On 8th November the Robert Schuman Foundation, together with the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, is organising a seminar on "the future of the Council of Europe in the light of 60 years experience," at the Palais du Luxembourg. Many experts from the political and academic world will be taking part in the discussions that will review the history of the Council of Europe, the driving role played by the parliamentary assembly and the contribution made by the Council of Europe as far as fundamental rights are concerned.

"We knew that the interdependency of the economies had become a feature of the new world. But could we foresee that Greece's political situation and its 11 million inhabitants would become the focus of debate for the leaders of the 20 biggest economies on earth, which gathered together in Cannes on 3rd and 4th November?" Listen to the new European Update broadcast by Canal Académie with the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation.

On 8th November the chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, is taking part in the 10th congress on European Security and Defence in Berlin. He is speaking on "The New Challenges facing European Defence and Security: which answers can NATO and the EU provide?"

The Croats are being called on 4th December to renew the members of the Hrvatski Sabor (Parliament) which comprises 150 MPs. According to the Constitution the number of MPs can vary; there cannot be less than 100 nor more than 160 sitting in parliament. MPs are elected every four years by proportional representation. Ten political parties are represented at present in the Hrvatski Sabor: the Democratic Union (HDZ), led by outoing Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor; the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the main opposition party led by Zoran Milanovic; the Farmers' Party (HSS), member of the government coalition; the People's Party-Liberal Democrats (HNS); Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB); the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS); the Pensioners' Party (HSU); the Right Party (HSP); the Workers'-Labour Party (HL-SR) and the Social Democrats (HSD). The party in office is suffering criticism because of corruption scandals (trial of former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader) and the polls forecast that the opposition will win.

The Russians are being invited to renew the 450 members of the Duma (the lower chamber of Parliament) on 4th December. On the same day the Russians will also appoint the 1210 representatives of the assemblies of the country's 27 regions. More than 2,500 local elections will also take place on 4th December. MPs are elected by proportional representation for five years on the basis of federal lists that can include up to 600 names each in a single electoral constituency. A minimum of 7% of the votes cast is necessary for a party to be represented in the Duma. Four political parties are represented there at present: United Russia (ER) led by Vladimir Putin, 315 MPs; the Communist Party (KPRF) led by Guennady Zyuganov, 57 seats, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) led by Vladimir Jirinovski, 40 seats; A Just Russia (SR) 38 seats. Although 7 parties are running this year in the elections there will be no surprises. United Russia is due to win the election quite easily!

On 31st October British Prime Minister David Cameron revealed his plan to revive the British economy and pinpointed three priorities: "facing the UK's debts, stepping up competitiveness of the British economy and opening up world trade." David Cameron also announced a series of new measures to stimulate the economy, notably by giving the green-light to two power stations in the north of the country but also bey setting up a new credit easing programme.

According to an announcement made on 3rd November by the Spanish Labour and Immigration Ministry, the number of unemployed increased by 134,182 people in October (+3.17%) in Spain. The number of unemployed now totals 4.630 million people.

Mario Draghi, former governor of the Bank of Italy, took office on 1st November as president of the European Central Bank for an 8 year mandate. He succeeds Frenchman Jean-Claude Trichet. The ECB Governors' Council, chaired for the first time by Mr Draghi, announced on 3rd November that there was to be a reduction of the main interest rate down to 1.25% against a previous 1.5%. This is the first reduction since 2009, which corrects the rise in interest rates this summer (1% to 1.5%), in response to the deterioration in the economic outlook in the euro zone and in the wake of recent developments in Greece. Given the fears of rising inflation Mario Draghi believes that inflation will slow and "drop below the 2% mark in 2012". He called on euro zone governments to show unbending determination in their efforts to reform and not to count on the monetary institution to resolve the debt crisis.

During the Council of Ministers on 3rd November the Portuguese government approved a draft law establishing measures to boost the financial stability of loan companies. The draft law aims to boost the levels of the banks' own funds; privileged alternatives are the use of capital injections by private shareholders, both national or foreign, and as a last measure the State will be able to intervene to recapitalise the banks but for a maximum period of five years.

On 2nd November the German Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) announced that the gross unemployment rate totalled 6.5% in October (a level as low as this had not been reached in 20 years) and the number of unemployed totalled 2.373 million (the number of unemployed increased for the first time since the beginning of 2010).

On 3rd November the Danish Central Bank (Denmarks Nationalbank) reduced its main lending rate by 0.35% down to 1.2%. The bank was responding to the ECB's announcement, made on the same day that it was reducing its key rate by 0.25% down to 1.25%. This decision finds explanation in Denmark's participation in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II)since 1st January 1999. This is an agreement that links the central banks of the countries that adopted the single currency together with those of some EU member countries that do not belong to the euro zone. The agreement limits the fluctuations in the exchange rate between the euro and the national currencies, like the Danish Crown.

After a meeting on 3rd November with an IMF and EU delegation, Romanian President Traian Basescu announced that Romania was forecasting a deficit of 1.9% and growth of between 1.7% and 2.7% in 2012. This deficit might rise to 2.5% depending on the development of the economy and developments in Europe and might total 3% if the late payments made by State companies are included, as demanded by the EU, said the Romanian president.

The heads of State and Government of the group of the 20 industrialised and emerging countries (G20) which met on 3rd and 4th November in Cannes, committed to coordinating their work and policies towards boosting economic growth. They agreed on an Action Plan for Growth and Employment. They voted in support of the decisions taken during the last Euro Zone Council that took place on 26th October and the surveillance of Italy by the IMF. The 20 Heads of State and government pointed to the role played by the IMF in strengthening the world's financial safety nets. In order to have better regulation of world trade imbalances, countries with surplus accounts promised to stimulate domestic demand. Finally as part of the financial regulation programme they committed to addressing food price volatility, to foster agriculture, to improve the energy markets and to continue to fight climate change.

Ireland would like to make an additional 12.4 billion euros in savings over the next four years to achieve its deficit reduction goals, whilst growth is due to be weaker than forecast next year, said the Finance Minister on 4th November. "The necessary level of adjustment is slightly higher than planned but it is imperative to ensure that we achieve our deficit goals. It is vital for them to be reached," stressed the ministry in a press release.

French Prime Minister François Fillon, presented the new plan "to balance public finances" on 7th November, in a bid to save 100 billion euros and "to achieve balance by 2016". The new austerity measures comprise: a reduction in tax rebates to a total of 2.6 billion euros in savings, the earlier implementation of the retirement reform by 2017 (bringing the age of retirement up to 62), a 5% increase in company tax on big companies, a freezing of the President of the Republic and the ministers' salaries, the raising of the reduced VAT rate from 5.5% to 7%, the freezing of income tax and also wealth tax in 2012 and 2013 and a limit on the increase on some social benefits to 1% in 2012.

On 31st October the European Commission published a study on the economic advantages of an agreement as part of the Doha Round. The countries are trying to agree on the reduction of obstacles to trade and on the possibility of improving developing countries' trade situation. The study concludes that economic advantages ensuing negotiations are important to the EU since they comprise an increase in world exports totalling 359 billion dollars.

The gas pipeline Nord Stream, the new gas transit route between Russia and Europe via the Baltic Sea, is to be inaugurated on 8th November. Nord Stream comprises two pipes that lie on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, one inaugurated on 8th November and the second is to be built by the end of 2012, each measuring 1.224 km in length. Each pipe comprises around 100,000 sections weighing 24 tonnes; the internal diameter is 1.15m. They lie at a depth of between 80 and 110 metres. Once the pipes have been laid, the gas pipeline's capacity will reach up to 55 billion m3 per year, which, according to the owners, will cover the requirements of 26 million households.

The deputy director of the Ukrainian think tank "Centre Razumkov" Valery Chaly said on 28th October that Viktor Yanukovych's government only has a few more weeks to settle concern about the country's political development.

In a judgement given on 3rd November the European Court of Human Rights gave a decision on artificial procreation. Two Austrian couples who had no access to sperm or ova donation for in vitro fertilisation, which is banned by Austrian law, denounced an infringement of their right to family. The Court believed that there had not been any infringement of this right, indeed the Austrian legislator wanted to avoid complicated situations in which there would be disagreement over the biological maternity of a child between its genetic mother and the one carrying the child. With this the Court brought a long legal procedure to an end - ongoing since 1998; the judgement is designed to be an example in this area for European jurisprudence.

The new President of the European Court of Human Rights, Nicolas Bratza, took office on 4th November. He succeeds Jean-Paul Costa, who had chaired the Court since 19th January 2007. Sir Nicolas is the third British president in the Court's history.

The UN Programme for Development (UNPD) published its 2011 report on human development on 2nd Noember - "Sustainability and Equity: a better future for all" takes on board health, income and eduction, as well as environment and gender disparity. According to the annual ranking Norway is the country where it is best to live and four other European countries (Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Sweden) are in the top 10. The inequality index (IIG) shows that Sweden is in the lead in terms of gender equality, followed by the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland and Norway.

Russian and Chinese businesses are seen as being the most corrupt according to a study by NGO Transparency International that was undertaken amongst 3,000 company executives in the world and published on 2nd November. According to the NGO, these two countries, whose companies have invested 120 billion dollars (around 85 million euros) abroad, come last in the ranking that comprises 28 countries. According to the Bribe Payers' index established by the NGO whose HQ is in Berlin, Russia, in the lead in terms of the most corrupt businesses, has a 6.1 rating and has progressed in comparison with a previous assessment, in 2008 (2.5 out of 10) whilst China is stagnating at 6.5.

The Kunstsammlung NRW in Düsseldorf is devoting an exhibition to women, avant-garde artists called "The other side of the moon". These artists influenced dadaism, constructivism and surrealism. The exhibition presents the works of Claude Cahun, Dora Maar, Sonia Delaunay, Florence Henri, Hannah Höch, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Katarzyna Kobro and Germanie Dulac. The exhibition is on until 15th January 2012.

The National Gallery in London is devoting a major exhibition to one of the most famous artists in the world: Leonardo da Vinci. The exhibition, "Leonardo da Vinci: painter at the Court of Milan", presents some of the artist's unique work, when he was the painter at the Court of Duc Ludovico Sforza in Milan. The exhibition is on until 5th February 2012.

Until 9th January the Orangerie Museum, Paris, is devoting an exhibition to the main artists and trends in Spanish art from the end of the 19th ,to the beginning of the 2Oth century. The exhibition presents around 60 works by major artists of this period. The latter illustrate the wealth and diversity of Spanish art at the turn of the 20th century, as well as its natural development towards the avant-garde, notably symbolism and post-impressionism.

The European Comic Strip Exhibition is on until 20th November in Bucharest for the second year running - the emphasis this time round focuses on the creative effervescence in Eastern Europe and "a trip into the ninth dimension" with the Belgian, French-speaking comic strip. The exhibition is being organised by the National Romanian Contemporary Art Museum and a group of foreign cultural institutes (Eunic) and offers the public work by Portuguese, Greek, French and Hungarian artists.

The Hermitage of Amsterdam is presenting a magnificent retrospective of Flemish painters until 16th March 2012, based on the impressive collection of Flemish art from the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. The exhibition "Rubens, Van Dyck & Jordaens" with 75 pictures and around 20 drawings includes several works of art by the three masters of the School of Anvers, as well as works by some famous contemporaries.