On 22nd June in Brussels the Robert Schuman Foundation and Edelman - the Centre are organising a conference on the future of the European budget after the crisis together with Alain Lamassoure (Chair of the Budgets Committee at the European Parliament), Marc Lemaître (chief of cabinet for the Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski), Olivier Debande (Managerial Adviser of the Institutional Affairs Department of the European Investment Bank) and Pascale Joannin, Director General of the Foundation. On this occasion The Schuman Report on the State of the Union 2011, published in French by Lignes de repères, and in English by Springer, will be presented.

The Robert Schuman Foundation has published the proceedings of the seminar "Saint-Maur en Toutes Libertés" which took place in November 2010 on Japan and South Korea and their relations with the EU. Order them!

According to the six-monthly financial stability report publshed on 15th June by the European Central Bank (ECB) the economic and financial situation in the euro area has improved but remains vulnerable. Of course the banking sector and insurance sectors' resistance has increased but risks continue to threaten recovery. More importantly the public finance crisis continues in some euro area countries. Given this the ECB has repeated its proposed solutions, such as structural adjustments in countries which are struggling, external aid and the recapitalisation of the banking sector, with an improvement of its transparency.

On 16th June the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, gave a speech at the annual conference of the "European Policy Centre" on the State of the European Union. Given alarmist remarks about differences of opinion over Libya and the Schengen Area, Herman Van Rompuy called for a little objectivity; he recalled that the Union had been been built gradually and that decision making in the Union takes time. However on the sovereign debt crisis he spoke of the strengths of the euro area and the recent progress that has been achieved. Speaking of "euroland" instead of the euro area he also called to take better note of the interdependence of European economies. The Schuman Report 2011 includes an exclusive interview with the President of the European Council who gives his view of the future of the EU.

On 14th June, during a conference organised by the European Commission on raw materials, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, recommended the G20 as the international cooperation framework on this issue. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the present president of the G20, warned against price rises on raw materials, one of the main threats to world growth. He pleaded in favour of greater transparency and regulation of the markets. On raw agricultural materials, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, promised to publish regular short-term market forecasts as of this autumn. Finally the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Michel Barnier advised on enhancing transparency both in the derivative, as well as the physical markets, for the regulation of all players and for a strengthenig of supervisors' powers and tools.

On 14th June the "Economic and Monetary Affairs" Committee at the European Pariament received Mario Draghi for an audition in his bid to succeed Jean-Claude Trichet as president of the European Central Bank. When questioned about Greece he recalled the ECB's opposition to a restructuring of the debt and said he was optimistic about reform in Greece. On economic governance he suggested that there was a need to integrate fiscal policies, he supported the European Parliament's position for automatic sanctions in the event of the non-respect of the rules and insisted on financial supervision. He also recalled that the ECB's mission was to maintain price stability. His competences were appreciated by MEPs who supported his appointment, 33 votes in favour, 2 against and 4 abstentions.

On 16th June the 27 Transport Ministers agreed on a position for negotiations on the reform of European railway legislation which will establish a single railway area in Europe. The aim of this directive is to simplify the regulatory framework to foster investment, competition and market monitoring. At the same time ministers reached agreement on the EU's membership of the International Railway Transport Convention, changes in the competence of the Europaean Maritime Safety Agency, the creation of a new river transport programme, NAIADES II and the signature of an agreement on air transport with Brazil.

On 15th June the German government adopted a new strategy on Africa. It aims to open a new partnership chapter between Germany and Africa. The government said it wanted to implement a coordinated, convincing policy focused on goals achieved in Africa.

On 16th June during a plenary session, the MPs in the Chamber of Representatives adopted, 71 votes in favour, 54 against and 16 abstentions, a draft law that makes it obligatory to have one third of women on public company boards or on boards of companies floated on the stock exchange. The Senate still has to approve the proposal so that it can enter into force. With this vote Belgium has joined other European countries on this issue, such as Norway and France. On the issue of parity the Robert Schuman Foundation has launched a project called "Women for Europe and the Citizens' Initiative". Answer our opinion poll on women and Europe, we need to know what you think.

The new Finnish Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen, announced on 17th June that he had formed a new coalition government of 19 ministers bringing together six of the eight parties represented in Parliament two months after the elections on a detailed programme. The coalition parties came to a consensus on three points: the stabilisation of public finance, encouraging economic growth and the improvement of revenues of the poorest and most marginal segments of society.

From 20th to 26th June the 49th International Air Show is taking place at the Bourget, France. It was inaugurated on 20th June by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. 2,100 exhibitors are expected and the show has notably planned for the participation of the solar plane "Solar Impulse", as well as the opening of the Air and Space Museum.

On 17th June Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced a reshuffle in his government. George Papaconstantinou has lost his post as Finance Minister and is now Environment Minister. He has been replaced by Evangelos Venizelos, former Defence Minister, who has also been promoted to Deputy Prime Minister. Panos Beglitis has become Defence Minister.

On 14th June the European Commission gave the greenlight to project to acquire the Italian dairy group, Parmalat by the French dairy company Lactalis. Hence this concentration should not significantly impede competition according to the Commission. After acquiring 23.97% of Parmalat's social shares, Lactalis made a public bid to buy all of the shares on 23rd May 2011.

On 15th and 16th June, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski travelled to Egypt and Tunisia. In Cairo he met Prime Minister Sharaf Essam and Foreign Minister Nabil El-Araby, as well as representatives of the political parties that emerged after the Revolution on 25th January. In Tunisia he spoke with Prime Minister Beji Caïd Essebsi and Foreign Minister Mouldi Kefi, together with representatives from youth and intellectual movements. Discussions mainly focused on Poland and the EU, notably within the context of the democratic developments in Egypt and Tunisia and the preparation of the Polish Presidency.

On 15th June the Portuguese President Anibal Cavalco Silva appointed Pedro Passos Coelho, head of the Social Democratic Party, as Prime Minister. Allied with the People's Party, Mr Coelho has an absolute majority in Parliament and has promised to respect the austerity associated with the financial rescue plan negotiated with the EU and the IMF. On 17th June Mr Coelho presented a reduced government of 11 ministers including economist Vitor Gaspar, former advisor to the European Commission and the ECB, appointed to the Finance Ministry. This government has four ministers from the Social Democratic Party (PSD - centre-right), 3 members of the People's Party CDS-PP and 4 independents according to a list published by the Presidency of the Republic. The new government will enter office on 21st June.

The British government said on 17th June that it intended to align civil servants' age of retirement with that of the general regime - ie to 66 in 2020 instead of 60 in most cases at present. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said in an article published by the Daily Telegraph on the same day that the unions would be making a "colossal mistake" if they believed they could force the government to change its mind.

The Swedish Parliament voted a three month extension of the Swedish forces' commitment to Libya on 17th June - this was due to come to an end on 22nd June; its force comprises five fighter planes and a maximum of 250 soldiers.

The Central Collegial Presidency of Bosnia appointed Slavo Kukic as Prime Minister on 14th June announced the Serb member of the Presidency, Nebojsa Radmanovic to the press. It is now up to Bosnia's Central Parliament to confirm this nomination during its next meeting.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced on 15th June that unemployment had decreased in the OECD area in April 2011, down to 8.1% after stagnating for two months at 8.2%. The unemployment rate in the euro area lies at 9.9%.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen travelled to the UK on 15th June. On this occasion he met Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague with whom he exchanged views on the various ongoing NATO operations. To an audience of experts at the Royal United Services he recalled the need to develop defence capabilities by means of balistic missiles for the Alliance. He then travelled to Madrid on 16th June where he met the Head of Government, José Luis Zapatero, Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, Defence Minister Carme Chacon. Discussions focused on NATO's relations with Russia, the NATO reform and ongoing operations in Libya and Afghanistan. During a speech to the Senate he recalled the major role played by NATO in the Mediterranean.

According to estimates published by Eurostat on 15th June industrial production rose by 0.2% in the euro area in April 2011 in comparison with March 2011. In the 27 EU States the increase in industrial production reached 0.1%. In April 2011, in comparison with April 2010, industrial output progressed by 5.2% in the euro area and by 4.7% in the Member States.

On 15th June Eurobarometer published a survey on passenger satisfaction in terms of the various apsects of rail transport services, including stations. Rail passengers were defined as being those who had travelled on trains between towns in their coutnry over the last 12 months. Amongst the results the three aspects of transport services which were the source of greatest satisfaction were peronsal safety on board trains, the time taken to complete a journey and the comfort of the seats. In stations the most positive details were the simplicity in ticket purchase, information on train times and platforms, together with safety in stations.

On 15th June the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency published a report on key legal and political developments in 2010. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights acquired new, binding legal value. This report criticises the marginalisation of the Roma in Europe. Hence this community is still the minority group which faces the most discrimination in the EU. The report deplores "the deterioration in the living conditions of asylum seekers" in Greece and Italy. Moreover it recalls that all Member States except Denmark had been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for the infringement of the EU's fundamental rights.

Until 21st August the Beyeler Foundation in Basel, Switzerland is hosting the works of two sculptors, Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) and Richard Serra (born in 1939). Around 40 pieces of work by C. Brancusi, as well as a selection of 10 sculptures and several works on paper by R. Serra are on show together.