.

On 17th December MEPs adopted the EU's 2010 budget. It will total 141 billion euros in commitments and 123 billion euros in payments, ie 1.04% of the Union's GDP. MEPs want to give the Union "the means to enhance energy security, stimulate the creation of jobs, support research and professional apprenticeship and help counter climate change". The main goal of the 2010 budget is to address the economic crisis with a recovery plan of 2.4 billion euros. The budget also includes a package of 300 million euros to provide aid to milk producers. The European Parliament's opinion with regard to this is not compulsory however since the budgetary procedure takes place according to the Nice Treaty which contrary to the Lisbon Treaty provides the Council with the last word with regard to agricultural spending amongst other matters.

On 18th December the European Parliament adopted the calendar of auditions of the members of the Barroso II Commission: the procedure will start on 11th November in Brussels with Janusz Lewandowski, Commissioner appointed to the Budget and Financial Programming and will end on 11th January with Maria Damanki, for Maritime Affairs and Fishing. Each candidate Commissioner will be assessed by the competent committees for the portfolio he is being attributed on the basis of his competence, European commitment, independence and knowledge of the portfolio in hand. The European Parliament will then vote on the European Commission as a whole.

The 27 Transport and Telecommunications signed an agreement on air transport with Canada, a major step in opening up the market. On 17th December they agreed on a regulation project that aims to enhance bus and coach passenger rights, with regard to assistance to people with reduced mobility, compensation in the event of an accident or delay, information and management of complaints. They looked into a great number of Commission proposals in terms of intelligent transport, security fees in airports, formalities to be respected by boats that travel through European ports and the statutes of the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) agency. Moreover they authorised the Commission to negotiate a cooperation agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and looked into the progress made in terms of air services with the USA.

Europol, the European police cooperation organisation signed an agreement on 16th December for a joint initiative with Interpol to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden. The two organisations decided to exchange more information and to encourage Member States to use Interpol as a "central database to collate information on suspected pirates."

European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Joaquin Almunia dispatched a declaration on 15th December on Greece's economic situation. He declared that he had taken note of Prime Minister Papandreou government's commitment to reduce deficit and public debt via a sustainable reduction in spending and in increase in revenues but above all via a series of structural reforms in the areas of social security, budgetary procedure and the taxation system. He did however say that the Commission would continue to monitor the Greek economic situation closely together with the implementation of real consolidation measures with regard to public finance.

According to a report adopted by the European Commission on 18th December although the world economic crisis affected men's employment more its long term effects may be felt most amongst women who often find it more difficult to get a job. The report points to the slow progress achieved in terms of parity. The Commission is pleading in favour of greater integration in terms of gender in the future strategy of the EU for growth and employment because parity can help to put an end to the crisis. The report lays particular emphasis on employment as a mainstay against poverty and social exclusion and the need for policies that lead to a reconciliation between professional and private life. This report will be presented to the European Council in March 2010.

On 19th December the new telecoms rules officially became European law after their publication in the EU's Official Journal. The new regulation that comprises the "Legislate Better" directive and the "Citizens' Rights" directive is to be transposed into national law in the 27 Member States by June 2011. The new regulation establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) is directly applicable and will enter force in 20 days time. The BEREC is a driving force to establish coherent regulation in Europe and thereby enhance the internal telecoms market. The last stage of this European legislative process follows the final agreement concluded in November between the European Parliament and the Council.

On 16th December the European Innovation and Technology Institute announced the creation of its first three knowledge and innovation communities (KIC) of highly integrated partnerships that rally higher education establishments, research institutes and companies of excellence in the following three areas: reducing climate change and adaptation to this phenomenon ("Climate-KIC"), sustainable energy ("KIC InnoEnergy") and the future ICT society ("EIT ICT Labs"). The launch of these KICs is a key stage in the implementation of the EIT whose vocation it is to serve as a model to stimulate innovation in Europe and to contribute to the future strategic goals of the Union on the horizon of 2020.

According to forecasts published by the National Insitute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) recovery is now confirmed in France but this will be "difficult and weak" at the start of 2010, since household consumption the traditional driver of growth is running on slow whilst unemployment will continue to increase. In a world context that is "moderately favourable there is no plan for any acceleration in the French economy before mid-2010". French growth will rise slowly similar to that recorded since the emergence from crisis in the second quarter of 2009: an increase of around 0.3% and 0.4% in the GDP per quarter. "Modest" results that would place France "amongst the average for developed countries" - between those who are experiencing "real recovery" such as Germany and the USA and those who are struggling to emerge from the recession, like Italy, Spain and the UK. In 2009 the GDP is due to have declined by 2.3% according to the last INSEE calculations.

The military observation satellite Hélios 2B was launched on 18th December from Kourou (Guyana) by an Ariane rocket that successfully placed it in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit. CEO of Arianespace Jean-Yves le Gall said he was pleased with this new achievement. This was the 35th successful Ariane 5 launch and the 277th satellite launch by Ariane in 30 years.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers officially opened the European Institute for Gender Equality in Vilnius on 16th December - it is the only Union agency amongst the 36 that have been created to have its HQ in one of the three Baltic countries.

Romanian President Traian Basescu, who has just been re-elected appointed Emil Boc as Prime Minister on 17th December. The Romanian Prime Minister in office, Emil Boc, was asked by President Traian Basescu to form a new government announced his team's list - the members of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), the Party of the Hungarian minority (UDMR) and independents on 20th December. The new government includes 17 members including Prime Minister Emil Boc and Deputy Prime Minister Bela Marko, a UDMR member. Of the 15 ministers put forward six are part of the government in office whilst nine are newcomers.

Serbia has decided to deliver its candidature to the EU said Serb Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic to the press on 19th December hoping that this will be accomplished by the end of the year.

According to figures published on 16th December by Eurostat on 1st January 2008 there were 30.8 million foreign citizens living in the Member States of the EU - 11.3 million of them came from another EU member State. The 19.5 million others came from third countries, including 6 million from other European countries, 4.7 million from Africa, 3.7 million from Asia and 3.2 million from the American continent. Foreign citizens comprised 6.2% of the total population in the EU. In 2008 the greatest number of foreign citizens were living in Germany (7.3 million), in Spain (5.3 million), in the UK (4 million), in France (3.7 million) and in Italy (3.4 million). Over 75% of foreign citizens living in the EU lived in its Member States.

According to Eurostat figures published on 15th December the GDP per inhabitant in Luxembourg expressed in purchasing power standards was two and a half times greater than the EU average whilst in Ireland and the Netherlands this was one third over the average. Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, UK and Belgium lay between 15% and 25% above the EU average. France, Spain and Italy recorded a GDP per capita of between 0% and 10% above the EU average whilst Cyprus, Greece and Slovenia lay between 0% and 10% below the average.

According to Eurostat estimations published on 18th December the euro area recorded a surplus of 8.8 billion euros in its external trade with the rest of the world in October 2009 compared to -1.2 billion euros in October 2008. In comparison with September exports decreased by 0.2% and imports by 2.2%. As far as the Union is concerned a deficit of 3.8 billion euros was recorded - a clear improvement in comparison with the deficit of 18.3 billion the year before. In comparison with September 2009 the Union's exports rose by 0.2% whilst imports declined by 1%.

European farmers' income decreased by 12.2% in 2009 according to data published on 18th December by Eurostat mainly due to the 10.9% decline in the value of agricultural produce. The greatest decreases were seen in Hungary (-35.6%), Italy (-25.3%), Luxembourg (25.1%), Czech Republic (24.1%), Ireland (-22.3%), Germany (-21%), Austria (-20.4%) and France (-19.8%) - the highest increases were in the UK (+14.3%), Malta (+9.1%) and Finland (+2.6%).

The Institute for European Studies (SIEPS) published a study entitled "The Swedish Presidency: European Perspectives". It puts forward an analysis of the Swedish Presidency as seen by Paris, Brussels, Prague and Madrid but also as viewed from Stockholm.

Foreign and European Ministers have published together with Editions Grasset a new review entitled "Mondes, Cahiers du Quai d'Orsay". This publication hopes to improve information on French foreign policy issues and offer thoughts and analyses on the part of the Quai d'Orsay to a wide public. Papers that have mainly been written by diplomats abroad or in Paris, articles published in "Mondes, les Cahiers du Quai d'Orsay illustrate the intellectual and innovative wealth of French diplomacy and contributes to international ideas of debate. The review is open to articles of both French and foreign researchers and observers.

The Polish authorities announced on 16th December that in 2010 in Poland and across the globe there would be a vast programme of cultural events to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Frederik Chopin. Chopin Year, in tribute to the composer who was born on 1st March 1810 in Zelazowa Wola near Warsaw, will officially open on 7th January with a concert by Chinese pianist Lang Lang at the Warsaw Philharmonic.

On 31st December and 1st January the traditional classical New Year's concerts will take place in Vienna organised by the Viennese Hofburg Orchestra. The new year will be celebrated as every year with the most well known melodies of walses and operettas by Johann Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.