On 15th June Europeans using their mobile phone in another Member State will no longer more extra costs, but the same price as if they were in their own country. It is the end of roaming fees - a step forward for the citizens of Europe.

The République en Marche (LREM) easily won the general election in France. In the second round of voting on 18th June LREM won 43.06% of the vote and 306 seats, ie the absolute majority (289 seats). Its partner, MoDem won 6.06% of the vote and 42 seats. The Republicans (LR) won 22.23% of the vote and 113 seats (-81). Their allies of the Democrat and Independent Union (UDI) won 3.04% of the vote and 17 seats. The Front National (FN) won 8.75% of the vote and 8 seats (+6). France Unbowed (LFI) won 4.86% of the vote and 17 seats. The Communist Party (PCF) won 1.20% of the vote and 10 seats. The Socialist Party (PS) with 5.68% of the vote and 29 seats (-251) suffered the worst defeat in its entire history. Turnout was also the lowest ever recorded: 42.64% of the electorate went to ballot.

Whilst negotiations opened on 19th June between the EU and the UK over the country's exit of the EU, the Foundation invites you to read the article by Jean-Claude Piris. The "Schuman Report on the State of the Union" 2017 published by Lignes de Repères in French and English offers many interesting articles. Order your copy on line now!

On 15th June the OECD published data regarding the G20 countries' GDP. Growth totalled 3.4% in the first quarter.

On 13th June the European Union celebrated 30 years of its programme of study periods of abroad "Erasmus" from which 9 million people have already benefited. On this occasion the Commission will also launch a new mobile app Erasmus+ to facilitate administrative procedures, sharing integration advice, improving linguistic competences.

On 13th June MEPs gave the greenlight for a new, stricter energy scale that will be introduced at the end of 2019 at the earliest. On 14th June they adopted a report in support of new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to guarantee the respect of the Paris Agreement.

On 15th June the Council came to an agreement with the European Parliament regarding financial assistance for Moldova. 100 million € will be granted for the stabilisation of the economy and for structural reform.

According to an ECJ decision dated 13th June service provision undertaken by operators in Gibraltar and provided to people in the UK are deemed as service provision taking place in one and the same Member State although the Court confirms that Gibraltar is not part of the UK.

On 12th, 13th and 14th June, several African leaders travelled to Berlin since Germany wanted to take the opportunity of its presidency of the G20 to attract investments towards Africa, a necessary state to reduce migration towards Europe.

On 14th June the Danish Development and Foreign Affairs Ministers announced the introduction of a new strategy linked amongst other things to migration, defence, to the future of the EU, to globalisation, thereby responding to the challenges of a "very different world just three or four years ago".

On 16th June the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss bilateral relations, the fight to counter terrorism, Brexit and the European Council of 22nd and 23rd June.

On 14th June during the Council of Ministers the French government presented the European working method. There is no longer a public field of action without a European dimension. It is at Union level that vital negotiations for the country will be undertaken, therefore demanding permanent political commitment on the part of each minister.

On 14th June following the resignation of Enda Kenny at the end of May Leo Varadkar became Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland after a vote by the Irish Parliament and having taken over as leader of the party Fine Gael. He promised to form "a government that is neither on the right or the left".

During a meeting on 14th June the Romanian Social Democratic Party decided to withdraw its support from the government in office due to the poor implementation of the programme. Following the resignation of the ministers Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, refused to follow suite. A motion of no confidence was delivered for 21st June.

On 13th June French President Emmanuel Macron hosted British Prime Minister Theresa May. During their joint press conference they announced a joint action plan to strengthen the fight to combat terrorism and communicated about the Brexit.

Following a visit to Brussels on 12th June where he met Johannes Hahn, the European Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zayev said he wanted to continue negotiations regarding joining the EU.

Further sanctions approved on 15th June by the American Senate against Moscow are not to the taste of the German Foreign Affairs Minister since they target European companies that are to participate in the gas pipeline project Nordstream2. In a joint press release with the Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, Sigmar Gabriel notes that if these sanctions are successful, the European companies involved in certain energy projects would have to pay fines.

On 12th June the visa exemption for Ukrainians who want to travel for a short stay in the EU became applicable. All Ukrainians with a biometric passport will be able to travel to an EU State for up to 90 days maximum over an 180 day period.

The Council of Europe's anti-corruption group (GRECO) published an interim compliance report on 12th June on Turkey. This report focuses on the country's compliance with the 17 recommendations adopted in March 2010 regarding "incrimination" and the "transparency in the financing of politics" which overall is still "insufficient".

According to a Eurostat study published on 15th June the export of goods from the euro zone to the rest of the world lay at 167.7 billion €. Imports from the rest of the world lay at 149.8 billion €. The euro zone recorded a surplus of 17.9 billion € in April 2017.

The report published by the OECD on 13th June shows a rise in employment rates in the countries of the OECD zone.

On 21st June France will be transformed with its annual music festival, as it pays tribute to the first day of the summer. The streets and public places in France will be transformed for a day and one night into concert halls. The programmes can be found in the regional press and information in the town halls.