The IFRI (French Institute for International Relations) and the EDAM (Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies) are organising a conference on 29th September entitled "France-Turkey: an exchange of views" in which Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation will take part.

On 2nd October next Latvians will be appointing the one hundred members of the Saiema, the only Chamber in Parliament. Austerity measures taken by the government to counter the crisis are starting to produce results. The "Unity" coalition of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is ahead in the surveys, running neck and neck alongside the "Harmony Centre". In third position comes "The Greens and Farmers' Union" followed by "For a Good Latvia" and finally the "National Union". Nearly half of the electorate says it has not yet decided which way it will vote. Whatever the outcome the next government will have to continue to take difficult decisions. Latvia, is at the crossroads in terms of economic and political development and must imperatively make structural reform to guarantee its future.

3.1 million voters in Bosnia-Herzegovina will renew the three members of their Collegial Presidency on 3rd October together with the 42 MPs in the Chamber of Representatives, the lower Chamber of the Central Parliament of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The inhabitants of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (51% of the territory) will also elect the 98 members of the Chamber of Representatives of their Parliament and those who sit in their regional assemblies; the inhabitants of the Serb Republic (Republika Srpska, 49% of the territory) will elect their president and vice-presidents as well as the 83 members of their National Assembly. More than 8,000 candidates from 47 political parties and 14 independent candidates are standing. At the heart of these elections features the issue of the country's future. Debate is vigorous between the supporters of greater centralisation and those, notably the Serbs of Bosnia, who support greater autonomy for the two entities that make up the country (Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska).

On 21st September the Dutch government presented a draft budget that plans for a 3.2 billion euro reduction in state spending in 2011. The draft budget 2011 is based on the hypothesis of 1.5% GDP growth. It will bring the public deficit down from 5.8% of the GDP this year to 3.9% at the end of 2011. The public debt level will rise from 64.5% to 66.2% of the GDP. In addition to this the government is anticipating a rise in unemployment from 4.8% in 2009 to 5.75% in 2010 and 2011. On 23rd September the national statistics institute (CBS) published figures which announced that the Netherlands recorded slightly better annual growth in the second quarter than was previously forecast: it totalled 2.2% in comparison with 2.1% in a first forecast. The Netherlands' economy grew by 1% in the second quarter in comparison with the first quarter.

According to the monthly report by German Finance Minister published on 20th September economic recovery continues but at a slower pace. The slowing in industrial impetus reflects in part a decrease in the rate of the expansion of the external economy. Given the positive employment figures recovery in consumption should continue to consolidate said the minister. The German Central Bank, the Bundesbank, is forecasting that the recovery of the German economy will continue. According to monthly survey results by IFO, the index measuring the business climate in Germany settled at 106.8 in September after 106.7 in August.

The Slovakian government approved an austerity package on 22nd September that is designed to reduce the country's public deficit down to 4.9% of the GDP in 2011. The package includes a rise in VAT from 19% to 20% as from January 2011. Tax increases on alcohol and cigarettes are also being planned as well as 10% cuts in Ministers' and MPs' wages.

Romanian President Traian Basescu defended an austerity plan on 22nd September that was challenged by demonstrators in Bucharest. The plan includes 25% decreases in salaries in the civil service and a 5% rise in VAT that will go up from 19% to 24%. The government has taken steps that aim to control the public deficit and receive further aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the EU and the World Bank. The president, who is concerned about reducing social spending that is deemed excessive, declared that via this action he wanted to send a message abroad and to continue the reform process. On 22nd September the Commission paid out the third part of the 5 billion euro loan to a total of 1.15 billion euros which was originally granted to Romania in May 2009. On 24th September the IMF released the sum of 884 million euros for Romania.

The WTO is planning this year for an increase of 13.5% in the volume of world trade. "This new rise in trade offers us an opportunity to emerge from the painful economic recession and to re-create jobs. It also shows the wisdom governments have shown by rejecting protectionism," declared WTO Director General Pascal Lamy. These forecasts are more optimistic than previous ones and are linked to economic recovery after the crisis as seen in the first two quarters of the 2010 in developed and also emerging countries. After a sharp rise in world merchandise trade in the first half of the year, a slowing in growth is to be anticipated in the second half when fiscal recovery measures expire and the inventory cycle comes to an end.

According to the estimate made by the National Statistics and Economic Studies Institute (INSEE), GDP growth in France in the second quarter of 2010 increased by 0.7% and was reviewed upwards by 0.1%. During the release of the first results the forecast lay at 0.6%. The GDP rose by 0.2% in the first quarter. The Employment Minister also announced on 24th September that the number of people registered as unemployed had risen in August in mainland France to 2.69 million (people with no work - +15,900 in one month) and to 3.97 million if those working part time are included (+7,100).

According to figures released by the Finnish statistics institute, Statistics Finland, published on 21st September, the unemployment rate in the country rose to 7.3% in August. It dropped by 0.3% in comparison with August 2009. In August 2010 the number of people without work lay at 197,000.

The Economy and Foreign Trade Minister for Luxembourg Jeannot Krecké and Labour and Immigration Minister Nicolas Schmit presented the work of the Economic Committee on 22nd September. This Committee has analysed the situation of the labour market. The unemployment rate rose to 5.8% in August 2010. In comparison with the previous month the number of unemployed officially registered increased by 1.1%. In comparison with August 2009 the number of job seekers increased by 6.8%. Mr Krecké declared: "Even though activity is starting again we are far from the figures we have been used to seeing for the last 10-15 years".

On 23rd September the Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said that the Greek government was "extremely determined to follow the path" of reform. He also repeated that "it was possible that at the end of the year the economy would be doing better than the 4% decline which is being forecast" at present. On 23rd September the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou excluded any further increase in VAT saying that the government would find alternative solutions to increase State revenues.

The Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas announced the adoption by the government of a draft budget for 2011. The draft which was adopted in the night of 22nd to 23rd September, limits the public deficit to 4.6% of the GDP. The draft will be submitted to the lower Chamber of Parliament where the final adoption is planned mid-December. The deficit in public finances must be reduced to 3.5% of the GDP in 2012 and 2.9% in 2013. Mr Necas said that the draft budget 2011 includes significant cuts in social spending as well as a reduction in civil servants' salaries. Around 40,000 Czech civil servants demonstrated in Prague against the planned cuts. The Prime Minister announced he will continue negotiations with the unions whilst maintaining that the government would not give up its plan for budgetary rigour.

Cypriot Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis announced on 24th September that Cyprus still has to find 150 million euros if its deficit is not to rise above the European objective of 4.5% of the GDP. It is expected that the deficit will reach 5.4% of the GDP which is still higher than the maximum established by the EU. As he described the 2011 budget the minister indicated that it will be the most critical one established in recent years. Cyprus has committed to reducing its deficit to 3% of the GDP by 2012.

On 24th September the Spanish government approved a draft budget for 2011 that aims to reduce the deficit to 6% of the GDP. The draft plans for a reduction in the ministries' budget by 16%. Maria Fernandez de la Vega, the first Vice-President stressed that the government wants education, research, development and innovation policies to be much less affected by the austerity plan because it is convinced that they are "vital to consolidate a new, productive model that would withstand crisis better." Elena Salgado, Economy Minister, described the budgetary programme as one of the severest of the last few years.

Ireland had to take on more bad news on 23rd September with the announcement of a totally unexpected contraction in its economy in the second quarter reviving concern about the markets and the rest of the euro area over the country's solvency. The Irish GDP, which started to grown again at the beginning of the year after a serious recession, contracted by 1.2% in comparison with the previous quarter and by 1.8% over one year according to official statistics.

On 23rd September the Commission published the 2007-2008 report on airtime of European TV programmes. It reveals that 2/3 of programmes broadcast in Europe are of European origin ie 63% on average. The promotion of European works on TV in the Union is the goal of the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS). This directive imposes a threshold of at least 50% airtime for European programmes and a minimum of 10% airtime for independent producers. The report observes that three countries do not abide by this rule: Cyprus, Sweden and Slovenia which must now broadcast more European programmes.

On the occasion of the publication of its most recent scoreboard on the transposal of directives the European Commission reminded Member States of the need to continue to apply directives relative to the internal market on time. On average 0.9% of them still have to be applied which is more than in March 2010 but the figure is below the ceiling of 1% established by the Commission. In all 18 Member States respect the 1% goal. The most effective Member States with regard to transposal of directives are Denmark and Malta. The poor performers include 9 States which have not succeeded in respecting the 1% goal: Austria, Italy, France, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Greece.

On 24th September the European Commission said it was pleased with Ukraine's entry into the European Community of Energy. The membership protocol was signed on the same day as the ministerial council of the Energy Community in Macedonia. European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said that it was "major step for the Energy Community as well as for Ukraine." The latter will now have access to the pan-European energy market which is based on the principle of solidarity and transparency.

On 21st September MEPs adopted 604 votes in favour, 11 against and 26 abstentions new legislation with regard to inquiries and the prevention of accidents in civilian aviation. It comprises the guarantee of the independence of inquiries into plane accidents without pressure on the part of the authorities responsible for air operations. It aims to guarantee better care for the families of victims. Short term the final goal is to establish a European network of authorities responsible for inquiries into security in civil aviation that can share information, establish common methodologies and make recommendations on EU policies and regulations. On the same day the European Commission approved legislation that aims to track information relative to air passengers with a view to countering serious forms of crime and terrorism.

During the plenary session on 21st September last the European Parliament expressed its deep concern with regard to the loss of biodiversity. MEPs approved new legislation that hopes to put an end to the loss of biodiversity by 2020. It also entails restoring ecosystems and increasing the protection of biodiversity in order to decrease the rate of species extinction. MEPs also spoke of the social responsibility of companies which should in the future invest in the conservation of biodiversity and integrate the damages caused to biodiversity into the end prices of their products.

On 21st September MEPs approved new legislation designed to overcome obstacles to on-line trade. The establishment of an e-trade confidence label based on community law and which will be supervised by the Commission will help to encourage cross-border e-trade, re-establish consumer confidence thanks to the reliability of approved products. This new legislation will thereby put an end to geographic discrimination and guarantee greater transparency between suppliers and consumers. Long term the competitiveness of the European economy and its internal market will be improved.

According to an initiative report adopted on 21st September by the European Parliament trade relations between the EU and Turkey must be improved. Obstacles such as the non-acknowledgement of certification, the repetition of trials and controls, obligatory standard and technical regulations must be abolished. On the other hand Turkey should abolish cumbersome import procedures and avoid discrimination with regard to foreign companies. Moreover it will have to respect the additional protocol on association agreements with all EU countries including Cyprus.

MEPs are impatient to start budgetary negotiations for 2007-2013. The interim report by Reimer Böge (EPP, DE) adopts a critical position with regard to the Council's proposal which it believes unequal to the political challenges set by the Lisbon Treaty. MEPs are not only demanding additional means to intervene in targeted areas (external action, climate change, energy, civil protection, sport, space), they intend to achieve greater flexibility in the use of funds. MEPs are suggesting the establishment of positive and negative priorities taking into account the European added value of these priorities. Finally discussions will only start when the Commission and the Council have finished their interim assessment of EU spending and resources which has been ongoing since 2009.

On 22nd September the European Parliament approved a report on the harmonisation of copyright on the internet in Europe in which it asks the Commission to set up a strategy with regard to this. It would aim to do away with impediments to the creation of a single on-line market and facilitate access by industry to the borderless digital market. This is due to be achieved via multi-territory licences and via the harmonisation of legislation in terms of copyright Europe wide. Moreover Parliament is demanding the creation of intellectual property helpdesks in third countries to help European entrepreneurs to enforce their intellectual property rights.

A new plan to protect patients was approved on 22nd September by the European Parliament. This involves a better monitor of damage incurred by some medicines. Patients will be better protected and better informed with regard to the use of medicines and their side effects. The creation of national and European websites will lead to the collation of all the necessary information by issuing assessement reports, product feature summaries, as well as information brochures. A unique database "pharmacovigiliance" will issue information on secondary effects with regard to medicines. In the wake of this project Parliament also asked the Commission to produce a report on the environmental effects of medicines.

On 22nd September the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek expressed his concerns and expectations with regard to the presidential election in Belarus on 19th December next. Mr Buzek said he was pleased that observers from the bureau of democratic institutions and human rights (OSCE/ODIHR) were going to be present to monitor voting and said he hoped they would be able to work freely without impediment. The President of Parliament also said he was worried about the freedom of the press and access to information.

On 21st September the Quartet for the Middle East published a declaration in which it expresses its support for the start of negotiations again between Israelis and Palestinians. It re-asserted its commitment with regard to the success of the negotations for an agreement that would put an end to the occupation started in 1967 and which would enable the creation of an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian State that would live in peace and security alongside Israel and its other neighbours. In addition to this the Quartet confirmed its determination to support the parties during negotiations as well as the implementation of an agreement.

The 27 European Agriculture Ministers who met on 19th to 21st September exchanged views over the future of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013. During discussions a wide consensus emerged in favour of the upkeep of the CAP. However ministers insisted on the need to communicate better on this subject amongst farmers and citizens. They also said they were against any re-nationalisation of agricultural subsidies and insisted on the fact that they wanted have security nets that would compensate for price variations which farmers' fall victim to.

Romanian President Trajan Basescu travelled to Bulgaria on 23rd September on the invitation of his counterpart Gueorgui Parvanov. During the meeting the two heads of State reviewed relations between the two countries and they looked at the state of their partnership within the EU and NATO. They studied the possibilities to boost energy cooperation and also trade and economic exchange. At a joint press conference Gueorgui Parvanov said that Bulgaria and Romania were doing their best to cover the criteria for membership of the Schengen area. Trajan Basescu said that Romania supported the creation of a European strategy for the Roms, and since the right to free movement of applied to every European citizen the problem did not just concern the country of origin.

Romanian Interior Minister Vasile Blaga announced on 27th September that he had handed in his resignation three months after the "illegal" demonstration by 5,000 policemen who brandished slogans insulting the Romanian President Traian Basescu.

On 25th September Ed Miliband was elected leader of the Labour Party by a narrow margin winning against his brother David (50.65% against 49.35%). At 40 he succeeds Gordon Brown who left his post as party leader in May after the Labour defeat in the general elections against Conservative David Cameron. Mr Miliband will now become the opposition leader.

The Supreme Court of Belarus rejected the requests put forward on appeal by two prisoners who have been sentenced to death. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, said he was "deeply saddened" by this decision. He stressed that the Council of Europe had condemned executions undertaken by Belarus on several occasions and asked that the death penalty be abolished.

On an official visit to Ukraine on 20th to 22nd September the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mevlüt Çavusoglu congratulated the Ukrainian President on his ambitious reform programme and renewed support and assistance on the part of the Council of Europe. "After years of political instability the holding of a democratic presidential election and the formation of a new government coalition provides Ukraine with a unique opportunity to undertake the reforms that the country urgently needs," he declared. The freedom of the press and minority rights were also under discussion together with Ukraine's integration of the EU.

On the occasion of the European Languages Day celebrated every year on 26th September Eurostat published data on learning languages. According to these figures 79% of pupils in primary and 83% in secondary education were studying one foreign language in 2008 in the EU. In both cases English was the first foreign language that had generally been studied. A second foreign language was studied by 10% of pupils in primary and by 39% by those in secondary education, French and German being the most frequently studied languages. In 2008 the highest share of pupils in primary studying a foreign language were in Luxembourg and Sweden (100% each), Italy (99%) and Spain (98%) and the lowest were in Ireland (3%), Netherlands (32%) and Hungary (33%).

The Italian International Affairs Institute (Istituto Affari Internazionali) has published a study by Roberto Aliboni on the Union for the Mediterranean entitled "The State of Play of the Union for the Mediterranean in the Euro-Med Context".

The "European Council for Foreign Relations" has published two studies on the European Union and Human Rights: "The EU and Human Rights at the UN: 2010 Review" and "Towards an EU Human Rights Strategy for a Post-Western World".

The National Gallery of Ireland is presenting an exhibition until 5th December entitled: "Gabriel Metsu. Rediscovered Master of the Dutch Golden Age." This exhibition pays tribute to the Dutch painter Gabriel Metsu (1629-1667) and offers visitors around 40 of his most famous works including some that have recently been restored.

For the first time in the UK in over 50 years the Tate Modern Museum in London is putting on a retrospective devoted to French impressionist Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). From 30th September to 16th January the museum is showing canvasses and drawings from across the world. Sumptuous, colourful pictures of women in Tahiti as well as Brittany landscapes are amongst the some of the most popular in modern art.

The Albertina Museum in Vienna is holding an exhibition until 16th January entitled "Picasso. Frieden und Freiheit" (Picasso. Peace and Freedom). This exhibition shows how Picasso illustrated war and peace in his work (1881-1973) during the Cold War. His work at that time reflects his deep interest in politics and society.

On 24th September Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth presented a new strategy that aims to help European cinemas to transfer over to the digital system. This new strategy will enable small cinemas to install digital equipment equal to an investment of 75,000 euros. Various types of financial support are being put forward such as State aid and support from the European Regional Development Fund and the MEDIA programme. The aim of digitisation is to protect better old films for future generations and to reduce the cost of distribution at the same time.

Four metres under the paving stones of the lively old market square in Krakow medieval life has been re-recreated in an underground multimedia museum which has called for the use of the most recent technology. Krakow inaugurated this impressive museum on 23rd September that extends over 4,000 m2 under the city's central square, one of the biggest in Europe.