Following the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union on 12th October 2012 the chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, published an editorial on his site. Entitled "The Nobel Appeal", this editorial stresses that the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU is an acknowledgement of the work it has accomplished since it was created and "an appeal to continue and over and above the present crisis."

The left won the first round of the general elections on 14th October. The Labour Party (DP), led by Viktor Uspaskich came out ahead in the election with 19.67% of the vote (17 seats). It is running ahead of the Social Democratic Party (LSP), led by Algirdas Butkevicius, which won 18.44% of the vote (15 seats) and the Homeland Union-Conservatives (TS-LK) led by the outgoing Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius which won 15.02% of the vote (13 seats). The Liberal Movement (LRLS) won 8.42% of the vote, the Path of Courage (DK) 7.94%, Order and Justice (TT) led by Rolandas Paksas, 7.33% and the Polish Electoral Action (LLRA), 5.81%. Turnout totalled 52.82%.

1.7 million Slovenians will be voting on 11th November to appoint the next President of the Republic. If no candidate wins the absolute majority in the first round of voting a second round will be organised on 2nd December. The official campaign started on 12th October and will end on 9th November, on the eve of the election. The head of State is elected in Slovenia by direct universal suffrage and by a majority vote (in two rounds) for a 5 year mandate that is renewable once. 13 people have expressed their desire run for the presidency. Amongst these only three have made the request official: Danilo Türk, outgoing head of State; Milan Zver, MEP; Borut Pahor, former Prime Minister. According to the most recent poll published by the daily Delo on October 1st Danilo Türk is due to win in the first round of the presidential election with 54% of the vote.

On 11th October the Greek National Statistics Office published its figures on the working population in Greece for July 2012. According to these figures unemployment lay at 25.1%, against 17.8% in July 2011 and 24.8% in June 2012. The number of people unemployed has increased by 42.8% in comparison with July 2011 (+337,991 people) and by 1.9% in comparison with June 2012 (+23,255 people).

In a report on the world economic forecasts published on 9th October 2012 on the occasion of its autumn Assembly in Tokyo, the IMF reviewed its world growth forecasts downwards. It is planning for the latter to lie at only 3.3% this year against a previous estimate of 3.5% and that it will total 3.6% in 2013, against a forecast of 3.9% in July 2012. Regarding the euro zone the IMF announced a contraction of 0.4% in 2012 and recovery of 0.2% in 2013.

On 10th October 2012 the European Commission presented various reports on the enlargement process in which it recommends the start of negotiations with Macedonia (FYRM), to give candidate status to Albania and to negotiate the introduction of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo. The Commission stresses that accession negotiations with Iceland are progressing well and that Turkey has demonstrated its support to a "positive agenda" prepared by the Commission. The problem areas in the process involve the political accession criteria, the state of human rights in the country, the normalisation of its relations with Cyprus and the respect of its obligations resulting from Customs Union which it has concluded with the EU.

The Single CMO Management Committee approved the package of 500 million euros planned for in the European budget in 2012 to provide food aid to the poorest. 18 million people, in 19 Member States are due to benefit from this. More than 70 million euros are planned for France and nearly 100 million for Italy. After 2013 this aid programme will be recalculated completely.

On 9th October 2012 the 27 Finance Ministers decided to grant an additional year to Portugal in order for it to correct its excessive deficit. This decision follows the latest report on the economic adjustment plan set in place by the Portuguese government, thereby pushing the deadline back to 2014. On 8th October the euro zone Finance Ministers also said that they were satisifed with the measures undertaken by the Portuguese government and approved the payment of a further tranche of aid totalling 800 million euros. 11 Member States (Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia, Spain, Italy and Slovakia) also announced their support to a financial transaction tax. It is now up to the Commission to suggest a decision to the Council allowing enhanced cooperation on this issue.

On 15th October 2012 the Foreign Affairs Ministers from the 27 EU Member States decided to step up sanctions against the regime of Bachar Al Assad in demonstration of their support to the Syrian people in their "courageous" fight. They also decided to introduce restrictions vis-à-vis the Iranian regime, since the country is not respecting international obligations concerning its nuclear programme. The political and security situation in Mali was also debated; ministers said they supported a return of a totally sovereign government across the entire Malian territory. They also extended their sanctions against Belarus for a further year, saying that they were "extremely concerned about the non-respect of human rights, democracy and the rule of law" in this country governed by Aleksander Lukashenko.

On 10th October 2012 French business leaders represented by 20 associations including the Medef, the Afep, Croissance Plus, Ethic and the Geonpi Movement declared a state of emergency in a joint press release, given the French government's plans to tax capital gains arising on the sale of shares. "Aware of the seriousness of the economic situation of our country, we are solemnly requesting the government to withdraw the new measure to tax capital gains" stresses the release. The twelve associations note that the adjustments put forward by the Finance Minister, Pierre Moscovici will lead to stalemate because "these measures, taken without any consultation, will be extremely damaging from the point of view of economic development, investment and employment".

On 11th October 2012 the French Senators adopted 306 votes in support of the project, 32 against, the draft law enabling the ratification of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. After the vote in support by the French MPs of the ratification of the treaty on 9th October (477 votes in support, 70 against), France became the 10th Euro zone Member State and the 14th EU member State to have ratified the text. For this treaty to enter into force two other euro zone Member States must still ratify it. On 10th October the French MPs adopted the draft organic law on "the golden rule", 490 votes in support, 34 against and 18 abstentions.

The European Commission has published a report on the "Europe for the Citizens" programme designed to stimulate European citizenship. The Commission funded projects that have brought together more than 5 million citizens since 2007. Around one thousand organisations including for example NGO's and local authorities, take part in this programme every year. 25 projects have been granted a specific place, notably the one undertaken by the Robert Schuman Foundation in 2011 "Women and Europe & the European Citizens' Initiative" that aims to strengthen women's place in Europe in all areas, notably in the political and economic domains, thanks to this new tool for particpatory democracy.

The Grand Palais in Paris is putting on an exhibition on Edward Hopper until 28th January 2013 (1882-1967). His paintings illustrate a condensed version of an America that is dreamed or imaginary. The complexity of his work, the style of which is sometimes romantic, realistic, symbolist, or formalist is at the heart of the exhibition which comprises two main parts. The chronological organisation of the work on show reveals to visitors a developing style then one which is more mature and emblematic of the artist's work, such as the famous "Nighthawks" dated 1942.

Until 27th January 2013 the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome is devoting an exhibition to Swiss-German artist Paul Klee and his relationship with Italy. Following a structured trajectory focusing on around 100 works of art the exhibition analyses the influence of Italian culture and landscapes on the artist's work from the start of Bauhaus until his last years in Bern.

From 18th to 21st October 2012 come and discover a panorama of modern and contemporary art in Paris. The Grand Palais is opening up an area of 1200m2 to the public this year - the "Salon d'Honneur" which is the historic centre of this building. Art amateurs will be able to go to the Jardin des Plantes or the Tuileries to admire works of art outdoors. Work is also on show at the Place Vendôme and the Esplanade des Invalides.