Europe heads the list of five continents as far as the number women who hold responsibilities as the leader of their country is concerned. The Robert Schuman Foundation has updated three tables that give a ranking of the EU Member States according to the share of women in government, national parliaments and in the European Parliament.

Are democracy and the rule of law under threat in Romania? On 6th July 2012 the Romanian Parliament, comprising the Senate (143 members) and the Chamber of Deputies (346 members) approved the request for the impeachment of the President of the Republic, Traian Basescu, 256 votes in support, 114 against, put forward by the Social Liberal Union (USL), the centre-left alliance in office. According to article 95 of the Constitution the head of State can be impeached "if he commits serious errors that infringe the measures contained in the Constitution." The vote taken by Parliament now has to be confirmed by referendum. The Romanians are therefore being called to ballot on 29th July. If they vote against the impeachment of the President, he will remain in office until the end of his mandate, in other words until the end of 2014; if they approve it, an early presidential election will be organised within 90 days.

On 10th July 2012 the 27 Economy and Finance Ministers gave their go ahead to the launch of the pilot phase of the "projects bonds", which are loans that are pooled to a total of 4.5 billion euros and designed to be used to fund major infrastructure projects. If successful the operational phase will be launched in 2014 and will last until 2020. The Council has also published specific recommendations country by country to the Member States regarding their economic and fiscal policies, thereby concluding the follow-up period of the European Semester this year (following advice given by the European Council).

On 13th July 2012 the European Commission suggested stepping up the rules in terms of car roadworthiness. On the one hand this means increasing the frequency of the tests (annual tests for cars over six years in age) and on the other hand the inspection of scooters and motorbikes with two or three wheels should be made obligatory. This last measure is not yet in place in most European countries. The aim of this action is to reduce the number of road accidents caused by mechanical problems.

On 12th July 2012 the European Court of Justice set out details concerning the interpretation of the Directive on Consumer Protection as far loans contracts were concerned. Following the doubt launched by Romania's High Court about one of the general terms (whereby the borrower can, in certain conditions, be liable to a "risk commission"), the Court delivered decisions on several points. The Member States can apply the Directive to other areas and they can include temporary measures in ongoing contracts. It said that the directive does not prevent a Member State from "setting obligations, which the latter does not include, as far as the type of commission is concerned." Finally it stresses that consumers can turn to a consumer protection authority which possibly might decide upon sanctions which comprise the "adequate and effective" settlement of litigation.

On 11th July 2012 the Permanent Representatives Committee adopted the draft position of the Council on the 2013 budget. The formal adoption of this document is due to be given on 24th July. The document stresses the need to avoid greater burden on public funding by the States in this period of budgetary consolidation whilst adopting measures to promote growth. In line with the "Europe 2020" Strategy the greatest increase involves sustainable growth, but emphasis has also been placed on cohesion, as well as freedom, security and justice. Generally the 2013 budget totals 132.70 billion euros in payments and 149.78 billion in commitments. In comparison with 2012 the increase totals 3.61 billion.

On 12th July 2012 the European Union's High Representative Catherine Ashton travelled to Phnom Penh. She met American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This meeting shows the importance of their attachment to the region and its development. Interdependence has never been as strong, which makes it possible to increase security and prosperity in Asia-Pacific. Both parties said they wanted to step up the fight to counter transnational crime and terrorism and said that the region's economic development was a priority. On this occasion Ms Ashton signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the Philippine Foreign Secretary, which should strengthen the links beween the EU and the Philippines.

How should women be helped to reconcile family and professional life? For several years the problems has been the focus of attention in Germany. These issues were addressed during an international conference "DLDwomen" organised in Munich on 11th and 12th July 2012. Speakers (researchers, company executives, consultants, political leaders) looked into the opportunities offered by the rise of digital activities as far as women's lives were concerned. According to the German Labour and Social Affairs Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, iPads, smartphones and other digital tools will make work increasingly flexible, and therefore more reconciliable with family life, she explained to 600 people who attended the conference at the House of Art in Munich.

On 13th July 2012 the Belgian Parliament brought a controversy between the Flemish and the Walloons to an end - it had been the bane of political life for the last fifty years but the secessionists of Flanders are already sharpening up for their next round of claims. MPs formally adopted, 106 votes in support, 42 against, the draft law that splits the district of Brussels/Hal/Vilvorde, BHV. This area that has over a million and a half inhabitants was considered to be the last bastion of bilingual Belgium. For decades Flemish political parties have been demanding separation between the Belgian capital, which is mainly French speaking and Hal-Vilvorde, which lies in Dutch speaking Flanders, but where a significant French speaking minority lives.

On 9th July 2012 the Presidents of the "Four motors for Europe", Rhône-Alpes, Catalunya, Lombardy and Baden-Württemberg met for a conference entitled "Interregional co-operation: promoting regional development and a strong Europe." They highlighted the need for a Europe based on "research", "energy transition" and "citizen participation". They recalled the importance of "investing in training" young people and the need "to protect the climate and the environment". This regional alliance represents 8% of Europe's GDP and 35 million inhabitants. The President of the European Union's Committee of the Regions, Mercedes Bresso, who was invited to take part in the debates said that "the regions have a vital role to play".

On 11th July 2012 the Greek coalition government repeated its promise to renegotiate the austerity plan set out by the EU and the IMF. "The government is determined to work on the framework of the programme established by the three coalition parties (...), our goal is to renegotiate the EU-IMF plan," declared the government's spokesperson, Simos Kedikoglou after a meeting with the conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the leader of the Socialist Party, Evangelos Venizelos, and that of the democratic left, Dimar, Fotis Kouvelis.

On 11th July 2012 Mario Monti, the President of the Italian Council, who held the Economy and Finance portfolio to date, suggested to the President of the Italian Republic, that Vittorio Grilli replace him in this post to become the Economy and Finance Minister. After being sworn in at the Quirinale Palace Mr Grilli entered office. Aged 55, he was the Director General of the Italian Treasury from May 2005 on and was Giulio Tremonti's righthand man - (former Finance Minister). Mario Monti also announced the institutionalisation of a coordination committee for the economic and financial policy.

On 12th July 2012 the Central Bank of Latvia raised its GDP growth forecasts for 2012 from 1.3% to 3.5% and possibly 4%. The Central Bank maintains its inflation forecast at 2.4% however.

On 12th July 2012 the Dutch Parliament approved a new law that plans for the raising of the legal working age by two years. Set at 65 since 1957, the age of retirement in the Netherlands will rise to 66 in 2019 and to 67 in 2023. The Robert Schuman Foundation has published a table that summarizes the retirement systems in the 27 EU Member States.

On 12th July 2012 during a meeting with the Presidents of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta was asked to give the Constitutional Court all of its powers back and to bend to its decisions. This demand comes in response to the suspension of President Traian Basescu (centre-right) by the centre-left majority, to the reduction of the Court's comptences and to the unexpected replacement of the Ombudsman (the only person who can challenge a decision and counter corruption). The Constitutional Court had for its part complained of abusive measures. European Commissioner Viviane Reding condemned the "threat" of anti-democratic excesses. In the event of "serious fundamental rights' infringements", article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty plans for the suspension of the voting rights of the Member State in question.

On 10th July 2012 the French President François Hollande met British Prime Minister David Cameron and Queen Elizabeth II. During his meeting with the head of the British State the French president pleaded in support of a "multi-speed Europe". The British Prime Minister responded to this by saying "that there were opportunities for (European) countries to have different relationships as part of the European Union." Later in the day the head of the French State spoke with the Queen at Windsor Castle.

On 11th July 2012 during his official visit to Slovenia, the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano met Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa. After having acknowledged the positive development of economic relations between their two countries and in spite of the present crisis they both said they were totally satisfied with the conclusions delivered by the most recent European Council, notably regarding growth and the stabilisation of public finances.

On 10th July 2012 the Duma, the lower chamber in the Russian parliament ratified Russia's accession protocol to the World Trade Organisation, 238 votes in support, 208 against and 1 abstention. This vote brings 18 years of negotiation to an end. However the text still has to be approved by the upper chamber and then signed by the president so that it can enter into force in 30 days time.

On 12th July 2012 the Ukrainian Supreme Appeal Court decided to delay the assessment of the appeal lodged by the head of the opposition and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko until 16th August. Sentenced to 7 years in prison for abuse of power, the opposition leader first made her appeal against the conviction in 2011. This announcement follows that of Ukrainian Judge Kostiantin Sadovski, who, two days earlier, had announced the postponement of another trial against Yulia Tymoshenko for tax fraud.

On 10th July 2012 the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published its estimates in a new report: "the high rate of unemployment is due to continue." This can be explained by slow economic recovery at present. "Employment Outlook 2012" estimates that unemployment rates in all OECD countries are due to remain close to 7.7% (48 million unemployed) in the last quarter of 2013 which is close to 7.2% in May 2012. The OECD also stressed a rise in unemployment in the euro zone in May 2012, totalling 11.1%. It is asking the countries to stimulate the creation of jobs, to help the unemployed to stay in touch with the labour market, via targeted employment incentives, and it is advising on "enhanced investment in education and skills and also better targeted tax and transfer programmes".

On 16th July Eurostat indicated that in May 2012 the EU and the euro zone respectively recorded a goods trade balance deficit of 3.8 billion euros and a surplus of 6.9 billion. A year ago the deficits were respectively 14.5 billion and 1.2 billion euros.

The Foundation for International Relations and External Dialogue (FRIDE) has published a study on the relations between the EU and Brazil entitled "Brazil and the EU: balancing and bandwagoning." The author analyses the ambiguous relations that the two powers share as they fluctuate between their desire for continuity and maintaining their distance.

Until 8th October the Museum in Quimper is taking over from the Museum of Grenoble as it presents the first ever exhibition in France devoted to Die Brücke, the movement that launched German Expressionism. More than 140 works of art, paintings and prints from Die Brücke Museum in Berlin will be on show.