The "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2017" published by Lignes de Repères in French and English offers many interesting articles on European current affairs. Order your copy on line now!

On 5th July the Foundation's Chairman, Jean-Dominique Giuliani is taking part in a seminar organised IHEDN and Egmont in Brussels on "European Defence: a new start?"

On 26th June the fourth anti-money laundering directive entered into force. As it tightens the present rules it will make the fight to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism more effective.

On 27th June the Commission fined Google 2.42 billion € for infringing the Union's competition rules. Google abused its dominant position on the search engine market by granting illegal advantage to another of its products - its price comparison service.

On 29th June the European Commission presented the 8th report on progress made in terms of introducing a truly, effective security union and called to speed up work undertaken to strengthen the security of European citizens.

On 1st July, several government heads of state met in Strasbourg to pay their last respects to Helmut Kohl, German Chancellor from 1982 to 1998, the father of German reunification.

On 28th June the French government presented the main outline of the reform of the labour code taking on board future changes in the world of work that make in-depth renovation of the French social model necessary "whilst retaining the fundamental elements" of this.

The French public deficit is due to total 3.2% of the GDP in 2017 according to the French Court of Auditors following inadequate management by the previous government.

Simone Veil passed away on 30th June aged 89. The first President of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage from 1979 to 1982, she was the inspiration behind the Veil Bill which ensured the decriminalisation of abortion. She embodied - in her own way - the three major moments in the history of the 20th century: the Shoah, women's emancipation and European hope.

On 26th June British Prime Minister Theresa May declared that at the moment of Brexit in March 2019 European citizens "living in the UK for five years will be given the permanent resident status" and will be "treated as British citizens as far as healthcare, education, services and retirement pensions are concerned."

Scottish Prime Minister Nicolas Sturgeon announced on 27th June that the decision regarding the organisation of a further referendum on independence would be postponed until the autumn of 2018 after negotiations regarding the Brexit.

The Italian, French and German Ministers for Home Affairs want to "develop a code of conduct for NGO's" which are rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean and "strengthen support to the Libyan coast-guards" they said on 3rd July.

The unemployment rate in the EU lay at 7.8%, a stable figure in comparison with April. This is the lowest rate recorded since December 2008. In the euro zone it lies at 9.3%, its lowest rate since March 2009, announced Eurostat on 3rd July.

From 3rd to 9th July, the town of Llangollen is hosting the "Eisteddfod" an international Welsh dance and music festival that was first held in 1947. 4000 artists from over 50 countries will be performing and 50,000 visitors are expected.

Until 30th August the arenas of Verona will be hosting their prestigious opera festival. The Arenas are offering works by Verdi (Aida or Rigoletto) and Puccini (Mme Butterfly and Tosca) with a tribute being made to Placido Domingo on 21st July.

From 6th to 26th July the 71st Avignon Festival is taking place - this is one of the biggest international contemporary arts events. Avignon turns into a theatre-town, hosting more than 130,000 visitors. On the programme: around thirty performances, lectures, exhibitions, films and debates.

From 5th to 9th July the EXIT music festival is taking place in the Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The Balaton Sound, one of the biggest electronic music festivals in Europe will be taking place from 5th to 9th July on the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary.

Until 24th September the Thyseen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid is paying tribute to the Venetian paintings of the 16th century as its shows the masterpieces of Renaissance artists like Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and Lotto.

Until 22nd July the lyrical music festival is taking place in Aix-en-Provence which is opening with a contemporary production - a daring wager in this temple of Mozart, Joël Pommerat's "Pinocchio", which has been set to music by the Belgian composer Philippe Boesmans.