As part of the partnership between the Robert Schuman Foundation and the Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF), the Foundation is broadcasting its most recent programme "Talking Europe" on its site; this week's guest is Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. She is interviewed by Pascale Joannin, General Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation regarding the draft directive on male/female quotas on company boards.

On 9th January 2013 the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani took part in a seminar organised by the EPP group at the European Parliament in Brussels on EU-Russian relations.

On 20th December 2012 Pierre Thibaudat, project manager for the Robert Schuman Foundation's Brussels office received the Grand Prize of Europe for International Volunteers, awarded by Ubifrance and the Councillors for French Foreign Trade. This prize is awarded for his commitment to the Robert Schuman Foundation and his knowledge of European affairs.

The Employment Agency in Germany (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) indicated on 2nd January 2013 that the gross unemployment rate in Germany had increased in December 2012 to reach 6.7%. However it decreased to 6.8% over 2012 as a whole (in comparison with 7.1% in 2011). According to an announcement by the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) on 2nd January 2013 the number of people living in Germany and in work rose to a new record level in 2012 for the sixth year running.

Unemployment in Spain decreased in December 2012 in comparison with the previous month but it remained high in 2012 overall. According to figures published on 3rd January 2013 by the Employment Minister at the end of December 4.85 million people were looking for a job in Spain i.e. 9.64% more than a year ago.

On January 1st 2013 the European Commission launched the "European Year of Citizen" on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty which introduced the idea of European citizenshp in 1993. The Commission intends to make information relative to citizens rights in the EU more accessible and much clearer. It also aims to enhance, the involvement of EU citizens via a series of initiatives (events, conferences, seminars, debates with European leaders) developed on the base of a public consultation amongst European citizens in May and September 2012.

Thanks to the EuroVi standard that entered into force on 31st December 2012 new lorries and buses will be less pollutant from now on. They will emit less nitrogen oxides which will be reduced by 80%, likewise particles will be reduced by 66%. The Commission hopes for positive effects in terms of public health and the environment, as well as in terms of investments.

On 19th December 2012 the 27 ministers responsible for fisheries and agriculture came to agreement on fishing quotas for 2013. Generally ministers approved sharp reductions for most species. This pertains to the herring (up to -65% according to the fishing zone), cod (up to -25%), monkfish (up to -23%), haddock (up to -30%) and sole (-53%) etc ... Few quotas were revised upwards and a total ban was declared on the fishing of some species. As far as agriculture is concerned the Presidency of the Council presented its report on the progress made in terms of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

During the EU/Russia Summit on 21st December 2012 held in Brussels Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke categorically about the suppression of visas. He recalled that Russian tourists spend more than 18 billion euros in the European Union yearly. Moscow has been demanding the free movement of its citizens in Europe for years and and offering reciprocity. But the Russian government has to face the reticence of several EU member states particularly those from the former communist bloc, like Poland, or Baltic States and so no progress was made.

Since January 1st 2013 Ireland has been responsible for the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union that it will be ensuring for the next sixth months. On this occasion Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore presented their priorities. These will be part of the agenda of legislative texts that are already ongoing. These priorities will focus on the renewal of economic governance of the euro zone, youth unemployment, the digital economy, trade agreements exterior to the European Union and the continuation of the enlargement process.

The Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union published a review of the results achieved during the six months of its work as head of the Council. In this document it relates to the work achieved in terms of adopting a multi-annual financial framework and the drafting of sectoral policies of the Union for 2014-2020. It also mentions the last minute agreement achieved on the corrective budget 2012 and the adoption of the 2013 budget, the adoption of fishing quotas in 2013, initiatives aiming to strengthen the governance of the euro zone and those aiming to complete the single market. Finally the documents review the agreements adopted in the area of the common European asylum regime, internal affairs, external trade, external relations and citizenship.

On 17th December 2012 the 27 Environment Ministers decided to provide better protection to the EU's water resources by offering various types of action: improvements in land use and the fight to counter water pollution. They also stressed the need for the European Semester to pay more attention environmental issues. All of these conclusions comprise a first response by the Council to a recent communication issued by the Commission "A plan to protect water resources in Europe".

On 20th December 2012 Spanish MPs approved the 2013 budget marked by unprecedented austerity, notably with a reduction in spending of 39 billion euros. This budget is part of the savings plan set by the EU for Spain planning for 150 billion euros in savings until 2014, in order to reduce the public deficit which totalled 9.4% of the GDP in 2011. In 2012 the aim is to reach 6.3%, a figure that will be "difficult" to attain said Mariano Rajoy's government, then 4.5% in 2013 and 2.8% in 2014.

On 3rd January 2013 during the French council of Ministers, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault presented the government's work programme for a "new, competitive solidarity-based French model." This five page document recalls the priorities of the five year mandate of François Hollande. It states that everything must be done for employment and that the government's main responsibility is to "consolidate public accounts". Jean-Marc Ayrault also said that this ambitious programme would be implemented "methodically, coherently and informatively.

On 29th December 2012 the Constitutional Council annulled the symbolic measure included in the finance law 2013 that aimed to introduce an exceptional contribution on professional revenues over 1 million euros. Set at 18% this contribution (an addition to the marginal income tax rate of 45%) to the exceptional levy on extremely high revenues (finance law 2012) and on social contributions, led to an overall tax of 75%. The Council rejected the measure for technical reasons pointing to the principle of equality in terms of public contributions: indeed it was based on the revenues of every individual without taking into account the tax base. Other measures have also been annulled.

In a letter dated January 1st 2013 the British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose country is ensuring the presidency of the G8 this year, has called on the leaders of the eight richest countries to "take courageous measures" to revive the world's economy. "As leaders of the eight countries representing around half of the world's GDP the ambitious criteria we have set ourselves and the courageous steps that we shall take working together within the G8 can make a real difference in terms of boosting the economy," he wrote. The British Prime Minister wants to introduce economic changes long term within the G8 countries and in the rules that govern relations between these countries. The next G8 summit is planned for 17th and 18th June 2013 in Northern Ireland.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron and his right hand man, Nick Clegg, presented their mid-term results on 7th January 2013. This review has been published at a time when the EU is at the heart of debate in the UK. Hence in an interview given to the BBC on 6th January 2013 D Cameron said that he wanted greater negotiation about EU/UK relations and promised that the Conservatives would offer voters a real choice over Europe in 2015.

The January 2013 edition of the review "Défense nationale" has been published. Its theme is "Transitions stratégiques". Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation has published an article entitled "Ouvertures stratégiques: les 7 portes du futur" (Strategic opportunities: seven windows for the future). In this article he suggests ways to move forward and reasons for hope for France in spite of the crisis.

Marseilles (France) and Kosice (Slovakia), the two European capitals of culture in 2013 will start their cultural agenda on 12th and 19th January respectively. The cultural programme of Marseille-Provence 2013 will start with an inaugural ceremony in Marseille together with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the opening of a contemporary art exhibition in Aix-en-Provence, a paper-chase and a fireworks display in Arles. In Kosice festivities will start with the European Commissioner for Education, Multilinguism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou in attendence. Events will be launched from various points in the town, notably from the theatre and the Steel Arena. On 1st January 2013 the Commissioner recalled the importance of these events for the towns which have been appointed.

The National Library of France in Paris is putting on an exhibition that shows one hundred photographs from its collection. The exhibition is organised neither according to chronology nor theme but follows the poetry in the works and the association of images. All styles are represented: portraits, landscapes, reports, advertising, nudes and scientific photography. On the walls major names in photography in the 19th and 20th centuries are placed next to each other including Félix Nadar, Edgar Degas, Man Ray and Gilles Caron. Amongst the prints the visitor will discover the photographs of some writers like Emile Zola, and the intimate friends of Victor Hugo. The exhibition is open until 17th February 2013.

For several months Arte, the Franco-German TV channel has witnessed increases in the audiences of its programmes. In 2012 the channel witnessed a 20% rise in its audiences. Arte's successes came in all categories (films, documentaries, internet sites etc ...) Arte's news programme at 19:45 has also played a part in the channel's rise in popularity. Its audience (450,000 viewers on average) has risen by 30%.