The Socialist Party (PS) led by outgoing Prime Minister José Socrates won the general elections in Portugal on 27th September. He won 36.50% of the vote and 96 seats (-25 less than in the previous election on 20th February 2005). The main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) led by Manuela Ferreira Leite, won 29% (78 seats, +3). The People's Party (PP) led by Paulo Portas came third with 10.41% of the vote (21 seats, +11). The Left Bloc (BE) led by Francisco Louca win 9.13% of the votes (16 seats, +8) and the Communist-Green Party Coalition led by Jeronimo de Sousa won 8.6% (15, -1). Turnout was the lowest ever recorded in Portugal rising to 60.60% ie -3.66 points in comparison with the previous election on 20th February 2005. Although the PS won it has not however managed to take an absolute majority and will have to seek a government partner to form a coalition.

The Greeks are being called to renew the Vouli (Parliament) on 4th October after Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis's decision to convene early elections. 23 political parties are running. One week before the election PASOK, the main opposition party is leading in the polls, ahead of New Democracy led by the outgoing Prime Minister. The KKE (Communist) come third, followed by LAOS (far right) and SYRIZA (far left). However it seems that PASOK will not be able to win an absolute majority and will therefore have to work with one or several other parties to govern.

On 2nd October the Irish are being invited to vote for a second time on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Just a few days before the vote 53% are due to vote "yes" and 26% "no"; two people in 10 (21%) are still undecided. A survey by Red C, published by the Farmers Journal revealed that 69% of farmers will vote in favour of the treaty in comparison with 15% who reject it; 16% still have not made their choice. Ireland is the last of the 27 Member States to adopt the treaty. The Poles and the Czechs have already ratified but their presidents still have to finalise the decision taken by their sovereign parliaments.

The World Bank approved a loan of one billion euros on 22nd September to Hungary as promised one year ago. This aid is designed to support budgetary reform, the financial stability programme and the reform of retirement pensions. The Hungarian economy suffered greatly at the start of the crisis. The IMF then released 53.7 billion additional euros for Hungary in the wake of a positive report on companies' economic and financial policies by the Administrative Council, which was published on 25th September.

On 23rd September the German Central Bank, the Bundesbank, signed an agreement in which it promises to lend the International Monetary Fund 15 billion euros. This agreement is part of the commitment made by the EU at the beginning of the month to lend the IMF 125 billion euros to increase its resources in the face of the world economic crisis.

Icelandic Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson met IMF Executive Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn on 22nd September. Discussions focused mainly on the Icelandic economy was well as on the economic recovery programme put forward by the Icelandic government, which was drawn up in consultation with the IMF last autumn. The Prime Minister also reviewed the Icesave affair - in which Iceland faces the Netherlands and the UK over lost funds in the Icelandic banks due to the financial crisis.

The European Investment Bank signed a partnership agreement on 23rd September with the BGL BNP Paribas in view of implementing a new generation EIB loan of 50 million euros for SMEs. The BNPs role will be to distribute funds from the EIB via its agencies in the form of loans to SMEs with less than 250 employees. These loans that span a wide range of economic sectors involve projects achieved in the Union for a maximum total of 25 million euros each. These "new generation" loans focus on flexibility and greater transparency by providing the beneficiary SMEs with the advantage of participation in the EIB, mainly by means of reduced interest rates.

The industrialised and emerging countries of the G20 lay down the foundations for new economic and financial governance on 25th September in the hope of avoiding another world crisis. In their final press release they decided to enhance their cooperation, and this went as far as accepting the right to question their partners on the way they are managing their economies with the aid of the IMF which emerges strengthened from this summit. In real terms the IMF will be responsible for monitoring any type of imbalance and for making economic policy recommendations to countries which will have to take adequate corrective measures. The G20 countries decided that it would become the main forum of international economic cooperation. They intend to "re-balance the growth" of the world economy and strengthen financial regulation to avoid any further crises. They defined a stricter framework with regard to traders' and bankers' bonuses, the mindboggling sums of which were the source of public anger.

According to the INSEE in the second quarter of 2009 the rise in the GDP in France was 0.3% after four consecutive quarters of decline. The recovery in the GDP notably lies in the improvement of the external trade balance. Indeed exports are rising (+0.7% after -7.4%), whilst imports are decreasing less than in the first quarter (-2.1% after -5.9%).

The 27 European Education Ministers who met on 23rd and 24th September looked into the issue of the teaching profession, the key to any education policy. They stressed the importance of continuous vocational training as well as the exchange of experience Europe wide, to develop competences and aptitudes to teach. Several experts spoke consecutively to express their points of view notably Sir Michael Barber, former adviser to Tony Blair on educational issues who focused on the key role played by school heads.

On 23rd September the European Commission decided to extend its environmental management system to all of its activities and its buildings both in Brussels and in Luxembourg. The Commission intends to implement a system based on the EMAS regulation (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, a pilot programme launched in 2001), which defines and assesses the environmental parameters of its activities, thereby leading to continuous improvements notably in terms of the reduction of CO2 emissions.

On 24th September the European Commission revealed the conclusions of a public consultation with regard to the adaptation of school systems to changes due to immigration. The Member States all face the same problems, notably inadequate coordination between education and social policies. Those interviewed highlight issues of equity and equal opportunities in education, on the prevention of segregation at school and support to establishments that lag behind. Most respondents to the consultation also found that the EU can play an important role in supporting the efforts of the Member States to develop good policies and in stimulating debates and exchanges in this area.

On 25th September the European Commission published its annual report relative to the activities of EURODAC, the European biometric database that makes it possible to define which Member State is responsible for the examination of a request for asylum. This report shows an increase in the number of people arrested when they illegally cross the Union's external border. The Commission also establishes that the number of multiple asylum requests (presented by people who have already lodged a request, in the same country or in another Member State) has remained stable.

According to a report by the Commission on retail financial services published on 22nd September the way in which banks inform and advise their clients raises a number of issues. This notably concerns information that is often very difficult to understand, opaque banking tariffs, difficulties with regard to advice delivered and low levels of changes in bank. The report qualifies current account price structures as "very opaque which hardly allow the consumer to see how much they are paying and to be able to compare various offers." 66% of the banks studied had tariffs that were so unclear that the experts designated to establish the report had to seek out additional explanations from the banks in order to see what the real costs of the accounts were. Austria, France, Italy and Spain reveal a poor result in terms of transparency and feature amongst the most expensive countries with regard to bank accounts.

The 27 Competitiveness Ministers met on 24th September and debated the means to improve the functioning of the internal market, so that it can serve as driver for economic recovery. They recalled their commitment to the suppression of impediments and the accomplishment of a fully operational internal market. They insisted on the need to focus on the implementation of real measures that benefit consumers and SMEs and to ensure they are effectively applied via improved information for citizens and increased coordination between Member States.

The Council of the European Union adopted a directive on 24th September relative to eco-design. This act aims to widen the scope of the existing directive in terms of the requirements to be respected to enjoy the free circulation of goods within the Union. From now only not only will energy consuming products be concerned but also products such as windows and taps. The targetted result is an improvement in efficiency both from an energy point of view as well as in terms of the use of resources thereby contributing to energy security supplies, the reduction of CO2 emissions and money saving for companies and users.

The 17th Bundestag which has just been elected will comprise 622 members. 239 will sit within the CDU/CSU group, 146 with the Social Democrats (SPD), 93 with the Liberals of the FDP,76 with Die Linke and 68 with the Greens.

On 26th September the Spanish government adopted a draft 2010 budget that distinguishes itself by its austerity. The draft, affected by the severe economic recession which Spain,is facing, plans for an 11 billion euro increase in taxes, including a VAT increase that may affect recovery. The government also reduced public spending projects by 3.9% in comparison with 2009. In spite of these austerity measures the Spanish government forecasts a deficit of 8.1% in 2010, well over the limit (3%) established by the European Stability and Growth Pact.

The number of job seekers increased in France by 18,100 in August to 2.55 million in terms of those without any work at all and by 32,000 to 3.7 million if part-time workers are included.

According to figures published on 22nd September by the Central Statistics Office for the first time since the formidable economic growth of the 1990's Ireland has become a country of emigration once more which is especially due to the departure of Eastern Europeans caught out by the recession that the "Celtic Tiger" has been experiencing since 2008. 30,100 people from the new EU Member States have gone home or emigrated to other countries whilst only 13,500 arrived in Ireland during the year ending in April.

Pope Benedict XVI travelled to the Czech Republic on 26th to 28th September. He notably spoke of the end of "oppressive regimes" in Eastern Europe.

On 28th September the Head of the Romanian government, Emil Boc announced he had dismissed Dan Nica, Home Minister in the wake of controversial comments about fraud allegations in the presidential election that took place on 22nd November.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, David Miliband spoke in defence of the EU and the Union's common foreign and security policy and also of the Lisbon Treaty. In his opinion the EU is the best possible means to defend British interests in a globalised world. He rejects a bipolar world centred around the USA and China saying that the EU must be the third world power.

On 24th September on the occasion of European Language Day Eurostat published data with regard to foreign language learning in the Union. Eurostat estimates that 60% of pupils in upper secondary education studied at least two foreign languages in 2007. Leading the way in Europe are the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Finland, the poorest being in the UK, Greece and Ireland. Amongst the adult population the number of people who speak at least two foreign languages barely rises to 28% across the entire EU reaching a maximum of 71% in Slovenia and a minimum of 7.7% in Hungary. France, Greece and Spain also achieve negative results in terms of the adult population's linguistic knowledge.

The European Central Bank (ECB) published a report entitled "Survey of the Euro Monetary Market 2009" on 24th September; it is based on a permanent panel of 105 banks and illustrates the main developments on the European Euro Market.

The European Data Protection Supervisor published his 2008 report on 24th September. The report establishes that significant progress has been achieved with regard to the supervisory and advisory role of the EDPS. Although most of the Community's organisations and institutions are on the right road in terms of respecting data protection rules, the EDPS insists however on stepping up systematic controls and follow-up in the implementation of recommendations.

On 12th and 13th October a forum of high level experts will be held in Rome on "How to feed the world - 2050". With this in view the UN Organisation for Food and Agriculture published a report on 23rd September than plans for an increase in the world's population from 6.8 billion to 9.1 billion in 2050 ie a third more to feed. According to the FAO's publication this will require a 70% increase in food production hence the need to undertake major additional investments.

The Center for European Studies and the Bertelsmann Foundation have just published a study on the referendum in Ireland and its implications for the EU whatever the result of the vote.

The European Internet Foundation (EIF) has published a report on the position of Europe in the digital world by 2025. A result of joint work that started in 2008 this report is based on an analysis of the technological trends and the economic and political implications of the digital revolution; it draws up a series of precise recommendations for political decision makers. The report will be officially presented on 29th September.

A masterpiece of neoclassicism built at the heart of the first English landscape garden for the Kings of Prussia in Potsdam, the Marble Palace has been restored to its former splendour after many years of work. Bernd Neumann, the German Delegate Minister for Culture and Media, solemnly inaugurated the façade on 23rd September. The 40 rooms inside, each more sumptuous than the other, were re-opened to the public in 2006. The building still has to undergo renovation until 2013 as part of a plan on the part of the Foundation for Castles and Prussian Gardens of Berlin-Brandenburg.

From 23rd September 2009 to 4th January 2010 the National Galleries of the Grand Palais are holding an exhibition devoted to "Renoir in the 20th century". This exhibition aims to review an unknown period in the work of this painter who enjoyed undeniable prestige in the artistic world.