The Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani has published an editorial on his site entitled "France and Germany for a True Economic Governance". He notably reviews the competitiveness pact put forward by France and Germany which caused lively debate on the part of their European partners.

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German growth may reach 3% in 2011 according to forecasts made by the Federation of German Chambers of Trade and Commerce (DIHK). "Recovery is established now on two main pillars: external trade and domestic demand" said German Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle on 8th February. According to the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) German exports increased by 18.5% in 2010 and imports rose by 20%. In 2010 the external trade balance revealed a surplus of 154.3 billion euros in comparison with 2009.

According to the latest results published on 8th February employment in Belgium rose by 1% in the third quarter of 2010 in comparison with the second and by 1.7% over one year. At the end of 2010 the employment rate rose to 62%, with unemployment lying at 8.7% and the activity rate at 67.9%. Compared with the second quarter the percentage of young people in employment rose by 10.8% whilst unemployment rose by 8.2%.

On 11th February the Spanish government approved a plan to reform the employment policy. Amongst the decisions adopted feature measures designed to support the re-employment of long term unemployed and young people in order to foster part time work which is not very frequent in Spain.

According to figures released by the Central Statistics Bureau on 10th February inflation rose beyond the 2% threshold in January in the Netherlands for the first time in nearly two years.

On 9th February the Slovenian office for statistics indicated that it had recorded further deflation in January 2011. Consumer prices decreased on average by 0.8% in comparison with the previous month. Prices for goods and services have decreased respectively by 1% and 0.5%.

According to an initial estimate by the Bank of France published on 8th February French economic growth is due to reach 0.8% in the first quarter which will be its highest rise since the end of recession in the spring of 2009. The Bank of France indeed noted a clear acceleration in the pace of industrial activity in January as well as a rise in the rate of output capabilities and an increase in service activities. It is forecasting continued growth.

On 9th February the Italian government adopted a series of measures to try and jump start economic growth particularly via modifications to the Constitution said the head of government Silvio Berlusconi. It wants to reform articles 41 and 118 of the Constitution to support entrepreneurial freedom and article 97 to guarantee promotion in the civil services based on merit. Mr Berlusconi said he was convinced that the country could achieve a minimum 1.5% growth this year whilst the government reviewed its September forecast downwards to 1.3% which is still over optimistic according to the Bank of Italy which is counting on 1%.

According to December 2010 figures published on 9th February by the Maltese Statistic Bureau industrial output decreased by 3% over one year. This slowing was caused by decreases in the production of consumer goods whilst the production of intermediate goods and energy increased.

On the occasion of the publication of an interim report on Ireland on 9th February the IMF said that the implementation of the economic programme by the Irish authorities with the support of an extended fund facility (EFF) has achieved its objective. According to the IMF economic indicators suggest there is modest export-led recovery. In the banking sector, progress is being made towards recapitalizing, deleveraging, resolving nonviable banks, and strengthening the bank resolution framework. Fiscal performance has been in line with program targets and the passage of the Finance Bill will facilitate program implementation in 2011.

Recovery in the euro area is still modest in comparison with that seen after previous crises; this is being caused by low consumption and investment said the European Central Bank in its monthly report published on 10th February. Low consumption finds its explanation in the stagnation of real income as well as in precautionary savings which households are undertaking. Demand should however gather pace and contribute more euro area growth which is being supported by world growth and demand for European products believes the ECB.

The EU and the International Monetary Fund gave the greenlight on 11th February for the payment (15 billion euros) of the fourth part of a 110 billion euro loan to Greece which was approved last May. This decision was taken after a joint European Commission/ECB/IMF visit to Athens during which a third examination of the Greek government's economic programme was made.

Exports rose sharply by 28% in 2010 in comparison with 2009 in Romania leading to a contraction of 5% in the trade deficit said the national statistics institute INS on 9th February. In spite of the crisis Romania exported for a total of 37.2 billion euros, imports rose by 19.9% to reach 46.7 billion euros. The negative trade balance contracted by 5% in comparison with 2009 rising to 9.5 billion euros.

On 9th February the British government signed a global agreement with the country's major banks which succeeded in limiting concessions over the highly sensitive issue of bonuses in exchange for an increase in their loans to business to help a struggling economy. This agreement unveiled after weeks of talks called "Project Merlin" was denounced by the opposition and the unions as a capitulation with regard to the banks.

On 11th February the World Bank announced that it had granted a financial guarantee of 300 million euros to Serbia notably to help the country overcome its budgetary deficit and to fund its debt at lower cost.

In a joint declaration on 11th February the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, welcomed the decision of Egyptian President Mubarak to resign. They called for democratic elections and the rapid establishment of a stable government in the country.

On 8th February on the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2011, the European Commission announced that it will step up talks with ICT industry and children's organisations to encourage the design of safer products to help keep children safe online. On the same day 14 European digital technology companies presented the European Commission with a universal mobile phone charger that is compatible with all brands of mobile phones.

As from 7th February all new types of cars and utility vans will have to be equipped with daytime running lights. Lorries and buses will follow suit 18 months later in August 2012. Daytime running lights are special lights that come on automatically when the engine is started. These lights increase vehicle visibility significantly for other road users and should improve road safety. They also use little energy in comparison with ordinary dipped beam lights. In countries where it is already obligatory daytime lighting has been acknowledged as a positive contribution to road safety.

On 9th February the European Commission launched a public debate on major improvements to be made to the funding of research and innovation by the EU; this aims to facilitate participation in programmes, to strengthen scientific and economic effects and to improve the price-quality ratio. The "common strategic framework" laid out in the Green Paper covers the present framework research programme (7th FP), the framework programme for innovation and competitiveness (PIC) and the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT). The result will be a series of coherent tools including the entire "innovation chain" from fundamental research to market launch of innovative services and products, which would also support non-technological innovation, for example in areas of design and marketing.

On 11th February the President of the European Court of Auditors, Vitor Caldeira presented the working programme for 2011 to the committee on budgetary control at the European Parliament. In line with the strategy established for 2009-2011, the programme insists particularly on priorities with regard to the audit 2011.

Visiting the European Parliament on 9th February the Prince of Wales debated with MEPs and the main European leaders about the fight to counter climate change and the necessary reconversion of the economy. In his opinion growth must not be synonymous to environmental destruction. Scientists, NGO's and business leaders were also present.

The Federal government's spokesperson Steffen Seibert announced in a press release on 11th February that the President of the Bundesbank Axel Weber would leave his position on 30th April 2011 "for personal reasons". "The Chancellor and the Finance Minister learned of this decision and respect the reasons for this resignation," of the Bundesbank's President. "His succession will be announced next week," concludes the press release. Axel Weber said that he had abandoned the idea of running for the post at the European Central Bank (ECB) because certain governments did not accept him personally he said in an interview in Der Spiegel.

Deutsche Börse and NYSE Euronext announced on 9th February that they wanted to create the first world stock exchange that would have weight in New York, Frankfurt and Paris thereby responding to the announced merger of the London and Toronto stock exchanges. Deutsche Börse which pilots Frankfurt and NYSE Euronext (Paris, New York, Brussels, Lisbon and Amsterdam) declared they were advanced in their negotiations for a merger of the two groups in which German shareholders would be the majority. The two entities warned in a press release that the conclusion of discussions was still open but that they had almost finished discussions.

In a column published on 10th February in Le Monde six ministers, Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, Secretary of State for European Affairs (Poland), Werner Hoyer, Delegate Minister for European Affairs (Germany), Diego Lopez Garrido, Secretary of State for European Affairs (Spain), Pedro Lourtie, Secretary of State for European Affairs (Portugal), Paolo Romani, Minister for Economic Development(Italy) and Laurent Wauquiez, Minister for European Affairs (France)- invite Europe "to guarantee more effective and greater strategic defence" of its economic interests. "Trying to ignore that the world has changed would be proof of being blind. Europe must adapt," they wrote.

On 11th February German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble hosted his French counterpart Christine Lagarde in Berlin for a Franco-German economic council qualified "as an example for a deep, successful cooperation." They agreed in all areas and defended their joint ideas for enhance economic coordination in Europe criticised by a number of their partners. "We are convinced that our proposals are going in the right direction," said Mr Schäuble. According to Ms Lagard the "competitiveness pact" that Germany and France have put forwards to their European partners will aim to "rally as closely as possible our friends and partners in Europe".

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn went on an official trip to Denmark on 8th and 9th February. He met several Danish politicians and also went to the parliament, the Folketing; he spoke with his Danish counterpart, Lene Espersen of bilateral issues. They reviewed bilateral relations and discussed present international and European events, notably economic governance and the implementation of the European Semester. Then Mr Asselborn had a private interview with Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark.

In 2010 150,000 immigrants settled in the Netherlands, ie 3000 more than the year before according to a press release published by the Central Statistics Bureau on 9th February. The rise was notably high with regard to immigrants from other EU Member States. Emigration also increased in 2010 after a three year decrease. Around 118,000 people left the Netherlands - an increase of 6,000 people in comparison with 2009.

After a debate organised by two MPs, one Conservative (David Davis) and the other Labour (Jack Straw) on 11th February British MPs rejected the decision taken in November by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that gave the UK six months to adopt legislation giving voting rights to convicted prisoners. "The ball is now in the government's camp to return to the ECHR and tell it that it cannot supplant the Parliament," stressed Mr Davis. The confrontation between the ECHR and the UK dates back to 2005 when the Court deemed that legislation (dating back to 1870) depriving prisoners of their voting rights was contrary to the European Human Rights Convention which was established to protect Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom but which leaves the legal control of the respect of individual rights to the Member States.

The Stock Exchanges of London and Toronto merged to create a new transatlantic stock exchange group that intends to capitalise on the world enthusiasm for raw materials and to be better armed against increased competition. The British group, London Stock Exchange (LSE) and its Canadian partner TMX wasted no time in announcing their union: after admitting on 8th February to have moved forwards in discussions in view of a merger, the next day they announced that they had concluded their contract just before the opening of European markets. Their merger will give rise to the first world indexing platform for companies specialised in the extraction of natural resources and energy production explained the two exchanges.

According to Eurostat figures published on 14th February industrial production adjusted to seasonal variations decreased by 0.1% both in the euro area and the EU in December 2010 in comparison with November 2010. In November 2010 production increased respectively by 1.4% and 1.2%. In December 2010 in comparison with December 2009 industrial production rose by 8% in the euro area and by 7.7% in the EU. In comparison with 2009 the average industrial production index increased in 2010 by 7.1% in euro area and by 6.7% in the EU.

The European Council on Foreign Relations has published a study on the European Union and Belarus entitled: "The EU and Belarus after the Election" written by Balazs Jarabik, Jana Kobzova and Andrew Wilson.

Bruegel has published a policy brief written by Zsolt Darvas, André Sapir and Jean Pisani-Ferry entitled "A comprehensive approach to the euro-area debt crisis".

The Bertelsmann Foundation has published a speech by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble dated 26th January in a series of conferences "Forum Constitutionis Europae" by the Walter Hallstein Institut of the Humboldt University in Berlin. This speech is entitled "Reform of European Financial Regulation - Improving Europe's Constitution."

The Committee for Franco-German Relations Studies (CERFA) of the French Institute for Internaitonal Relations (IFRI) has published a paper on the theme "Les Balkans vus de Berlin aujourd'hui" written by Franz-Lothar Altmann.

The Centre for Strategic Anlaysis has just published "Le Tableau de bord de l'emploi public : situation de la France et comparaisons internationales". This study explains France's position in comparison with the major economies in the OECD. It notably provides references on the weight of the civil service in France and abroad in comparison with the number of inhabitants and users.

Choiseul Editions are publishing a book on 17th February by Jean-Bernard Pinate entitled "Russie, alliance vitale" prefaced by Alain Lamassoure, MEP. The author provides an enlightened analysis of the relationship between Washington and Beijing. Europe has been dismissed and scoffed at and has been too occupied in looking for its own political substance. This portrait of the beginning of this century ends in a plea in support of a Euro-Russian liaison which the author believes to be just as vital as beneficial for the stabilisation of our continent.

The Museum of Modern Art of Louisiana in Humlebaek is devoting an exhibition to Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) until 29th May entitled "Picasso: Peace and Freedom". Around one hundred works bear witness to his social and political commitment from 1944-1973.

From 16th February to 21st August the Tate Britain in London is putting on an exhibition entitled "Watercolour". This exhibition invites visitors to overcome preconceived ideas about watercolours. It includes around two hundred pieces of work ranging from Turner to Thomas Girtin as well as more modern artists such as Anish Kapoor and Tracey Emin; it reviews the history and development of techniques used in watercolour.

The Albertina in Vienna is devoting a special exhibition to a group of artists of "Der Blaue Reiter" movement which was named after the Almanach that Vassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc published for the first time in 1912 in Munich. Drawings and water paintings by August Macke, Franz Marc, Vassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Alfred Kubin amongst others are on show there until 15th May.

On the occasion of the 61st International Festival in Berlin the European Audiovisual Observatory has published its first estimations on cinema-going in Europe in 2010. In all the observatory believes that EU cinema entries declined by 2%, ie 961 million tickets sold. Moreover the EU adopted the new Media Mundus Programme for international cooperation in the audiovisual sector to step up cultural and trade relations between European cinema industry and artists in third countries.

The Anselm Kiefer exhibition in the Würth Collection in presenting a particularly rich spectrum of the artist's works. Organised on themes of heroic countryside, poetry and cosmogonies, its intention is to lead visitors through an imaginary geography, suggesting a cartography of the historic, poetic and philosophical thought that is so important to the artist.

From 17th to 21st February the 41st Brussels Book Fair will take place and this year it will be devoted to women. On the programme: lectures, dedications, exhibitions and meetings with the main players in the world of literature written in French.