In response to the economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Union has set up a €672.5 billion recovery fund, known as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, for Member States in the form of grants and loans. On 30 November, the Commission approved Hungary's recovery plan, for which a payment will only be made if the Hungarian government implements the 17 corrective measures, as well as 27 other reforms related to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. It also paid €85 million to Cyprus. The Foundation has an interactive map of the country-by-country plans, showing figures, timetables and priorities.

NATO Foreign Ministers, meeting in Bucharest on 29-30 November, condemned Russia's crimes in Ukraine and its attempts to annex Ukrainian territory. They said they would support Ukraine in its reconstruction and strengthen their partnership "as it fulfils its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. They spoke of the accession of Finland and Sweden and rapprochement with the Western Balkans. They said they were developing a united response and defence against any attack on Alliance countries.

On 30 November, the Commission presented various options to ensure that Russia's responsibility for crimes committed in Ukraine is established. These include the creation of a new structure to manage, invest and use the proceeds of the €300 billion of Russian public assets currently frozen and immobilised by the European Union and its partners for Ukraine, including compensation for damages. The Commission proposes the creation of an ad hoc international tribunal or a hybrid tribunal that would be integrated into a national judicial system with international judges. In addition, the G7 Justice Ministers, meeting on 28-29 November in Berlin, agreed on closer and faster cooperation in investigations so that no war crime "goes unpunished".

On 1 December, the Italian government adopted a decree authorising the transfer of military assets, supplies and equipment to Ukraine until 31 December 2023.

At the OSCE Ministerial Council in Lodz on 1 and 2 December, foreign ministers discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on regional security in the OSCE area. They exchanged views on energy security challenges and the increased risk of human trafficking. Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative, called on member countries to give full support to Ukraine and hoped that assets seized under the sanctions would be used to finance Ukraine's reconstruction.

The price cap on Russian crude oil came into effect on 5 December, in an effort to reduce Russian funding of the war. The price was set at $60 per barrel by the Council, the G7 and Australia on 2 December. This will be reviewed every two months and the mechanism includes an "emergency clause" which allows oil to be transported above the price cap if human health and safety or the environment are at risk. New sanctions are expected to be extended to all processed oil products from 5 February 2023.

According to an OECD report published on 2 December, local and regional authorities have enabled Ukraine's societal resilience since the start of the war. Regional development and decentralisation reforms implemented since 2014 have played an important role in protecting civilians, ensuring access to and quality of local public services, registering citizens' movements during the war and ensuring continued access to social benefits. The report makes several recommendations for organising reconstruction, such as including regions and municipalities in the design of recovery plans.

The Commission found on 30 November that Hungary's corrective measures under the conditionality mechanism were insufficient to eliminate the threats to the EU budget and proposed to suspend the payment of €7.5 billion under the cohesion policy. At the same time, it approved Hungary's recovery plan, for which a payment will only be made if the Hungarian government implements the 17 corrective measures, as well as 27 other reforms related to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The Council has until 19 December to validate the two proposals.

On 30 November, the Commission proposed new rules to promote reusable or refillable packaging and eliminate unnecessary packaging. The aim is to limit over-packaging and improve the sharing of information on recycling, notably through clear labelling. The aim is to ensure that only recyclable packaging is on the European market by 2030.

The Ukrainian President's Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, met with a delegation from the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and Subcommittee on Security and Defence on 3 December. He said he wanted to secure security guarantees from the Parliament and asked for its support in tightening sanctions against Russia.

On 28 November, the Ministers of Education adopted a recommendation on children's educational success and well-being in the age of digital education. On 29 November, the Ministers of Culture added a specific action on Ukraine to the work plan for culture 2023-2026 to support the Ukrainian cultural sector and its heritage. They took stock of the progress of the legislative proposal for the adoption of a European act on media freedom. The ministers responsible for sport discussed the impact of the crisis on this sector and the implementation of sustainable sports infrastructures.

Industry Ministers agreed on 1 December on the Chips Act, which aims to reduce European dependence on semiconductors. They also adopted a position on legislation on corporate responsibility and a general approach on the protection of geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products. They also agreed on a European tourism agenda for 2030. On 2 December, the ministers responsible for research adopted conclusions on the new innovation programme. They discussed science as an instrument to facilitate policy-making in the Member States, and guidelines for the valorisation of knowledge

On 28 November, the Council definitively adopted the directive on sustainability reporting by companies, which obliges them to share data on their societal and environmental impact, and a regulation on foreign subsidies, to ensure a fair rebalancing of competition in the single market when they lead to distortions. It also approved new requirements for cooperation between Member States to improve cyber security resilience and a regulation for the digital operational resilience of banks and other financial services. On 30 November, it adopted its position on new rules on due diligence for large EU companies and non-EU companies operating in the EU.

The Council presidency and the Parliament reached a provisional agreement on 30 November on measures the EU could take to encourage the UK to comply with the withdrawal agreement and the trade and cooperation agreement. The draft includes rebalancing and compensatory measures, temporary suspension of preferential treatment for certain products, and measures restricting trade, investment, air carrier licensing and operations.

The Council and the Parliament reached a provisional agreement on 2 December to strengthen the protection of individuals seeking consumer credit and to prevent people from getting into too much debt. They also reached a provisional agreement on 29 November to ensure that non-food consumer products sold both offline and online meet EU standards. The Parliament and Council must now formally approve the agreement.

On 1 December, the Council adopted measures to assist the armed forces of five countries under the European Peace Facility (EPF). 10 million will be provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina, €20 million to Georgia, €6 million to Lebanon and €12 million to Mauritania. In addition, to support the deployment of the Rwanda Defence Force in Mozambique, the Council approved a €20 million assistance measure.

In a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on 1 December in Beijing, European Council President Charles Michel called on China to use its influence on Russia to comply with the UN Charter, and the two leaders stressed that Russian nuclear threats were unacceptable. Charles Michel re-launched the EU-China dialogue on the respect of human rights and the situation of minorities, notably in Xinjiang. The discussion also covered Taiwan, the trade partnership, cooperation on an international treaty on pandemics and the fight against climate change.

On 2 December, the EU and Japan signed a Memorandum of Enhanced Cooperation to stimulate innovation and help develop an international hydrogen market. Governments, industry, research institutions and local authorities will work together on the production, trade, transport, storage and distribution of renewable hydrogen.

French President Emmanuel Macron met with his US counterpart Joe Biden on 1 December during a State visit to Washington. The two leaders announced their intention to work together to strengthen global security and prosperity, fight climate change and its consequences, and promote democratic values. They reiterated their continued support for Ukraine, and the need to end the war. On 30 November, the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, and his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, signed a declaration of intent to deepen and strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

Visiting Dublin on 1 December, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reminded the Irish Parliament that the EU's priority after Brexit remains the smooth functioning of the single market, which rules out the establishment of a border on the island. She welcomed a "more pragmatic" approach by the UK government to the Northern Ireland Protocol issue, which she said could lead to a positive outcome.

Croatia, Moldova, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed on 30 November the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention on cooperation and disclosure of electronic evidence. The aim is to strengthen cooperation with service providers, immediate cooperation in case of emergency and conduct joint investigations.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of the city of Rovereto is showing the exhibition "Giotto and the 20th century" until 19 March 2023. The exhibition features works by modern and contemporary artists inspired by the art of Giotto, the master who revolutionised medieval painting.

"Travelling Images", the first solo exhibition of Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, currently the leading representative of contemporary Roma art, runs until 5 March 2023 at the International Cultural Centre in Kraków. It includes a large selection of works made by the artist in the years 2017-2022, as well as new works addressing, among others, the history of the Roma community in Nowa Huta and Roma memory.

The Royal Ulster Academy in Belfast, which brings together a wide range of visual artists working in Northern Ireland, is holding its annual exhibition at the Ulster Museum until 3 January 2023. On this occasion, works by established and emerging artists from around the world, as well as work by RUA academics, will be on display to the public.

Until 26 March 2023, the Hotel de la Marine will host the works of the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca'd'Oro in Venice, during its restoration. More than 70 works by great Renaissance artists on the history of Venice are on display.

The exhibition "In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine, 1900-1930" is being held at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid until 30 April 2023. Organised in partnership with the National Art Museum of Ukraine, it presents 70 works. This is the first time that such a large collection of modern art has left Ukraine.

The European online film festival ArteKino, organised by the channel Arte, will take place throughout December. 12 films by young European filmmakers are being screened in French, German, English, Spanish, Polish and Italian. One of these films will win €20,000 thanks to an online vote as part of the European Public Prize. The Young Jury Prize will also be awarded. The European Film Fans' Prize will be given to the internet user who has voted for at least 8 different films during the competition.

As part of its 10th anniversary, the Louvre-Lens Museum has initiated a pioneering project in the museum world: entrusting a group of young adults undergoing professional and social re-adjustment with the complete creation of an exhibition on the place of art in the private sphere, which will be presented until 27 March 2023.

The world of culture is mobilising for Ukraine. In France, a concert of Basque songs in aid of UNICEF will be held on 9 December in the village church of Guéthary. The town of Mirecourt will host a concert organised by the Liouba Lorr'Ukraine association on 28 December. The town of Twickenham in the UK will host a Christmas charity concert on 11 December, featuring Ukrainian and English Christmas carols performed by world-renowned musicians and singers. In Germany, the charity group "Echte Ärzte" will raise funds for Ukrainian aid at a concert on 16 December in Berlin. On 6 December, Ukrainian superstar Jamala is performing in Toruń (Poland).