Pascale Joannin, General Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation has signed an article on European Defence as part of the media partnership. According to her the establishment of a common European Defence tool is a "vital political goal".

Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation and Jean-Paul Betbèze, economist, member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee are the winners of the "Understanding Europe Better" Prize 2012. The prize will be given to them on 26th September 2012 at the townhall of Saint-Jean d'Angély for their book "Les 100 mots de l'Europe" published by PUF in the series "Que sais-je".

On the occasion of the first EU/Korea Forum organised by the Robert Schuman Foundation, the Korea Foundation and the Yonsei University at the European Parliament on 19th September 2012, the European Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht, reviewed the state of play one year after the adoption of the free trade agreement between the EU and Korea. He recalled that this agreement, apart from lifting tarif barriers, had enabled the emergence of an agreement on all of the technical norms, which usually impede the liberalisation of trade. He stressed that since the conclusion of the agreement the Union's trade deficit with Korea had decreased significantly, dropping from 11 billion euros in 2010 to 3.6 in 2011. Finally he insisted on the fact that the Korean cars sold in Europe were also mainly produced there too and that they did not threaten employment.

On 20th September 2012 the Swedish Finance Minister, Anders Borg, presented the draft budget 2013 to the Riksdag. The latter includes further measures designed to stimulate growth and employment. These measures, totalling an estimated 2.7 billion euros, include investments in infrastructures, research and development, as well as youth employment aid and the modernisation of the legal system. The Swedish executive also included in the draft budget 2013 a significant reduction in business taxes (from 26.3% to 22%) - an important measure because it represents 70% of the support package to the economy.

According to CBS figures (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek) published on 21st September 2012 108,000 young people in the 15-25 age bracket were unemployed in the second quarter of 2012 which represents a rise of 26,000 over one year. The unemployment rate is particularly high amongst young people who have not done any studies, with their number rising nearly by half from 31,000 to 45,000.

On 20th September 2012 the European Commission published its report on the European budget 2011. This report reviews the spending in 2011 in line with the multi-annual financial framework. Nearly half of the 126 billion of the 2011 budget were devoted to the Strategy 2020 goals, ie spending in investments, research and development, in pan-European transport networks, support to SME's and continuous apprenticeships. The Cohesion Policy is a strong part of this report since the rate of implementation of the various existing European funds have reached record sums, totalling sometimes 100%. The agricultural budget (CAP) involved nearly 44% of the entire 2011 budget. Finally 6% of the budget was devoted to the Neighbourhood Policy and 6% to the running of the European institutions.

After an inquiry the European Commission deemed on 21st September that the purchase of EMI by Universal was possible under certain conditions. Indeed this purchase respects the competition rules, together with cultural diversity and consumer protection goals. However the reserves set by the Commission are quite significant: Universal will have to relinquish several labels and many musical assets that are held by EMI at present. Universal will have to give up the "Most Favoured Nation" clause in the contracts that it concludes or renegotiates. The number of "majors" on the world musical market will drop from four to three.

ON 20th September 2012 the 15th EU/China summit took place. The state of bilateral relations between the two powers were the focus of discussions; each side also repeated its attachment to the Strategic Partnership Agreement concluded in 2003. During this meeting the European and Chinese leaders spoke of their various joint interests (multi-lateralism, attachment to the UN, the reduction of the nuclear arsenal, respect of Human Rights, the rule of law), as well as their respective concerns (euro crisis, the peaceful development of China, and the upkeep of a strong growth strategy). In view of strengthening the Strategic Partnership Agreement both sides pinpointed new opportunities for technical, scientific, cultural and political cooperation.

The German Federal Statistics Bureau (Destatis) in Wiesbaden declared on 20th September 2012 that the average number of children per woman in Germany was 1.36 in 2011 - again below the 2010 rate (1.39). According to the study by the institute for demography in Germany the birthrate of qualified women has increased but they have their children at an increasingly later age (as of 35 years).

On 21st September 2012 the Bundesrat (the upper chamber of the German parliament) voted in support of a motion that will oblige large companies to have at least 20% of women on their boards as of 2018 and 40% five years later. The motion must now be assessed in the Bundestag, the lower chamber of parliament where the majority is divided over the issue. The General Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Pascale Joannin has published a study on this theme entitled "Mixity, a European model".

On 22nd September 2012 in Rome after a meeting with the President of the Italian Council Mario Monti, FIAT executives announced that they were committed to maintaining their industrial presence in Italy. Mario Monti and the CEO of Sergio Marchionne's group promised to undertake joint work over the next few weeks to define the conditions required for the enhancement of the company's competitiveness. These joint commitments are a bid to provide reassurance after the car maker's announcement on 13th September 2012 that it was giving up its idea of "Fabbrica Italia".

According to a press release by Eurostat published on 17th September 2012 in July 2012 the euro zone registered a trade surplus of 15.6 billion euros against only 2.1 billion during the same month the previous year. Moreover out of the six first months of 2012 euro zone exports increased overall in value in comparison with the same period in 2011 with most of its trade partners. The first estimates of the trade balance in goods outside of the EU in July 2012 indicate a surplus of 3.1 billion euros, against -10.9 billion in July 2011. In June 2012 trade was balanced compared to a deficit of 15.3 billion in June 2011. In July 2012 in comparison with June 2012, exports adjusted to seasonal variations, decreased by 1.7% and imports by 1.3%.

According to a study published jointly by the Eurydice network and Eurostat on 20th September European children are learning foreign languages earlier and earlier. Most children start learning between 6 and 9 years of age, some as early as three. Moreover a growing number of young people study at least two foreign languages. English is still the most studied language, ahead of French, German, Spanish and Russian. 95% of pupils study at least one of these five languages. The European Commissioner responsible for Education, Youth and Mulitlinguism, Androulla Vassiliou recalled that "linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the EU's main assets." The report also looks into the practical experience of foreign language teachers in Europe, which varies greatly from one country to another.

The Network of European Consumer Centres and the European Commission have published a report together on the settlement of minor cross-border disputes. This procedure enables cross-border litigation, valued at under 2000 euros, to be processed faster and in an easier manner. This report identifies five main difficulties: the lack of information on the part of magistrates and consumers, linguistic problems, a complicated procedure for the defendants, unsatisfactory enforcement of the judgements, magistrates' unions and consumers need to be better informed, statistics need to be collated systematically and fewer official languages have to be employed.

The Royal Academcy in London is devoting an exhibition to bronze. There are over five hundred castings displaying all types of patina and size. For the first time ever the different schools, styles, centuries and cultures are mixed together, artistic flair being the only common criteria. The exhibition is open until 9th December 2012.

The Palazzo Strozzi in Florence is putting on an exhibition devoted to Italian art in the 1930's. Amateurs of modern Italian art and of the country's history will be able to view Italy as it was in the 1930's beyond fascism. More than 99 paintings, 17 sculptures and 20 design objects made by forty of the most important Italian artists such as Mario Sironi, Giorgio de Chirico, Alberto Savino, Achille Funi and Lucio Fontana try to define this decade as the culminating point of modernisation that marked a way of life. Visitors will be able to explore the various themes of the exhibition such as mass communication, industrial design and artistic creation. An educational programme and activities will take place in the Palace. The exhibition will be open until 27th January 2013.

The Orsay Museum in Paris is devoting an exhibition to Impressionism and fashion. From Manet to Monet, notwithstanding the most important Impressionist painters of the end of the 19th century, this pictorial trend, although avoiding any pure representation of appearance and habitat, does not give any less account of life, fashion and attitudes of men during the 1860's through to the 1880's. The Impressionist works on show take up genre scenes both from a typological and topographical point of view. Visitors can see the exhibition from 25th September 2012 to 20th January 2013.

The Beyeler Foundation in Riehen is putting on an exhibition on Edgar Degas (1834-1917), one of the most famous painters at the end of the 19th century. The 150 works on show take visitors on a voyage of discovery of the themes and patterns that typify the painter's sensual and lively artistic style. Art amateurs will be aware of the obsessional frenzy that possessed Edgar Degas, which meant he went to the heart of colour, where past and present merge together. The exhibition is on from 30th September 2012 to 27th January 2013.

The international San Sebastian film festival is taking place from 21st to 29th September 2012. For the 60th edition many stars are due to appear including John Travolta, Ewan McGregor, Oliver Stone, Dustin Hoffman and Tommy Lee Jones, who will each receive a Donostia, the prize awarded in honour of their career. Although 14 films will be running in competition, vying for first place, the prestigious silver shell, there will also be prizes for the best actor and best actress. Cinema fans will be able to follow the various events and prize giving ceremonies on "TV live" that is availalbe on the festival's official site.