One week after the publication of the "Permanent Atlas of the European Union" co-written by Jean-Dominique Giuliani and Pascale Joannin, who are respectively the chairman and general director of the Foundation, the Robert Schuman Foundation has updated its site devoted to this publication, notably the statistics and political data regarding some countries, notably Slovenia and Finland. Order your copy of the "Permanent Atlas of the European Union" now! The latest atlas offers the soundest information on all of the Member States of Europe.

The new president of the European Investment Bank 'EIB', Werner Hoyer presented the establishment's annual results on 16th February. It recorded a net result of 2.3 billion euros in 2011 against 2.1 billion in 2010. In 2011 the EIB granted new loans to nearly 70 countries to a total of 61 billion euros. Over the 61 billion lent, 54 went to projects in the EU and 7 billion to projects external to the EU - mainly to countries that are hoping to join the EU or which are neighbours in the east and the south.

According to data published on 15th February by the National Statistics Institute and Economic Studies (INSEE), the French GDP rose by 0.2% in the fourth quarter 2011, after growth of 0.3% in the third quarter. Hence annual growth in 2011 lay at 1.7% against 1.4% in 2010. This rise reflects an increase in investments, up by 0.9% over the last quarter of 2011, against 0.2% in the previous quarter, as well as in increase in exports (+1.2% over the period, whilst at the same time imports declined). Household consumption slowed (+0.2% against +0.3% in the previous quarter) but continues to support economic activity.

Acoording to data published 15th February by the Italian Statistics Institute, Isat, the Italian GDP contracted by 0.7% in the fourth quarter in comparison with the previous quarter and by 0.5% in comparison with the same quarter the previous year. Since the country has experienced the successive reduction of its GDP for the last two quarters, it is now officially in recession.

In the morning of 21st February the 17 euro zone Finance Ministers came to a compromise over the aid to be given to Greece. The agreement includes, public aid on the one hand - mainly in the shape of loans to a total of 130 billion euros, after a first loan plan agreed in May 2010 in support of the country to a total of 110 billion euros. On the other hand Greece's debt held by its private creditors, banks and investment funds will be cancelled. They will accept a 53.5% loss in the end - which entails greater effort on their part than was originally decided, which totalled 50%. This should lead to a reduction of the country's debt by around 100 billion euros. The 17 Finance Ministers said they were pleased with the Greek parliament's adoption of the austerity plan, the work engaged to make good the budgetary deficit of more than 300 million euros and the commitment on the part of the political parties to implement the necessary reform. They also called on the European Commission to strengthen and make its Task Force in Greece permanent.

On 17th February the Spanish government approved a further austerity measure as part of its goal to reduce the public deficit by bringing down executive salaries in government companies by 25% to 30% on average. State owned companies will therefore be divided into three categories according to size: in the biggest of these the maximum salary will be 105,000 euros per year, for average sized businesses the limit will be set at 80,000 and the smallest will be restricted to 55,000 euros maximum.

The Czech Republic entered recession in the fourth quarter of 2011 after two consecutive months of GDP contraction, according to an initial estimate published on 15th February by the National Statistics Bureau (CSU). In the fourth quarter of 2011 the Czech GDP contracted by 0.3% in comparison with the previous quarter which itself was marked by a contraction of 0.1%. For the entire year, 2011, the GDP increased by 1.7% according to this first estimation. Revised figures will be published on 9th March.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny announced on 13th February that there would be a series of measures that would aim to create 100,000 jobs by 2016 whilst at present the country has an unemployment rate of 14.2% ie nearly 450,000 job seekers. The government plan includes more than 250 measures to encourage companies to employ people. These include tax exemptions, fixed rate loans schemes, and the creation of a 150 million euro fund to support exports. The government has also set up a compensation system for members of the Irish diaspora who find foreign investors ready to launch a business in Ireland.

On 15th February the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, and his American counterpart, Kathleen Merrigan signed letters establishing a partnership between the EU and the USA on "organic" products. As of June 1st products labelled by one country will be allowed on the market in the other country and automatically enjoy the "organic" certification. This agreement aims to foster organic product trade and improve consumer information.

On 16th February the European Commission presented a white paper on "adequate, safe and viable" pensions. The ageing population and budgetary restrictions are threatnening the present pension systems. To rise to this challenge the Commission is suggesting several ways to approach the problem; rebalancing working time in relation to life expectancy, encouraging individual savings, guaranteeing pensions, notably for EU citizens living in a country other than their own. The main measure is still the extension of professional life, which leads to longer contribution times and a reduction in the length of the retirement period. It also means employers adapting to their eldest employees.

The President of the Italian Council, Mario Monti, spoke to MEPs during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 15th February. He notably spoke of budgetary measures that his government was implementing at present to counter the crisis. He presented his budgetary austerity plan, adding that to be effective it had to be completed by a strengthened domestic market. For the time being pensioners, civil servants and taxation were the focus of the reforms that had been started. He also denounced the "exaggerated hardness" with which Greece is being treated, deeming that it is too late for this kind of approach.

MEPs gave the greenlight on 16th February on the liberalisation of trade between Morocco and the EU with regard to agricultural and fisheries products. In ten years time most taxes and quotas are due to be lifted. However protective measures have been introduced to protect European producers.

MEPs adopted a draft regulation on 14th February at first reading which establishes the rules and common standards for transfers and payments in euros in the EU. This regulation should facilitate financial transactions in Europe and reduce costs for users by increaseing competition between banks. The area will involve the 27 EU members but also Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland. The measures will progressively enter into force by 2016 and should help businesses and private parties to save 120 billion euros in 6 years. This regulation is part of the project for a single euro payment area, the SEPA.

On 16th February MEPs decided to maintain pressure on Hungary. In a resolution adopted 315 votes against 263 they reminded Hungary of its duty to follow the European Commission's and the Council of Europe's recommendations. The European Parliament, because of its deep concern, mentioned the use of article 7, that enables the EU to suspend a Member State's rights if it can be proved that there are major threats being made to common values, notably democracy, the independence of justice, the plurality of the media and the protection of the minorities.

In a resolution adopted on 16th February on the occasion of the plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs condemned the use of the death penalty in Belarus. They have asked the country's authorities to place a moratorium on the death penalty whilst waiting for its total repeal. This resolution comes just as two opponents might soon be executed for allegations of terrorism, whilst several civil society organisations have pointed out that the trials have been unfair, the investigations have been biased and have infringed Human Rights. Belarus is the last European country to pronounce and carry out the death penalty.

On 14th February the 27 Energy Ministers discussed transeuropean energy infrastructures and notably regional groups and regulation measures. Moreover they recalled that the EU's goals in terms of renewable energies and energy efficacy could also have a major, positive impact on growth and employment.

On 17th February the 27 Employment and Social Affairs Ministers studied various ways to provide women with a better representation in the managerial of businesses. Indeed whilst women represent 60% of all graduates, only 12% of them are company administrators and 3% are heads of companies. Some countries have spoken of introducing quotas, whilst others prefer a volunteer based approach. In preparation for the European Council ministers also discussed priorities in terms of employment and social affairs stressing that austerity measures should not be counter-productive but that they had to go hand in hand with specific measures for employment, notably for young people and growth.

German President Christian Wulff resigned on 17th February after the announcement by the Hannover Court that it was launching an inquiry into accusations of corruption. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that she would be looking for a consensus candidate with the opposition to take over from Christian Wulff. The position of president is mainly honorary, but he has to stand as a moral figure. The president is elected by the federal assembly (Bundesversammlung), which rallies 1244 members (Bundestag, Bundesrat, representatives of the Länder). It is due to meet, according to the German Constitution, within the next 30 days to elect their new president.

On 19th February German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with the leaders of two other government parties and the leaders of the two biggest opposition parties on Joachim Gauck's bid for the German presidency. The latter was already the opposition's candidate in 2010 when Christian Wulff, former president, who resigned on 17th February last, was running. Joachim Gauck is an acknowledged civil rights campaigner. Between 1990 and 2000 he was the first federal commissioner appointed to investigate into the Stasi archives. Within the next few weeks the Federal Assembly is to meet to approve his appointment.

The Franco-German work group on economic and financial policy issues in Europe at the Bundestag and the National Assembly met on 13th February in Paris to finalise their work and to review results after four meetings since the autumn of 2011. The two chairmen, Norbert Lammert and Bernard Accoyer stressed in a joint declaration that the Bundestag and the National Assembly intended to ratify the treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism and the Treaty on Stability as soon as possible after the signature of these by heads of State and government. The work group is encouraging the French and German governments to step up bilateral cooperation in terms of growth strategy and fiscal convergence.

On 17th February during the Franco-British Summit, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron signed an agreement on nuclear civilian energy aiming to improve cooperation between the two countries in this area, notably with regard to staff training, research and the security of nuclear power plants. They also published a press release with regard to Syria in which they support the resolution approved by the UN General Assembly "repeating their condemnation" of the Syrian regime and call for greater sanctions on the part of the EU and greater commitment to providing more humanitarian aid.

According to a Eurostat estimate on 15th February the euro zone's GDP and that of the EU declined by 0.3 points in the fourth quarter of 2011 in comparison with the previous quarter. Over one year it rose however by 0.7% and 0.9% respectively.

According to a Eurostat estimate published on 15th February the external trade deficit in 2011 totalled 7.7 billion euros in the euro zone and 152.8 billion in the EU. A year ago the deficits were around 7 billion euros higher in both cases. The energy bill with regard to Norway and Russia is notably a major factor in the deficit whilst the export of manufactured goods rose sharply (+70 billion in both cases). Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands are the countries with the highest surpluses, whilst the UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Greece all have very high deficits.

The Foundation for International Relations and External Dialogue has published a study "Is Germany still a EU-ropean power?" Author, Susanne Gratuis, analyses the development of the German attitude towards Europe and the distance Chancellor Angela Merkel has set between Germany and Europe with regard to the country's traditional pro-European policy. She sees greater German confidence and greater capacity to work towards its own interests.

The Wissenschaft und Politik Stiftung (German Insitute for International and Security Affairs - SWP) has published a study by Thomas Sattich entitled "The EU's policy to finalise the internal electricity market." The author analyses the EU's new policy that tries to liberalise and complete the European internal electricity market - which according to the author, remains fragmented. The analysis also covers recent changes in German energy policy.

An exhibition is being held in Caen, organised by the town's fine arts museum together with the fine arts museum of Canada until 23rd April. It is devoted to "French artists and amateurs in Rome in the 18th century". On this occasion around one hundred drawings are on show, together with prints and paintings that re-create the atmosphere of that time and place. The collections on show are divided into five themes: "Amateurs, sponsors, and artists", "Academic teaching", "the Re-discovery of Antiquity", "The landscape of Rome and its environs", "Festivals and Celebrations".

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Caja Madrid Foundation are presenting 169 works of art by the Russian painter Marc Chagall until 20thy May 2012. The exhibition reviews his work chronologically and focuses on this artist's favourite themes. He was inspired by love, souvenirs and traditions - both Jewish and Russian - as well as the historic and artistic events which he witnessed.

The Tate Modern Gallery of London is showing Yayoi Kusama's work until 5th June 2012. His work reflects a fascination for mental illness. The collections on show bring together paintings, drawings, sculptures, films and artistic performances. It is the first time that an exhibition of this extent devoted to Kusama has been organised in the UK.

Until 10th June the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden Baden is showing more than 80 pieces of work by American artist William N Copley (1919-1996), a gallery owner, writer and editor in the 1940's, believed to be a "vital intermediary between surrealism and pop art." He was friends with Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp and put on exhibitions in Beverly Hills by artists such as Man Ray, Yves Tanguy, Roberto Matta, Max Ernst and René Magritte. Many of the pieces of work are on show for the first time.