The "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2013", a reference work on Europe, has just been published in French. This 7th edition includes an exclusive interview with José-Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. The 27 articles all ask the same question: Will 2013 be recovery year? This book has been produced by Thierry Chopin and Michel Foucher and published by Lignes de Repères. It is now available in all bookshops and on the Foundation's site in paper form and for the first time it will be available in digital form (e-book and tablets) in March. The English version will also be available in March

Spain, which is suffering an unemployment rate that rose again in February with over 5 million without work according to the Labour Ministry on 4th March 2013, is due to remain in recession in the first quarter of 2013 indicated the Bank of Spain on 27th February 2013. The final Spanish GDP and growth figures in 2012 published on 28th February 2013 by the National Statistics Institute (INE) show that the recession worsened in the fourth quarter 2012 with a GDP decline of 0.8% in comparison with the third quarter. Over the entire year the Spanish economy declined by 1.4%. Inflation remained at 2.8% in February 2013. The EU pointed out that it was expecting an ambitious plan from Spain in terms of structural reforms that would enable the reduction of the country's public deficit.

On 27th February 2013, the European Commission put forward an overall framework including both qualitative and quantitative targeted goals, to be achieved by 2030 in view of eradicating poverty, and at the same time guaranteeing sustainable development. Whilst the millenium development goals are due to be met in 2015 and that the Rio+20 conference launched the process to pinpoint sustainable development goals, the Commission admits that both challenges might be met by means of a concerted approach. The goal set by the European institution is to come to a common position that will feed debate at the UN and also worldwide.

Three European Commissioners - Olli Rehn, Karel de Gucht and Neelie Kroes -signed a manifesto asking European leaders to "look into options" so that Brussels will become the only seat of the European Union. This move was timidly denied by the European Commission on 27th February; its spokesperson Olivier Bailly said that his declaration had been made "from a personal point of view" saying that the Commission respected the protocol on the seat of the institutions as it stands in the annex to the Treaties." The Robert Schuman Foundation recalls that the Commissioner's college is the guardian of the treaties. It must therefore refrain from taking political, collective and organised stances that are contrary to the European Union's Court of Justice and that it should focus more on the symbols of European unification, including Strasbourg, which is one of the most important of these.

The 16th Summit between the EU and Ukraine took place in Brussels on 25th February 2013. The possible signature of an association agreement between the EU and Ukraine in November 2013 was the focus of discussions. European leaders recalled that the signature of this agreement was conditioned by improvements by Ukraine on three points before May 2013: the end of "selective" justice, the strengthening of democracy and the implementation of advanced legal reform. Leaders also addressed energy issues and a certain number of regional and multilateral issues such as the Ukrainian presidency of the OSCE and relations with Russia and Belarus were also addressed.

As part of the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, French and German Labour Ministers Michel Sapin and Ursula von der Leyen inaugurated a Franco-German agency for employment, the first stage in a framework cooperation agreement between the employment agencies of these two countries. This agreement introduces the new cross border placement service signed in Strasbourg with the two Ministers in attendance. It aims to help job seekers and employers to remove obstacles (linguistic, acknowledgement of diplomas) which might exist when seeking a job on the other side of the border. The unemployment rate lies at 10% in Alsace at present against 4% in Bade-Wurtemberg.

On 28th February 2013 the President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev confirmed that general elections will take place early on 12th May next. A technical government is to be appointed to undertake current affairs and to organise the elections. For the last twenty days Bulgaria has been suffering popular unrest caused by high energy bills in January. Demonstrations have irrupted against corruption, the government and against the political parties.

On 28th February 2013 the French President François Hollande undertook his first official visit to Russia. During this trip he was guest on the radio station 'Echos de Moscou" on which he stressed the "responsibilities of France and Russia" as "major powers and members of the UN Security Council". Hoping to facilitate Russian investments in France he travelled together with some company heads and organised a round table at the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce. During his meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the French head of State did not succeed in reviving Franco-Russian relations. A certain number of subjects, notably the Syrian issue divide the two men - with France siding with the rebels and Russia supporting the regime of Bachar al-Assad.

Following his victory in the Cypriot Presidential election on 24th February 2013, Nicos Anastasiades unveiled his government on 27th February 2013. It comprises 11 ministers. No women are included. Nicos Anastasiades was then sworn in on 28th February 2013 before Parliament for a five year mandate. His first priority will be to finalise a European rescue plan for the island, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Furthermore the new Cypriot president declared that "cooperation was required to rise to the challenges" comprising the "Cypriot problem and the financial crisis."

On March 1st 2013 the Spanish government decided to challenge a resolution adopted in January by the Catalan Parliament on the sovereignty of this region of Spain. This is the first step towards a referendum that the nationalist parties want to organise before the end of 2014. Encouraged by the serious economic crisis that the country is experiencing secessionist fervour and frustration with Madrid has grown over the last few months in Catalonia. A former economic engine of Spain, the region is now the most indebted of the 17 autonomous communities. The Catalan Parliament voted on 23rd January last approving a resolution that notably maintains that the "Catalan people is politically and legal sovereign for reasons of democratic legitimacy."

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on 1st March 2013 the appointment of György Matolcsy, the present economy minister as head of the Hungarian Central Bank (MNB). He will take over from Andras Simor, who after a six year term in office, has to leave since his mandate cannot be renewed.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano travelled to Berlin on 26th February 2013 for a four day official visit during which he met his German counterpart Joachim Gauck and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. During his visit the Italian President stressed that his country was absolutely "not sick", protesting against comments by the Germans who are concerned about the situation that has emerged in the wake of the last elections. He added "I am sure that in the weeks to come an Italian government will be formed (...) I am sure that Italy can only take the path of expansion and unity in Europe."

A forum on the technologies of the future took place in Riga on 27th and 28th February. About 100 people took part including the Prime Ministers of nine Baltic and Nordic countries, as well as British Prime Minister David Cameron. More than 50 experts, researchers and entrepreneurs from these countries addressed the theme of the competitiveness of the green economy and of the reduction of the digital divide. On this occasion David Cameron spoke with his Latvian counterpart Valdis Dombrovskis on 28th February. Their discussions focused on the present development of the European Union and their bilateral relations. They both want to step up economic cooperation between Latvia and the UK.

On 27th February 2013 the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg adopted the draft bill that approves the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance -TSCG - within the Economic and Monetary Union signed in Brussels on 2nd March 2012. The draft bill was adopted by 46 votes against 10. Together with Luxembourg, 18 Member States (incuding 13 in the euro zone) have now ratified the Budgetary Pact. The Robert Schuman Foundation regularly updates its TSCG ratification table.

On 26th February 2013 Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski declared that Poland would take its decision on the date of the country's possible entry into the euro zone after the elections of 2015, ie once the Maastricht criteria have been fulfilled. "We will then have all of the components that will help us to take the decision to guarantee the security of the Polish economy," he said. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said in December last that Warsaw had to take a decision on its membership of the euro in the months to come, has rallied to the Polish President's position for the very first time.

On 28th February 2013 the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy travelled to London to take part in a European conference on the means to revive the euro zone and on the UK's place in Europe. Stressing that the UK is the "champion" of the single European market, he called on the British to play a central role in strengthening the European economy. He stood firm however regarding Prime Minister David Cameron explaining that other European leaders did not want to renegotiate the European treaties and that the EU would not accept any bid by the UK to achieve an 'ad hoc' Europe. He also recalled that leaving the Union was a possibility since the exit clause existed but that this would be a difficult decision to implement both from a legal and political point of view.

The government led by Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who is suspected of being involved in a corruption scandal, was overthrown on 27th February by a no-confidence vote, 55 votes against 33 in support and 1 abstention. Janez Jansa may be replaced by Alenka Bratusek from the "Positive Slovenia" party. Aged 42, a specialist in budgetary questions Ms Bratusek has until 14th March to form a government that might be approved by Parliament. She will become the first woman to occupy the post of Prime Minister in Slovenia. In the event of the formation of a new government, early elections will be organised.

On 25th February 2013 the IMF reported that Croatia's economic conditions have worsened over the last twelve months. Low foreign demand, private sector debt and a lack of business and consumer confidence are the main causes. According to the report the implementation of a structural reform programme, vital for the recovery of growth and the improvement of mid-term prospects - must be stepped up - likewise public finance consolidation, to re-establish the viability of the debt and maintain market access.

From 24th to 28th February 2013 the American Secretary of State, John Kerry went on a tour of Europe. It started in London where the Secretary of State met his British counterpart William Hague. The two men held a press conference devoted in part to the Syrian situation. John Kerry then travelled to Berlin to meet German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and Chancellor Angela Merkel. On 27th February the Secretary of State met French President François Hollande and his Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. John Kerry's tour ended in Rome where the Syrian issue was discussed at length. John Kerry spoke with the head of the Syrian opposition and attended a meeting held by "Friends of the Syrian People".

On 3rd March 2013 the Swiss voted largely in support of the initiative to limit "excessive remunerations" granted to the heads of Swiss companies by 67.9% of the votes cast. Amongst the main measures in the initiative the length of the mandate of the members of the board should be limited to one year. Some forms of remuneration such as compensation on departure will be banned. Moreover the general assembly of shareholders will vote yearly on the remunerations made available to the members of the board and the management and it will have to approve salaries of the latter.

On 26th February 2013 the litigation settlements body within the WTO supported the EU regarding anti-dumping taxes set by Beijing on the import of x-ray security inspection equipment ranging from 33.5% to 71.8%. "In that China's action is not in line with certain measures in the Anti-Dumping Agreement" the WTO has asked China to take steps to conform to the obligations associated with the GATT rules and the anti-dumping agreement. On 28th February the European Commission opened a further anti-dumping investigation into solar glass imports from China.

The EADS group revealed results that were higher than forecast on 27th February; however it anticipates moderate growth in 2012 because of problems with the super-jumbo A380, which is slowing deliveries. The aviation and defence group is also prudent about the future A350 expected at the end of 2014. The operational result totalled 3 billion euros - a spectular rise of 68%. The goal for 2013 totalled 3.5 billion. "EADS will only grow moderately" in 2013, notably because of the slowing in A380 deliveries, and also on the basis of an exchange rate of 1.35 $ for one euro, said the group's executive president, Tom Enders.

According to Eurostat figures published on 1st March 2013 the unemployment rate, adjusted to seasonal variations, lay at 11.9% in January 2013 in the euro zone, which is higher in comparison with the rate of 11.8% in December 2012. Likewise in the EU the unemployment rate lay at 10.8%, which is higher in comparison with the rate of 10.7% in the previous month. Amongst the Member States the lowest rates were recorded in Austria (4.9%), Germany and Luxembourg (5.3%) as well as in the Netherlands (6.0%) and the highest in Greece (27% in November 2012) in Spain (26.2%) as well as in Portugal (17.6%). Over one year the unemployment rate increased in 19 Member States and decreased in 7 - it remained stable in Denmark.

The British Museum of London is devoting an exhibition to the art of the Ice Age until 26th May 2013. The exhibition brings together very old works of art from the period 40,000 to 10,000 BC. Some remarkable pieces of work together with references to recent work are on show illustrating the similarity that can occur between prehistoric and modern art. The Venus of Lespugue for example fascinated Picasso and he admitted that it had influenced his sculptures as of 1930.