On 19th December the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, took part in a debate at the Bulgarian National Assembly on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. He spoke on the financial crisis and notably of the solutions that should be implemented. On the same day the Assembly launched an information and communication campaign devoted to European issues.

On 22nd January next, on the third Sunday in the month, as is customary, more than 4.4 million Finns are being called to ballot, to appoint the successor to Tarja Halonen as President of the Republic. The outgoing Head of State, elected for the first time on 6th February 2000 cannot stand again. The Finnish Head of State is elected for a 6 year term in office. Eight people are standing: Sauli Niinistö, the Conservative Assembly's candidate (KOK), former Minister of Justice (1995-1996) and Finances (1996-2003); Paavo Väyrynen, the Centre Party candidate (KESK); Paavo Lipponen, the Social Democratic Party candidate , former Prime Minister in 1995; Timo Soini, the leader of the True Finns (PS); Pekka Haavisto, the Greens candidate (VIHR), former Environment Minister (1995-1999); Sari Essayah, the Christian Democratic Party's candidate (SKL), MEP since 2009; Paavo Arhinmäki, the Left Alliance candidate (VAS), of which he has been the chair since 2009; Eva Biaudet, the Swedish People's Party (SFP).

In an interview on TV, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared that Hungary was due to review its growth forecasts downwards. The growth rate in 2012 is estimated at "0.5%, and possibly less"," he said. Hungary that is not a euro zone member, is extremely dependent on exports to the monetary zone and notably to Germany. The country is suffering especially from the slowing in the euro zone's economic activity. After a significant rise in obligatory rates Hungary asked for help from the IMF at the end of November. An IMF delegation travelled to Budapest from 13th to 16th December "to discuss the latest developments in terms of the budget."

The Presidents of the European Council and of the European Commission, Herman Van Rompuy and José Manuel Barroso and the Russian President Dmitri Medvedev met on 15th December on the occasion of the 28th EU-Russia Summit. With regard to the issue of visas, the EU and Russia agreed on greater cooperation. This should enable European and Russian citizens to travel without a visa to Russia and to all of the Schengen Area countries for short trips. The EU said it was prepared to support the country's accession to the WTO, planned for the end of the year. Some sensitive issues such as the repression in Syria and Iran's nuclear programme were also discussed. With regard to the euro crisis, the Russian President said he was prepared to provide aid that might be given jointly with other countries via the IMF. It might provide up to 20 million $.

The European Commission is addressing issues associated with cross-border inheritance duties said the Taxation Commissioner, Algirdas Semeta on 15th December. According to the Commission 'EU citizens who inherit property abroad often have to pay taxes in more than one member State." In some cases they were forced to sell what they have inherited in order to pay these taxes. This phenomenon particularly affects small companies. The Commission does not want to harmonise rules that are applicable on a national level but advises "a wider more flexible application of national measures that aim to avoid double taxation." The Commission will monitor the acceptance of its recommendations by the Member States. A first assessment report will be published in three years time.

On 13th December the European Parliament adopted a new "single permit" that will enable immigrant workers living legally in the EU to have greater, more harmonised rights in the Member States in terms of working conditions, social security and access to public services. The directive also plan to simplify red-tape with the granting of the employment/residence permit in a one step procedure. The Member States have two years to adapt their legislation to the new rules.

On 12th December the 27 Transport and Telecommunications Ministers came to agreement on the draft directive establishing a common area in the rail industry in order to simplify, clarify and modernise the present rules and to complete the single railway market. With regard to road transport, the Ministers decided to step up the fight against fraud by updating the rules on tachographs that are installed on board vehicles. Finally with regard to maritime transport they came to a joint position on the review of the rules governing double hulled ships and the directive on the minimum training for sailors. In terms of telecommunications they adopted conclusions to guarantee an open, neutral internet Europe wide, as well as a decision establishing a harmonisation programme on the use of radio-frequencies that is due to be adopted by Parliament in February 2012.

On 15th December the European Court of Auditors published a report devoted to the means implemented by the European Commission to control the legal nature and effectiveness of State aid. The Court explains that procedures are too long, even though the Commission has reacted rapidly during the crisis and asks for greater transparency in its decisions. Moreover it believes that the study of the impact of this aid might be improved.

On 16th December the Council stepped up sanctions against the Belarus government led by Aleksandr Lukashenko. Two people, who influenced the conviction of human rights defender, Ales Beliatski, were added to the list of those who can no longer enter the EU. The list now includes some 210 people. The Council also decided to maintain the sanctions set on several companies that collaborate with the regime, including BelTechExport, one of the main Belarus arms companies. The embargo on the European export of materials that might be used for internal repression is also being kept up. In a joint declaration on 18th December the High Representative of the EU, Catherine Ashton, and American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton recalled the hardening of the repression in Belarus, which started one year ago after the presidential election. They are asking for the immediate liberation of all political prisoners.

On 14th December German Chancellor Angela Merkel told German MPs what the European Council's had decided on 9th December, as she spoke at the Bundestag. Europe has laid some "important foundations" in view of creating budgetary union she stressed. A process had been started that should enable a strong exit to the sovereign debt crisis. "A new Europe of stability, solidarity and confidence" is being born" she declared.

Two politicians loyal to the future head of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy, were elected on 13th December as leaders of the two chambers of Parliament. Jesus Posada, 66 was elected leader of Congress, the lower chamber and Pio Garcia-Escudero, 59 was elected to lead the Senate. The government formed by the People's Party (PP), winner in the elections on 20th November, is to be finalised on 22nd December after the new Prime Minister is sworn in on 21st December.

On 15th December the IMF, the EU and the European Central Bank expressed their concern to the Hungarian government about a new project to reform the Central National Bank, which they say would threaten its independence. The text plans to withdraw the governor of the Hungarian Central Bank's prerogative to choose his two deputies. Moreover it advises on an extension to the monetary council, which decides monthly on the interest rate policy, from 7 to 9 members, thereby increasing the number of external members appointed by parliament from four to six. Andras Simor, the Hungarian bank's governor, likens the project to a take over of the bank's power by the government. With the IMF, the European Commission "has decided to interrupt the preparatory mission." It is concerned by the "Hungarian authorities' intention to push for the adoption of laws that could undermine the central bank's independence."

Vaclav Havel, the emblem of the "Velvet Revolution" in Prague 1989 and President of Czechoslovakia then of the Czech Republic from 1989 to 2003, passed away on 18th December after having suffered many health problems, a result of his imprisonment under the former communist regime.

British Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron defended his veto against the new European treaty during a debate in the House of Commons on 12th December saying that above all it was his duty to ask for guarantees for his country - but the absence of Deputy Prime Minister, Liberal-Democrat Nick Clegg widened the gap that exists between the ruling coalition. "Great Britain is still a member of the EU and last week's events change nothing (...) We are in the EU and we want to stay in it," declared Mr Cameron, adding however "that the right answer to give, is 'no treaty' It was not an easy thing to do but it was right."

After the EU-Ukraine Summit that took place on 19th December in Kyiv the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy said that the signature of an association agreement between the EU and Ukraine depended on "political circumstances", notably on the Yulia Tymoshenko case, the government's political opponent who has been sentenced to 7 years in prison. According to a joint declaration the "total respect" of common values such as democracy and the rule of law, is a pre-requisite for Ukraine's association with the EU." Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said that his country "remained true to European values. He also announced that recent criticism on the part of the EU "would not go unheeded."

On 14th December the the Helvetic Confederation's present Finance Minister, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf of the Democratic Bourgeois Party (PBD), was elected president by 174 votes in parliament. Ms Widmer-Schlumpf succeeds socialist Micheline Calmy-Rey and will preside over the Helvetic Confederation in 2012. The presidency is held every year alternately by one of the seven members of the Federal Council, according to a pre-established list and according to the order of time served. For the first time in its history the Confederation will be presided over by a PBD member.

On 16th and 17th December the accession of Russia, Montenegro and the Samoan Islands to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was completed. The WTO now has 157 members including all of the G20 countries. The EU is pleased that Russia, Montenegro and Samoa have now joined. By integrating Russia and the other countries into the framework of the WTO's stable rules the EU hopes that trade relations will develop.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 13th December, the GDP per inhabitant in 2010 varied greatly from one country to another in the EU - from 44% to 271% of the average. In the lead is Luxembourg, then the Netherlands, - on the other end of the scale are Bulgaria and Romania. The UK and France lie at around 10% above the average whilst Spain and Italy find themselves very close to the average.

The Foundation for International Relations and External Dialogue (FRIDE) has published a study in the wake of the European summit on 8th and 9th December last. It looks into the ability of the decisions taken to save the euro given the austerity policies that are being applied everywhere in Europe and which are weakening the legitimacy of the European States policies. It believes that only political action undertaken as part of the European institutional framework can be effective.

The Trans-Europe Experts Collection has published a book on "European Citizenship" under the management of B Fauvarque-Cosson, E Pataut and J Rochfeld. This book looks into progress in terms of the idea of European citizenship, introduced in 1992 in the Maastricht Treaty. The idea of a united Europe seems threatened today. Can we base European citizenship on the project in which we share the same fate and interests, both in Europe and beyond?

The Pinacothèque of Paris is devoting an exhibition to the two main currents in German Expressionism - which were quite different, but both extremely representative of this movement. "Der Blaue Reiter" and "Die Brücke". The exhibition is presenting these two distinct trends using around 150 pieces of work by Kirchner, Nolde, Schmitt-Rottluff and Kandinsky. The exhibition is open until 11th March 2012.