On 9th October 2013 the Robert Schuman Foundation organised an exceptional debate with the Linklaters consultancy and the newspaper "Les Echos" between former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy on the future of the European Union. The Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation hosted the debate. This unique conference looked into the real stages of European Integration over the next 10 to 15 years and the possible stumbling blocks that might be encountered. The participants reviewed the expectations of the new generations of Europeans for whom it is vital to provide certainty in order to invest. The Foundation has put a video of the debate on-line on its site together with a series of photos.

Outgoing President of the Republic, Ilham Alyev (New Azerbaijan Party, YAP) was re-elected on 9th October 2013 during the presidential election in Azerbaijan. In office since 2003, taking over from his father, Heydar, who led the country almost non-stop between 1969 and 2003, he will now be undertaking a third five year term as head of the country. Turnout was slightly lower than in the previous presidential election on 15th October 2008: 72% (-3.64 points). In the evening of 10th October the European Union called on Azerbaijan to settle the "problems" pinpointed by the OSCE's observers' mission. Amongst these the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) notably identified "the manipulation of electoral lists" and "restrictions of the freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly."

On 8th October 2013 the Belgian Ministers came to agreement on the 2014 budget. The government saved 561 million euro, enabling a reduction of the Belgian deficit to 2.15% of the GDP. The budget will devote 263 million euro to measures to revive the economy which should support employment, businesses, competitiveness and also improve buying power.

On 9th October 2013 the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso and the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Cecilia Malmström travelled to Lampedusa. During a joint press conference with the head of the Italian government, Enrico Letta, Mr Barroso declared that "Europe stood by the inhabitants of Lampedusa" (...) "this kind of accident should not happen in Europe, greater effort has to be made, there must be greater cooperation between all Member States." Declaring that "Europe could not look the other way," he announced aid of 30 million additional euros for Italy to manage the migratory flows. Cecilia Malmström repeated that the 28 Member States were going to set up a vast "security and rescue operation" of migrants in the Mediterranean.

On 9th October 2013 MEPs adopted a directive - 596 votes in support, 37 against and 31 abstentions - aiming to introduce a European professional map in order to enable some professions such as doctors, pharmacists and even architects to establish more easily in other EU countries. Moreover a warning system will be introduced to prevent medical professionals who have been convicted in one European country in the Union from establishing a practice in other.

On 7th and 8th October 2013 the 28 European Justice and Interior Ministers defined a general guideline for the directive on the criminal protection of the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting. The directive on the right to access to a lawyer in criminal procedures and the legislative package on the governance of Schengen were adopted. Ministers agreed on the temporary move of the European Police College (CEPOL) from Bramshill to Budapest. They debated the "one-stop-shop" mechanism as part of the bid to protect data; they discussed the conflict in Syria as well as the shipwreck off Lampedusa. They noted the interim report by the Commission on the Member States' implementation of rules relative to free movement. Finally they met their Eastern Partnership counterparts to discuss the future in their specific areas.

In an opinion published on 7th October 2013 the European Central Bank (ECB) expressed its concern about the independence of the Hungarian Central Bank (MNB) after its merger with Hungarian Financial Supervisory Authority (HFSA). The ECB questions the fact that the Hungarian government did not take into account the opinion issued by the ECB before parliament's adoption of this merger. The ECB also warns against giving new tasks to the MNB without granting it further financial means which might damage its ability to undertake its work independently. Resulting from the MNB/HFSA merger a new body will be created within the MNB, the Financial Stability Council, the director of which will be the Chairman of the MNB.

The German Book Prize, which makes an award for the best novel of the year, was granted on 7th October 2013 to Hungarian writer and translator Terezia Mora for a her work "Das Ungeheuer" (The Monster). The jury lauded an "overwhelming novel, which fits perfectly into our era." The 700 page novel tells the story of an obese IT expert who travels around Hungary and then Southern Europe looking for a place to scatter the ashes of his wife who committed suicide. At the same time he reads her diary in which the deceased wrote down her experience of depression. Terezia Mora, who is 42 years old and originates from Hungary, lives in Berlin.

Outgoing Chancellor, Social Democrat Werner Faymann was asked on 9th October 2013 by Austrian President Heinz Fischer to form a new government after the Social Democratic victory (SPÖ) in the general elections on 29th September last. Having won the greatest number of votes (26.8% ie 52 seats in parliament) the SPÖ intends to lead negotiations to renew its alliance with the Conservatives of the ÖVP, which came second with 23.9% of the vote and 47 seats.

Former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens passed away on 10th October 2013. Leader of nine Belgian governments from 1979 to 1992 he had to face many unstable political situations, community tension and managed to revive the Belgian economy. He had been President of the EPP (European People's Party) since 1990. A great European has left us.

Heidi Hautala, the Finnish Minister for International Cooperation and Public Business Minister resigned on 11th October 2013 after admitting that she asked a public company to withdraw a complaint made against Greenpeace militants.

On 11th October 2013 the French Constitutional Council decided to validate the law dated 13th July 2011 banning the use of and drilling for shale gas in France via fracking. This technique presents several dangers for the environment. The council was solicited by the Texan company Schuepbach Energy LLC which won to licences to drill in the south of France before these were withdrawn following the approval of the 2011 law.

On 9th October 2013 the European Commission authorised the acquisition of the Greek airline Olympic Air by its Greek rival Aegean Airlines. Due to its financial difficulties Olympic Air was going to be forced to quit the market and offer its rival market shares. After a Commission inquiry in April 2013 the latter concluded that it was not very likely that another airline would enter the national domestic flights market in Greece. Moreover the inquiry revealed that there was no other credible buyer for Olympic.

After the Water Summit that took place in Budapest on 8th-11th October 2013 participants adopted a final declaration which sets out real recommendations for the sustainable development goals post 2015. The five political recommendations in the declaration are as follows: the creation of precise, well defined goals; an integrated approach to water management; the promotion of good governance in terms of water management; the use of water to create growth and green economies; the creation of new means of financing.

On 8th and 9th October 2013 the heads of state of Germany, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Poland and Portugal met in Krakow in the Wawel Castle, for a summit of the "Arraiolos" group (which brings together the previously mentioned countries as well as Austria, Hungary and Slovenia). The Bulgarian and Estonian Presidents were invited. They discussed economic reforms, both national and community - especially the functioning of the single market. They also discussed economic links with the USA and the need to sign a transatlantic trade and investment agreement.

On 7th October 2013 Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Liviu Dragnea was accused of electoral fraud during the referendum in 2012 which sought the destitution of the President of the Republic. According to the prosecutors Mr Dragnea had "coordinated a complex mechanism in which he involved several people over whom he had influence with the aim of changing the results of the turnout." His aim was to collate a 50% turnout in order to validate the result.

The British Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore was ousted from cabinet on 7th October 2013 in the government re-shuffle just one year from the referendum on the region's independence. Michael Moore, who said he was disappointed to leave government, is being replaced by Alistair Carmichael. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg justified this decision by the need for "a different experience" in the run-up to the referendum on 18th September 2014. Clearly the more aggressive, combative style of Alistair Carmichael should help to overcome the pressure exercised by Alex Salmond, the nationalist Prime Minister of Scotland and block out the secessionists. Michael Moore is the only member of the cabinet, that rallies 21 of the most important ministers apart from Prime Minister David Cameron, to be affected by this the second government reshuffle.

This year's Nobel Prizes were awarded from 7th to 14th October 2013. There are four Europeans amongst the winners. On 7th October 2013 the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology was awarded amongst others to German Thomas C. Südhof. On 8th October 2013 Belgian François Englert and Briton Peter Higgs received the Nobel Prize for Physics. On 9th October 2013 the Austro-American Martin Karplus won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry jointly with two Americans. On 11th October 2013 the Nobel Peace Prize went to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) "for its work in eradicating chemical weapons." This organisation whose HQ is in The Hague is fighting for the destruction of chemical weapons across the world.

On 7th October 2013 the Norwegian Conservative Party, which won the general elections on 9th September 2013 with Erna Solberg as its leader and the Progress Party, a populist, anti-immigration party, agreed on the formation of a minority government coalition which is due to enter office very shortly. The Liberals and the Christian Democrats did not manage to agree but they granted their support "without participating" in this coalition. A joint programme was drafted by the two parties. Outgoing Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg announced his resignation on 14th October 2013.

On 14th October 2013 Eurostat indicated that industrial output corrected to seasonal variations was up in the euro zone (+0.1%) and in the EU (+0.5%) in August 2013 in comparison with July 2013. The previous month industrial output had decreased in the euro zone (-1%) and in the Union (-0.6%). In comparison with August 2013 industrial output is down in the euro zone (-2.1%) and in the EU (-1.6%).

In October 2013 Eurobarometer published a survey on the quality of life in European cities. The EU's citizens say they are satisfied with their city in Aalborg (99%), Hamburg (98%), Zurich, Oslo, Copenhagen and Groningen (all 97%). However satisfaction is below 75% in Athens (52%), Naples (65%), Palermo (71%). Differences in satisfaction levels between cities are often due to public transport, healthcare services, sports facilities, cultural centres, green areas, and even the maintenance of public areas. The report highlights the fact that Europeans are not really satisfied with their schools; the most dissatisfied were noted in Palermo (50%), Naples 48%), Athens 45% and Bucharest (44%).

On 8th October 2013 the OECD and the European Commission published a study on literacy, numeracy, calculation and problem solving skills in the technological domain of people aged 16-65 in 17 EU Member States. According to results one adult in five in Europe has weak reading, literacy and calculation skills. 25% of adults do not have the digital skills required to use ITC's effectively. Moreover the study shows high disparity between the Member States. The conclusions of the study stress the need to invest more in education and training.

La Documentation Française has published a work entitled "La politique migratoire de l'Union Européenne" in the series '"réflexeeurope" by Corinne Balleix, Phd Political Science, and a lecturer at Sciences Po, Paris. In this book the author reviews the EU's migratory policy in a context of globalisation, successive enlargements and the economic crisis. Even though the most recent treaties have planned for a joint migratory policy the author shows that the Member States still occupy a major position in the management of migratory flows. After looking into the stages of the European asylum and immigration policy Ms Balleix highlights the role played by the Member States and examines the management of the Union's external borders.

The Kunsthalle of Hamburg is devoting an exhibition to Danish painting until 12th January 2014 entitled "Denmark's break-through to modernism. The Hirschsprung Collection from Eckersberg to Hammershøi". The exhibition brings together work covering the second half of the 19th until the beginning of the 20th centuries.