As part of the partnership between the Robert Schuman Foundation and the Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF), the Foundation is broadcasting the most recent programme "Talking Europe" on its site; guests on the programme are MEPs Nigel Farage and Graham Watson. Interviewed by Christophe Robeet, the two MEPs have totally different views.

The Socialist Party (PS) won the absolute majority of the seats in the National Assembly, the lower chamber in Parliament, in the second round of voting on 17th June. The PS won 80 seats, the far left 12 and various left 22. Europe Ecology-the Greens (EELV) won 17 seats, the Left Front 10. The PS is therefore free to undertake its policy and will not have to negotiate with the Left Front. The Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) won 194 seats, the Radical Party, 6 and the various right 14. The New Centre won 14 seats. The Democratic Movement (MoDem) won 2 seats, likewise the Front National. Turn out was the lowest ever recorded for a general election in France, 55.41%. Finally 155 women will sit in the new assembly (+48).

According to the most recent figures published on 14h June by the Hellenic Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate totalled 22.6% in the first quarter of 2012 against 20.7% in the previous quarter. It totalled 52.7% amongst young people aged 14-25. On the other hand 26.5% of women do not have a job, against 19.7% of men.

On 17th June there was a summit between the EU and Mexico in Los Cabos. On this occasion representatives from both sides recalled the importance of the partnership between the EU and Mexico in terms of the economy, trade, security, Human Rights and the environment. The President of the Council of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy declared that it was necessary "to strengthen the relationship between the Union and Mexico and to discuss the possibility of renewing the global agreement made in 2000." This summit led to "the establishment of the bases for future cooperation" according to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

On 13th June the European Commission signed a cooperation agreement with Greenland on raw materials. To improve access for the EU's industrial sectors to cheap raw materials, the European Commission would like to increase cooperation with Greenland in two ways - whether this involves joint infrastructures and investments or the strengthening of capabilities in terms of exploration and the extraction of raw matierals. At present 58% of companies which explore in Greenland are Canadian or Australian. The share of EU companies operating in this country is only 15% (from Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic and the UK).

In a resolution adopted on 13th June, MEPs declared that before signing a free trade agreement between the EU and Peru/Colombia, both of these countries had to commit towards protecting Human Rights, workers' rights and the environment. To this end MEPs would like the introduction of a roadmap that is both transparent and binding. The resolution acknowledges that a great deal of work has already been done in these countries but stresses that a great deal still has to be done to eradicate poverty, corruption and violence in Peru and Colombia. The text was adopted by 525 MEPs, 94 against and 67 abstentions.

As part of the reform of the common fisheries policy the 27 agriculture and fisheries Ministers came to agreement on 12th June for a draft regulation on this policy and a proposal for the organisation of a common fisheries market and aquaculture products. They welcomed progress presented in a report on the European Maritime Fisheries Fund. They identifed the positive points and those where work had to continue.

On 13th June the IMF approved the seventh payment of 1.4 billion euros of the loan granted to Irelad in 2010, which totalled 23.5 billion euros. This step by the IMF is the reward for the reforms undertaken by Dublin and the support of the population to the government's measures. Unlike Greece and Portugal that are also receiving EU and IMF aid, Ireland has recovered growth even though this is weak, with the IMF forecasting 0.5% growth in Ireland in 2012.

On 14th June the Bundestag, the lower chamber in the German parliament, adopted a collective budget for 2012 that has been made necessary by the early payment of Germany's share in the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). Germany's entire share in the ESM totals 22 billion euros, which means it will be paying 8.7 billion euros this year and making a corrective financial law necessary. With this collective budget the federal deficit now totals 32.1 billion euros and not 26.1 billion as initially planned.

Chinese President Hu Jintao made an official visit to Denmark on 14th-16th June during which he spoke with Queen Margrethe II, then with Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. The Chinese and Danish leaders discussed the economic crisis in the euro zone and more widely the world economic situation. Cooperation agreements regarding investments, customs duties, energy, environmental protection, agriculture, education and culture were signed. It is the first visit by a Chinese leader to Denmark.

On 13th June the Hungarian Culture Minister Geza Szocs announced his resignation from Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government. The former poet took this decision after severe criticism was made of the new cultural policy. Indeed he was criticised for making major budgetary cuts to culture, likewise his ideological proxmity to the Hungarian far right. A short time after his resignation Viktor Orban asked him to become his special cultural advisor.

On 14th June the President of the Italian Council, Mario Monti hosted the President of the French Republic, François Hollande in Rome. In view of the European Council on 28th and 29th June the two leaders said they wanted to strengthen the means available to the EU in order to rise to the economic crisis and expressed their desire for a policy that fostered more growth. Mr Hollande declared that he had sent a"roadmap" to European Council President Herman van Rompuy summarising the three "principles" that France hopes to defend: the support of growth, greater financial stability and the strengthening of economic and monetary Union." Mr Monti declared that he shared François Hollande's goals and that Europe needed "new financial instruments" and that disagreements between the two leaders were "purely technical".

The Latvian parliament decided on 14th June to delay the retirement age that is 62 at present to 65 over the period 2014-2025 in a bid to maintain its pension system, whilst the country's population is continuing to decline and grow older. Pensioners comprise around one quarter of the population of this former Soviet country that has 2 million inhabitants. The text was approved 49 votes in favour, 39 against and 0 abstentions.

On 14th June British Prime Minister David Cameron was invited to explain himself before the Leveson Inquiry, which is investigating the Murdoch affair. For six hours the head of government, speaking under oath, had to justify himself live on TV regarding his involvement and that of his party in the telephone tapping affair. Qualifying the idea that there had been "explicit agreements" as "absurd", he denied that there had been any agreement with the Murdoch group, which it is said to have offered him favourable media coverage, notably during the electoral campaign in 2010.

On 14th June the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Cecilia Malmström communicated a roadmap to the Kosovar government which, long term, should enable its citizens to travel without having to request visas in the Schengen Area countries. This document establishes a list of vital reforms to be made in order to guarantee free movemet, notably regarding the reintegration and readmission procedure, security documents, border management, the fight to counter organised crime and corruption and finally fundmental rights. The Commission will continue to follow the progress made by Kosovo according to the road map.

On 15th June the Reception Centre for the Foreign Press in Paris invited Eugenia Karr-Tymoshenko, daughter of the Ukrainian oppositon leader, Yulia Tymoshenko to speak on the "Tymoshenko Affair and the Euro 2012". She said that "Ukraine was a dictatorship" because it falsified and filtered the information delivered to the people as well as that given to the international community. Reviewing her mother's situation and that of all imprisoned political opponents she explained that Ukraine did not implement the idea "of innocent before proven guilty" and that 99% of trials had already been decided before they had even started. In her opinion the present President Viktor Yanukovych wants to be a "Czar". Finally she thanked the EU for its efforts, such as the boycott of the Euro 2012, the regular calls made to the Ukrainian authorities regarding the need to release prisoners and the dispatch of two observers to her mother's appeal trial which will begin on 26th June.

On 12th June the European Southern Observatory approved the project to build a giant European telescope (E-ELT Extremely Large Telescope), in the north of Chile. The first scientific operations are due to take place next decade. It will be the biggest telescope in the world and it will observe visible light and the infrared. To make the launch of the programme valid two thirds of the Member States, at least ten, have to vote in support of its launch: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland have already voted in support and four other countries still have to confirm their "ad referendum" vote. Four additional countries are due to joint the other ten shortly.

The UN Conference Rio+20 opened on 13th June in Rio de Janeiro. By 22nd June the States have to come to a consensus on sustainable development in order to eradicate the impoverishment of the environment and poverty in the world. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called "for all countries of the world to commit" to finding an agreement that corresponds with the planet's environmental and social requirements in spite of the international crisis." 20 years after the Earth Summit, Rio+20 is the biggest conference ever organised. 50,000 people are taking part. Ministerial negotiations that were started during the first days of the conference will continue until the official summit of heads of state and government on 20th-22nd June.

According to figures published on 15th June by Eurostat for the first quarter of 2012 the number of those employed in the euro zone declined by 0.2% and remained stable across the European Union. The biggest decrease was recorded in the construction industry (-1.3% in the euro zone and -0.8% in the Union), and the biggest increase was recorded in communications (+1% in the euro zone and +1% in the Union).

The Foundation for International Relations and External Dialogue (FRIDE) published a study on 11th June entitled "Why EU strategic partnerships matter". It looks into the conditions for the success of European strategic partnerships stressing that this is a vital measure to enhance European identity, to defend the EU's values and interests and to develop multilateral cooperation.

The castle of Versailles is hosting an exhibition devoted to Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos until 30th September. On this occasion 17 major pieces of work will be on show, including 8 that were especially made for the event, which are typifed by the use of textiiles and everyday objects. Joana Vasconcelos is the first woman artist to have an exhibition at the Château of Versailles.