On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Robert Schuman's death on 4th September the latest issue of the review "Journal de droit européen" has published an editorial by the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation Jean-Dominique Giuliani entitled "Le souffle et l'esprit de Robert Schuman". He explains that in the difficult context faced by the countries of the European Union, "Robert Schuman's message is still surprisingly topical".

Confusion reigned in the evening of the general election on 23rd June in Albania, since both the right in office led by the Alliance for Employment, Well-Being and Integration, a coalition comprising the Democratic Party (PDSH) of outgoing Prime Minister Sali Berisha and 24 other parties, as well as the leftwing opposition led by the Alliance for a European Albania, a coalition of 38 parties led by the Socialist Party (PSSH) and Edi Rama, were claiming victory. Finally on 26th June outgoing Prime Minister Berisha acknowledged his defeat. Turnout totalled (53.52%) and was higher than that registered during the previous general election on 28th June 2009 (50.77%). However no official result has yet been announced. Since 1991 Albania has not succeeded in organising elections that have gone smoothly.

According to figures adjusted to seasonal variations published on 27th June 2013 by the German Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) the number of unemployed in Germany declined in June. In all Germany had 12,000 unemployed less in June. The country has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU. In gross data the unemployment rate contracted to 6.6% in comparison with a previous 6.8% in May, bringing the number of unemployed down to 2,865 million.

On 27th and 28th June 2013 the 27 Heads of State and government met for a European Council during which Croatia was solemnly made a member. They looked into the measures to take to settle the youth unemployment crisis declaring that they would employ "all possible tools to support youth employment." The Youth Initiative will be provided with 6 billion euros minimum over 2014 and 2015. The European Investment Bank is due to provide specific help to SMEs which create jobs. They approved, country per country, recommendations as part of the European Semester, as well as the agreement on the multi-annual financial framework 2014-2020 which has to be approved by MEPs. They noted the progress achieved in completing Economic and Monetary Union recalling the priority to complete banking union. Finally they officially confirmed the launch of negotiations of Serbia's membership of the EU.

In a press release on 26th June 2013 the European Commission asked the Member States to respect their commitment to improve the economic and social integration of the 10 to 12 million Roma in Europe. Indeed according to a report the Member States must implement national integration strategies which they presented as part of the EU framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. Member States have two years to implement concrete measures in order to achieve tangible results in support of the Roma.

On 26th June 2013 the fourth meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council between Montenegro and the EU took place. Both sides were pleased with the progress made in terms of the country as a candidate for membership as shown by the two chapters that have been provisionally closed. European leaders warned their Montenegrin counterparts however about the future political goals to achieve, notably in terms of justice, the fight to counter organised crime and corruption. From an economic point of view the delegations' representatives said they were confident about the way the present situation is being managed. They also said that the community acquis were moving forward correctly. Finally both sides exchanged opinions over the use of the pre-accession aid instrument and on the situation in the Balkans.

On 25th June 2013 Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh met the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, Herman van Rompuy and José Manuel Barroso. Both European leaders recalled the importance of relations between the EU and Tunisia. In order to support economic and political reform the EU decided to allocate 40 million additional euros to Tunisia as part of its SPRING programme in aid to the countries in transition in the Mediterranean. The Tunisian Constituant National Assembly started its first debate over the draft Constitution on 1st July.

On 26th June 2013 the German government adopted a financial plan for the next five years. For the 2014 budget it is forecasting additional Federal State debt of 6.2 billion euros. As of 2015 no further debt will be necessary. This year the forecast debt will rise by 8 billion euros to total 25.1 billion euro due to exceptional aid granted for repairs to damage caused by the recent floods.

From 27th to 29th June 2013 a vast European anti-disaster exercise rallying 1500 participants from around 30 countries was organised in Salzburg (Austria) "EU Taranis 2013" simulated several climate disaster situations which required the cooperation of various European services. This exercise organised by the Red Cross with the cooperation of the EU comprised the simulation of a flood during which participants had to manage consequences as if it were a chemical accident. The compatibility of the EU's technical standards was also tested during this operation.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), many events are being organised on 5th and 6th July 2013 in Paris. On 6th July in République Square there will be a festival from 1pm to 11pm with a Franco-German village and many free concerts and events. The office was established as part of the Elysée Treaty by Général de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer for the "development of relations between young French and German people" and to "strengthen mutual understanding".

On 26th June 2013 the Italian government adopted measures that are designed to foster the employment of young people and delay a one point VAT increase by three months (21% to 22%), due originally to enter into force on 1st July. "A package of around 1.5 billion euro from the European and national funds has been made available for measures whose goal it is to foster the employment of around 200,000 young Italians," declared the President of the Council Enrico Letta after the Council of Ministers.

On 1st July 2013 Lithuania took over from Ireland as the presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is the first of the three Baltic States to undertake this task. Lithuania wants to place its six-monthly presidency under the slogan of rapprochement with the former Soviet republics in the east. Lithuania is notably due to host a summit between the EU and six States in the Eastern Partnership - Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

On 25th June 2013 Czech President Milos Zeman appointed economist Jiri Rusnok to take over from Petr Necas as the Czech Prime Minister. Mr Rusnok who was Finance Minister in the 2000's when Milos Zeman was Prime Minister, will lead a government of experts. However his government might encounter difficulty in achieving a confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies. Whilst the outgoing government coalition would not have wanted to continue with another leader the opposition parties have declared that a government would only be acceptable if early elections were to be organised in the near future. The next elections are due to take place in May 2014.

On July 1st 2013 the new governor of the Bank of England, Canadian Mark Carney, took office. The former governor of the Bank of Canada was appointed to everyone's surprise last year by British Finance Minister George Osborne in replacement of Mervyn King whose second term as the British institution's head was coming to an end in June 2013. The Canadian banker has the reputation of being pragmatic and oriented towards public service with a pronounced tropism for communication. Hence some changes are about to occur notably regarding the BoE's communication strategy which should move towards greater forecasting, detail and transparency.

On 30th June Europe demanded explanation of the American spy programme that is said to have targeted the EU's institutions and millions of European citizens, with Brussels warning of possible consequences affecting the negotiation of the trans-Atlantic free-trade area. "Partners do not spy on each other." We cannot negotiate over a big transatlantic market if there is the slightest doubt that our partners are carrying out spying activities on the offices of our negotiators. The American authorities should eliminate any such doubt swiftly!" announced European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding."

Belgian General Guy Buchsenschmidt took over as head of Eurocorps on 28th June 2013 during a ceremony that was organised in the centre of Strasbourg where this multinational military structure is based. He has taken over from French General Olivier de Bavinchove who for two years had ensured the command of the corps founded in 1992 by France and Germany. Eurocorps is a permanent, operational command structure that can be deployed for action rapidly, notably as part of NATO and the EU.

On 28th June 2013 during a press conference in Baku (Azerbaijan) the company Shah Deniz Consortium announced that it had chosen the gaspipeline project TAP (trans-Adriatic Pipeline) for its gas deliveries by Shah Deniz II (the biggest gas field in the country, notably conveyed by BP, StatoilHyrdo, SOCAR and Total) to Europe. This project thereby enables the circumnavigation of Russia in a bid to diversify supply sources of gas in Europe. Its final trajectory is expected to be announced in 2013 and its implementation in 2019. Before the end of the decade Europe will start to import natural Azeri gas via this future gaspipeline to the detriment of the Russian company Gazprom. By way of its Prime Minister Antonis Samaras Greece welcomed this choice. Since this country is the European starting point for this pipeline it should enjoy the economic benefits of the work and use of TAP.

On 25th June Eurostat published the various indicators on Croatia's position in the EU. Croatia's entry into the EU will increase the European population by more than 4 million, for a total of nearly 507 million. The GDP/capita totals 61% of the European average; unemployment totals nearly 18% and the recession 2%. Nearly 11% of the working population is employed in agriculture (in comparison with 5% in the EU). More than 18% of Croats have completed higher education i.e 9% less than the European average.

The Studies Director at the Robert Schuman Foundation Thierry Chopin and the Deputy Director of the Deutsch-Franzözisches Institut, Henrik Uterwedde looked into the future of the European institutions in an article published in the Figaro on 26th June 2013. They firstly congratulate France and Germany on their recent rapprochement in view of the European Council. They explain that Europe will only progress if joint decisions are made that result from a prior "rapprochement of the German and French positions". Thanks to the French-German rapprochement and "due to the crisis many taboos are now falling away: political union, budgetary federalism , banking, economic and monetary union," they conclude.

The Kunstmuseum in Bonn is celebrating the 100th anniversary of an exhibition devoted to August Macke, who in 1913, organised an exhibition of Expressionist works including those by Max Ernst, Olga Oppenheimer and Heinrich Nauen. Until 29th September 2013 visitors will be able to see these works and spend "an Expressionist summer".