The Robert Schuman Foundation published a European Issue entitled "The European Union and the Russo-Georgian War". Authors, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation and Michel Foucher, geographer and diplomat, member of the Foundation's scientific committee, review the events that occurred in August during the Russo-Georgian war. They explain that the European response to the conflict must be firm but responsible and that it must make use of international law in support of its proposals.
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This week on the occasion of the EU-Ukraine Summit, which will take place on 9th September, the Robert Schuman Foundation has published a European Issue: "The EU-Ukraine Summit- 9th September 2008: is this an historic, strategic turning point?" The paper looks into developments in the Ukraine's political and economic transformation four years after the "Orange Revolution"; it presents an overview of the Ukraine's policies in the gas sector and developments that have taken place in its relations with Russia.
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On 21st September next the Slovenians will be renewing the Drzavni Zbor (the lower Chamber of Parliament), which includes 90 members, elected for a four year period by proportional representation (the Constitution guarantees a seat to each of the Italian and Hungarian minorities). Seven political parties are running: the Demcoratic Party (SDS) led by Prime Minister, Janez Jansa, the Liberal Democrat Party (LDS) the main opposition party; the Social Democrat Party (SD); the People's Party (SLS); New Slovenia (NSI), member of the government coalition; the Democratic Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), member of the government coalition and the National Party (SNS).
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Austrians are being called to vote on 28th September next for early general elections after the collapse of the "grand coalition" between the Social Democrat Party (SPÖ) led by Alfred Gusenbauer (SPÖ) and the People's Party (ÖVP) led by Vice-Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer on 9th July last. The National Rat rallies 183 MPs and the Bundesrat 64 representatives of the Länder. Polls undertaken by Market and published on 28th August by the magazine 'News' positions the SPÖ ahead in terms of voting intentions with 28% of the vote, followed by the ÖVP with 26%, the Greens (13%), the Liberal Party (FPÖ) - 20% and the Alliance for the future of Austria (BZÖ), 4%.
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