As part of the partnership between the Robert Schuman Foundation and Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF), the Foundation is broadcasting its most recent programme "Talking Europe" on its site which, exceptionally, is hosting two guests this week: Bernardette Segol, General Manager of the European Trade Unions Confederation and Markus Beyrer General Manager of Businesseurope.

On 9th May the Robert Schuman Foundation will put a special page on-line in celebration of Europe Day. You will be able to read the declaration made by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on 9th May 1950 in which the creation of the European Community of Steel and Coal (ECSC) was announced. Explanatory files will illustrate what we are celebrating on 9th May and will recall who the main founders of Europe were. Moreover a calendar will show the main events organised across Europe and in other parts of the world on this occasion. The Foundation also invites you to order Robert Schuman's only book "For Europe" which is available on the Foundation's site in French, English and German. This brings together Robert Schuman's main thoughts about Europe; it comprises the very core of what he thought and his vision of the nascent European Union - the issues he addresses remain topical today.

On May 3rd 2013 Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho addressed the country to lay out the measures contained in the mid-term budgetary programme that aims to save nearly 6 billion euros by the end of 2016. In a speech to the nation, Mr Coelho announced that the age at which full retirement could be taken would be raised to 66 and that there would be an extension of working hours from 35 to 40 for civil servants, whose number is due to be reduced by 30,000. The government hopes to receive a further tranche of aid totalling 2 billion euros (as part of a bail-out plan) from its creditors and the final confirmation of the extension of the reimbursement deadlines on loans granted to Lisbon.

On 2nd May 2013 the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy met the Prime Minister of Portugal Pedro Passos Coelho. He highlighted the economic progress achieved by Portugal over the last two years. External deficits had been reduced thanks to a recovery in exports, deficits had contracted and the banking sector as well as competitiveness had been strengthened. However efforts had to be continued so that this progress impacted growth and employment positively. Three priority axes were defined: budgetary consolidation; structural reform; measures in support of growth and employment.

On 29th April 2013 the European Commission presented the quarterly report by the Task Force which is advising Athens on the reforms to undertake in exchange for the EU and IMF's aid. According to Olli Rehn, Vice-President of the Commission responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs "the Task Force is playing a major role in supporting Greece in terms of the introduction of deep structural reform. These reforms are creating conditions for a more competitive Greek economy which can generate sustainable growth and jobs." According to this report the assistance provided by the Task Force in conjunction with the Member States, international organisations as well as specialist agencies has notably facilitated the reform of the central civil service, and it has also encouraged exports and even the development of settlements which have avoided expensive litigation in court.

On 2nd May 2013 the European Central Bank (ECB) launched the new 5€ note. It is the first note in a series called "Europe". The main novelty is the appearance of the goddess, Europe - whence the continent's name - on the notes. This portrait will enable the inclusion of new security mechanisms in order to make counterfeiting more difficult. The old notes will be progressively withdrawn from circulation.

In an interview published on 6th May 2013 in the French daily "Les Echos" Wolfgang Schäuble, German Finance Minister and member of the Robert Schuman Foundation's board reacted to the European Commission's decision to grant additional time to France. In his opinion the rules of the strengthened stability and growth pact plan for a certain amount of room to manoeuvre enabling States with excessive deficits to achieve their budgetary goals. However he recalled that the European Commission had also asked for "any delays in the deficit reduction goals to be accompanied by clear commitments in terms of necessary reforms". Asked about Franco-German friendship Mr Schäuble warned against prejudice and old clichés; he insisted on the healthy cooperation between the two governments because "France and Germany had a particular duty with regard to Europe."

On 29th April 2013 the Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble met in Grenada, Spain. During their meeting the two ministers reached an agreement that aims to attract German private investments towards Spanish SME's, notably via sponsoring and patronage. The technical details of this project will be drafted by the two executives, one in each country by the end of May. This bilateral plan will be a pilot project that might be used as an example in other countries notably to counter youth unemployment, stressed Mr Schäuble during a press conference.

After having obtained the vote of confidence of both the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, the President of the Council Enrico Letta started a European tour. He travelled to Germany on 30th April to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and to repeat his intention to continue budgetary consolidation and to strengthen European integration - the only remedy to the crisis in his opinion. On May 1st he met French President François Hollande. The two men notably called for the investment of the same energy in growth as in budgetary austerity in Europe. Enrico Letta's tour was completed in Brussels where he spoke to the President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. The latter notably said that he was sure that Italy could soon settle the European excessive deficit procedure.

On 30th April 2013 HM Prince Willem-Alexander became the new King of the Netherlands after his mother, Queen Béatrix signed the act of her abdication. At 46 he is the first in the new generation of European kings to rise to the throne as well as the first male king in the Netherlands since 1890.

On 29th April 2013 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk dismissed his Justice Minister Jaroslav Govin, after the declarations he made about in-vitro fertilisation and about a possible trafficking of embryos between Poland and Germany, which caused uproar in the country. This decision is of political importance since Mr Govin is deemed to be the leader of the conservative wing of the ruling party Platforma Obywatelska (PO). The Prime Minister did say however that "Mr Govin's opinions were not the cause of his dismissal," but that the way he expressed them was a problem. Jaroslav Govin has been replaced by Marek Biernacki, the former Interior Minister.

On 2nd May 2013 the British Finance Minister, Georges Osborne announced that some areas under British sovereignty and likened to tax havens will be subject to an automatic exchange of information as part of the fight to counter tax evasion. A certain number of overseas territories including the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Isle of Man and other properties in the Caribbean were involved. This information will be mainly shared between the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain according to an agreement signed in June 2012 on the fight to counter tax evasion. These new measures come just as David Cameron made tax transparency a priority as part of the British presidency of the G8.

On 5th May 2013, after a meeting with the leaders of all parties represented in Parliament, Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek indicated that she had not be able to reach an agreement with the main opposition party of former Head of Government, Janez Jansa (SDS). This agreement that was due to bring about constitutional reforms in view of consolidating public finances, notably in the banking sector, would help prevent having to turn to the EU and the IMF for emergency aid. As a result and "in line with the opposition's request," she announced the delay of the debates planned for 6th and 7th May 2013 at the Parliament on the restriction of using the referendum and the adoption of a "golden budgetary rule" limiting spending commitments. Alenka Bratusek has to present a plan to the European Commission on 9th May along with a timetable of public financing, reform of the banking system and economic recovery.

On 30th April 2013 Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson asked the leader of the Progress Party (centrist and agrarian) to form a coalition government, after the sharp breakthrough made by this party in the general elections. "I have decided to ask the chairman of the Progress Party, Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson to form a new government," declared President Grimsson to the press. This decision is a surprise because traditionally it is the head of the party that won the legislative election who is asked to form the new government. The Independence Party (right) with 26.7% of the vote came out ahead of the Progress Party (24.4%) with both parties winning the same number of seats each, 19.

In a decision delivered on 30th April 2013 the European Court of Human Rights 'ECHR' upheld the appeal made by former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in prison in her country since 2011, saying unanimously that her provisional detainment was "arbitrary and illegal". The judges in Strasbourg condemned Ukraine for four infringements of Ms Tymoshenko's fundamental rights. The ECHR did however reject the allegations of poor treatment and the denial of medical care that the complainant alleges she has suffered whilst in prison. This decision does not concern either the trial nor the conviction of the former head of government which the Court in Strasbourg is to decide upon at a later date. Will she finally be freed?

On 30th April 2013 Eurostat indicated that unemployment had risen again in March in the euro zone to total 12.1%, in comparison with 12% in February and that it was stable in the European Union at 10.9%. More than 26.5 million Europeans are without work including 5.7 million young people under 25. Unemployment is below 5% in Austria and over 25% in Greece and Spain.

On the occasion of the World Freedom of the Press Day that took place on 3rd May 2013 the association "Reporters without Borders" published its new world freedom of the press index. From the point of view of European countries "16 of them are still in the first 30". However the association stresses the threat of the "slow erosion" of this in the face of "worrying situations in 11 other Member States". Hungary lost 16 places, and now lies 56th in the ranking. It "is still paying the price of the freedom damaging legislative reforms," explains the report. Greece is also a source of concern. It lost 14 places and now lies 84th notably due to a "disastrous social and professional context". The last EU country is Bulgaria (87th - up by 2 positions).

The 11th issue of the book "Parliamentary Assembly - Practice and Procedure" has just been published. It highlights the practical functioning of the Assembly and describes the political and institutional context. The work is addressed both to Members of the Assembly and also a wider public: members and agents in national parliaments, representatives of civil society and all of those who want ot know more about this institution that forms the core of the Council of Europe.

Hampton Court in London is devoting an exhibition devoted to the "secrets of the royal bedchamber" until 3rd November 2013. The exhibition presents old royal beds that have been magnificently restored, including those belonging to Mary, Caroline, Anne and Charlotte and the travelling bed of King George II. The beds date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The exhibition allows visitors to take on board the importance of the beds of the kings and queens in terms of how power was exercised. Many ceremonies were indeed held in the royal bedchambers.