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News Thursday 4th December 2008
A franco-Americain conference – Paris, 5th December 2008
The Robert Schuman Foundation and the Center for Transatlantic Relations (Johns Hopkins University) are organising a Franco-American conference in Paris on 5th December entitled: "2009: what challenges for the Franco-American relationship?"; notably Jean François-Poncet, former Foreign Minister and Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Republic will be in attendance. Ten French and American experts will debate five themes: strategic challenges, the Mediterranean, Africa, the world economy and Russia.
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The French Influence in the European Parliament : results and perspectives. What challenges are on the horizon with the European Elections - 2009? (Part one)
The next European elections will take place on 4th and 7th June 2009. Within this context and the increasing power enjoyed by the European Parliament, the only institution elected by universal suffrage, the issue of French influence in the European Parliament will be the source of continued attention - awareness of this was first raised during the European elections 2004. This week the Robert Schuman Foundation has published the first part of this European Issue by Thierry Chopin and Claire Dhéret. The authors draw up an overview of the end of the 6th term in office (2004-2009), before putting forward (next week) ways to consolidate this influence with the European elections 2009 in view.
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Editorial of Jean-Dominique Giuliani: "The German Choice"
In an editorial published on his site Jean-Dominique Giuliani looks into the conditions needed for a concerted economic revival in Europe.
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Victory in numbers of votes for the Social Democratic Party; but victory in terms of seats for the Democratic Liberal Party led by President of the Republic Traian Basescu in the Romanian parliamentary elections
The main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) led by Mircea Geoana allied to the Conservative Party led by Dan Voiculescu, won the Romanian parliamentary elections on 30th November, slightly ahead of the Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L) led by President of the Republic Traian Basescu. The PSD won 33.09% of the vote in the general elections and 34.16% in the senatorial vote; the PD-L won 32.36% and 33.57%. The National Liberal Party (PNL) led by outgoing Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu came third with 18.57% and 18.74% of the vote. Finally the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), member of the outgoing government coalition, led by Marko Bela won 6.17% and 6.39% of the vote and thereby becomes the fourth party represented in parliament.
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New publication: "The time for European Agriculture to make a choice: why should we believe in the CAP?"
The European agriculture and fisheries ministers met on 28 November in Brussels to discuss the follow-up to the informal meeting on the future of the common agricultural policy after 2013 and solidarity and openness in agriculture. On this questions, the Robert Schuman Foundation has published a study by Nicolas-Jean Bréhon, a teacher of public finance at the University of Paris I - Sorbonne - he also had a column in "Monde de l'économie" from 1999 to 2008. The study is entitled "The time for European Agriculture to make a choice: why should we believe in the CAP?" This study is available on-line in French (in paper form or PDF) for a sum of 10€.
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Europe Live

Cohesion
Presidency
On 26th November the 27 European Ministers responsible for regional development and cohesion policy unanimously adopted a new stage in the... OECD
Financial Crisis
Most OECD countries will suffer "severe and extended recession" - for some this means until 2010, forecasts the OECD in its economic perspectives... France/USA
Foundation
The Robert Schuman Foundation and the Center for Transatlantic Relations (Johns Hopkins University) are organising a Franco-American conference in... Finland
Luxembourg
From 24th to 26th November the Finnish President Tarja Halonen was on an official visit to Luxembourg. During this visit she had interviews with... Agriculture
Council
On 28th November the 27 Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers discussed what is to be done with regard to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy... Environment
Germany
Germany has already achieved its goals to reduce CO2 emissions - four years ahead of time - established by Kyoto said the Environment Minister on... Italy
France
The institute for political studies in Paris together with the Embassy of Italy in Paris and the Embassy of France in Italy are organising a... Budget
Germany
On 28th November after four days of discussion the Bundestag adopted the 2009 budget to a total of 290 billion euro. The budgetary debate provided an... Council
Publications
Daniel Naurin and Helen Wallace, professors at the European University Institute of Florence have published a paper entitled "Unveiling the Council... Sport
Presidency
On 28th November the 27 European Sports Ministers signed a joint declaration asking the European Commission "to look into the comptability of a... Patents
European Agencies
Stem cells designed for research cannot be patented in Europe if they have been obtained from the destruction of human embryos decided the European... Poland
UK
On 24th November British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. Bilateral discussions mainly focussed on the follow-up... Space
European Agencies
At a meeting in the Hague on 25th and 26th November Ministers responsible for space activities from the 18 Member States of the European Space Agency... Elections/Romania
Foundation
The two main Romanian parties, the PDL and the PSD achieved tight scores in the parliamentary elections on 30th November according to the final... The Netherlands
Financial Crisis
On 25th November the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende announced measures to limit the impact of the economic crisis. He advised on the... REACH
European Agencies
December 1st was the deadline for the pre-registration of chemical substances submitted to the REACH legislation. Since June 1st 2008 companies have... Cervantes Prize
Culture
On 27th November the Spanish Culture Minister César Antonio Molina announced that the 2008 issue of the literary Cervantes prize, considered in the... Counterfeiting
Presidency
On 26th November the French Presidency of the EU presented the major guidelines of its customs action plan to fight against counterfeiting 2009-2012.... Climate
Studies/Reports
The German Society for Foreign Policy (DGAP) published a study entitled "Eine neue europaïsche Klimadiplomatie-Einbindung der USA bei der Lösung der... Family
Eurobarometer
A Eurobarometer survey on "Family Life and the Needs of an Ageing Population" reveals that although 9 Europeans in 10 are happy with their family... Demography
Commission
The European Commission presented its two yearly report on demography on 24th November confirming that the population is ageing: over the next 25... Inflation
Eurostat
According to an estimate published by Eurostat on 28th November the inflation rate in the euro area in 2008 lay at 2.1% in November 2008. This is a... Sweden
Croatia
Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader travelled on an official visit to Sweden - which will take over the presidency of the EU in the second half of... Interim Government
Belgium
Outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt succeeded in reaching agreement on 19th December to form an interim government until 23rd March next... Spain
Financial Crisis
On 27th November the Spanish government announced its recovery plan to a total of 11 billion euros - this entails investment in public works and... Treaty/...continued
Ireland
The sub-committee on the future of Ireland in the EU that was set up after the negative referendum on the Lisbon Treaty on 12th June last published... China
Greece
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis agreed on 25th November to increase co-operation in the area of sea trade to... Unemployment
Germany
Unemployment continued to decline in Germany in November, with the labour market standing up better than economists had expected. The gross... Georgia
Russia
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has promulgated the friendship treaties with the Georgian separatist republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia... Education
Presidency
On 26th November the 27 Education, Vocational Training and Higher Education Ministers adopted the "Bordeaux Communiqué" the aim of which is to review... EU/China
Presidency
On 27th November China decided to delay sine die the EU/China Summit that had initially been planned for December 1st. This is in protest against the... Regulation
Foundation
The European Commission's Academy for Moral and Political Science and Representation in France is organising a seminar on 5th December dedicated to... Kosovo
Estonia
From 24th to 26th November Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip was on an official visit to Kosovo where he met Kosovar President Fatmis Sejdiu and... Opera/Milan
Culture
The Scala of Milan is presenting the Richard Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde" until 2nd January under the management of Daniel Barenboïm and the... Broad Band
Commission
According to a report by the European Commission released on 28th November Broadband penetration in Europe continues to grow, from 18.2% in July 2007... Economy
Lithuania
The European Commissioner for the Budget, Dalia Grybauskaite recalls that Lithuania must first settle its finances before being able to apply the... Elections
Romania
The two main Romanian parties, the PDL and the PSD achieved tight scores in the parliamentary elections on 30th November according to the final... Treaty ratified
Italia
Italian deputies have voted at the unanimity on july, 31th the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, just one week after the positive vote from the... EBRD
Studies/Reports
According to the Transition 2008 report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, economic growth will be halved in Central Europe and... Cyprus
Greece
Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias undertook his first official visit on 26th to 28th November to Greece on the invitation of Greek President... Sanctions
Bulgaria
On 25th November the Commission decided to withdraw permanently the 220 million euros in European funds from Bulgaria due to inadequate measures... Russia
Studies/Reports
The Center for Applied Policy Research in Munich (CAP) has published "Double win in EU-Russia Relations - Roadmap for a New PCA" by Mirela Isic and... Italy
Financial Crisis
On 28th November the Italian government adopted anti-crisis measures targeting families and companies so that they can confront the recession - aid... Environment
Studies/Reports
The Foundation for Political Innovation has published a study under the management of Elvire Fabry and Damien Tresallet entitled "Environment and... Taxation
Luxembourg
The European Commission addressed a reasoned opinion to Luxembourg asking it to modify parts of its legislation in terms of savings taxation. The... Franco-German
France
On 24th November the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that they wanted to establish a co-ordinated... Nationalisations
UK
The British government, which promised to guarantee an increase in capital to a total of 18 billion euro for the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), the... Telecom
Council
On 27th November the 27 Ministers adopted measures to support consumers notably with regard to a ceiling on SMS tarifs between European countries -... Nuclear
Commission
On 26th November the European Commission suggested a revision of the directive establishing the community framework for nuclear security 2004. The... Pharmacies
Commission
The European Commission is accusing pharmaceutical groups operating in Europe of preventing the entry of competing medicines onto the market -... Home Affairs/Justice
Council
On 27th and 28th November the 27 Justice and Home Affairs Ministers adopted priorities in the fight against terrorism and the strategy to fight... Services
Eurostat
According to Eurostat's most recent figures published on 27th November the EU's international services trade recorded a rising surplus of 84.1... Ireland
Studies/Reports
The Irish Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA) has published a report entitled "Ireland's Future After Lisbon: Issues, Options and... Unemployment
Eurostat
According to recent Eurostat estimates published on 28th November the unemployment rate rose to 7.7% in the euro area and to 7.1% in the EU in... Slovakia
Eurobarometer
According to a recent Eurobarometer survey more than half of the Slovakians (57%) are happy that the euro has replaced the Slovakian crown and think... Treaty/Court
Czech Republic
On 26th November the Czech Constitutional Court said that the Lisbon Treaty was in line with Czech fundamental law thereby opening the way to its... EU/Africa
Presidency
On 25th November the second Euro-African conference on migration and development rallied the 27 EU Member States and 27 African countries in Paris.... Payments
ECB
The European Central Bank published its 6th progress report on 24th November on the Single Euro Payments Area - SEPA. This report reveals significant... EULEX
UN
On 26th November the UN Security Council approved the deployment of the future EU police and justice mission in Kosovo (EULEX). It gave the green... Bananas
WTO
On 26th November the WTO confirmed condemnation of the EU with regard to its banana import system thereby complying with complaints lodged by the USA... UK
Financial Crisis
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced an action plan on 24th November in the fight against the financial crisis and economic slow-down. In... Study
Financial Crisis
According to the most recent estimates published by the European Commission the confidence of company heads and consumers in the EU collapsed in... Poland
Financial Crisis
On 30th November Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the adoption of a stabilisation and development programme for 2009-2010 totalling 91.3... Commission
Financial Crisis
On 26th November the European Comission presented a comprehensive plan to drive Europe's recovery from the current economic crisis. The Plan calls... USA
Studies/Reports
The Center for European Reform has just published a study entitled "What Europe wants from President Obama". Greenland
Denmark
On 25th November the official results of a referendum on greater autonomy of the island confirmed that 75.5% of the 57,000 inhabitants want to move... Europe
Publications
"L'Europe et vous" is the first title in the series "L'Actu Facile" jointly edited by the Documentation Française and the Editions RadioFrance. The... Industry
Eurostat
According to Eurostat figures released on 24th November in September 2008 compared with August 2008, the euro area industrial new orders index fell... Ukraine
Russia
The Ukrainian gas company Naftogas and the Russian Gazprom agreed on 25th November on a partial reimbursement of the Ukrainian debt. "An agreement... Schengen
Switzerland
On 27th November the Mixed Committee rallying the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland decided to lift land border controls between...

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