On 8th July 2013 the Central Bank of Poland (NBP) published its monthly report on inflation. According to its forecasts inflation is due to decrease significantly in 2013 (to 0.8%) in comparison with 2012 and is due to increase slightly over the next few years (1.2% in 2014, 1.5% in 2015). The report notes a contraction in the GDP which fell to lie at 0.5% in the first quarter of 2013 in comparison with 2% in 2012 (preliminary estimates). In 2013 the bank is forecasting a GDP of 1.1% which is 0.2% less than forecast initially. In view of an improvement in Poland's external situation and the in-flow of European Funds as part of the recently adopted European budget 2014-2020 the bank is expecting a GDP increase over the next few years (2014:2.4%; 2015:3%).

On 10th July 2013 the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier presented the European Commission's proposals for the introduction of a single resolution mechanism in view of completing Banking Union. This system will enable rapid, effective decision making without there being any doubt about the effect on public finance." The project notably plans for a Single Resolution Council comprising representatives from the ECB, the European Commission and the Member States involved, which will enjoy wide-ranging powers. There will also be a Single Resolution Fund, financed by the banks.

On 8th July 2013 Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank presented his economic priorities to the MPs of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee at the European Parliament. After having presented the measures taken by the ECB notably the upkeep of its rates at an historically record low and loans in the banking sector he pointed to the difficulties associated with financial fragmentation in the European Union and the problems that arise as a result for SMEs in their access to financing. Finally he insisted on the need for banking union in which the ECB will be obliged to play a leading role.

In an interview in the German daily "Bild" published on 12th July 2013 German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble qualified the proposal for Banking Union put forward on 10th July 2013 by the European Commission as a project with "feet of clay". "If a bank has to be closed it is a decision that has far-reaching consequences and which cannot be taken by Brussels alone. We do not want a situation in which Brussels decides and the countries pay. Responsibility and decision making have to go hand in hand. We answer to the citizens and Parliament," explained W. Schäuble.

On 9th July 2013 the Spanish daily 'El Mundo' published - without saying where the information came from - a written document whereby the President of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy, is said to have received additional illegal salaries for at least three years (from 1997-1999) when he was minister in M. Aznar's government). This document is attributed to Luis Barcenas, former treasurer of the People's Party (PP) at present in prison because of corruption. The scandal which is shaking the party in office in Spain developed further on 14th July 2013 with the publication of text messages between the head of government, Mariano Rajoy and the former treasurer. According to the newspaper 'El Pais' they show the "complicity" between the two men and prove that they were in contact with each other in March 2013 contrary to Mariano Rajoy's declarations to date.

From 9th to 11th July 2013 Finnish President Sauli Niinistö travelled to France for an official visit to the Elysée Palace. During his meeting with French President François Hollande on 10th July 2013 they notably discussed bilateral relations, Europe's financial situation and also that of Syria and Egypt. During a joint press conference the French president especially insisted on the vision of international affairs shared by both leaders. Moreover youth employment and European Defence were addressed. Regarding European Defence Mr Hollande announced that the two politicians "would make proposals during the European Council on this issue at the end of the year."

On 10th July 2013 the Greek Audiovisual Minister Pantelis Kapsis announced that "state television programmes would resume "within the next few hours". The surprise closure of the state tv channel ERT in June for budgetary reasons led to the suppression of 2,600 jobs. The Greek government is planning an interim period of around two months with temporary programmes (films, documentaries etc...) before calling on journalists of the former ERT.

On 11th July 2013 after a long debate on the previous day about the Luxembourg information service scandal that engages the responsibility of the Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, the latter was forced to resign. He met Grand-Duke Henry to ask him to dissolve the chamber of deputies and to convene early elections. Hence early elections may take place on 20th October 2013, seven months before the normal deadline in May 2014. The outgoing Prime Minister was confirmed by his own party (CVS) during an extraordinary congress to stand again. The parliament should remain in office until 8th October next.

On 11th July 013 the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk inaugurated the General Assembly of the initiative "A New Narrative for Europe", that brings together 250 personalities from the cultural, intellectual and scientific world. The project launched in Brussels on 23rd April 2013 will be implemented as part of three meetings in Poland, France and Germany. The idea is to provide joint inspiration with the help of intellectuals, artists and scientists as they take part in a public debate long term. "We need to breathe new life into the European spirit and create a genuine European public space," stressed Mr Barroso during the event's inauguration in Warsaw which focused on "Forms of imagination and thinking for Europe".

In a declaration to the nation, Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva said on 10th July 2013 that the centre-right coalition in office since June 2011 was able to undertake "all of its tasks" but he called for the construction of a government for "national salvation" which would enjoy the support of the socialist opposition. Regarding early elections the President mentioned the possibility of elections being held in June 2014. However this proposal was rejected because is might delay the adoption of the Portuguese government's budget for 2014 and force Portugal to ask for a second rescue plan. After this political crisis the Portuguese government asked on 11th July 2013 for the postponement of the troika's assessment until the end of August or the beginning of September, as well as the simultaneous implementation of the 8th and 9th assessment so that the bail out plan can be finalised within the planned time.

The new Czech "government of experts" led by economist Jiri Rusnok was appointed on 10th July 2013 by President Milos Zeman. Mr Rusnok's government will replace that of Petr Necas, the outgoing Prime Minister who resigned in the wake of a corruption and abuse of power scandal. The government of experts comprising fifteen members who bear no official political label only has a slight chance however of being approved by parliament. Indeed the outgoing coalition which wants the government that resigned to continue work until the next elections has 101 votes out of 200 in the lower chamber. Mr Zeman might decide however to leave the new government in office, since the Czech Constitution does not stipulate any time scale for a second bid to form a government if the first fails. Parliament has 30 days to express its opinion on this new government.

Romanian Transport Minister Relu Fenechiu was sentenced on 12th July 2013 to five years in prison due to his involvement in a corruption scandal. Mr Fenechiu has resigned from his post as minister but is still an MP. The post of Transport Minister will be undertaken by the Prime Minister Victor Ponta who will serve as interim minister. In its most recent report on the Romanian legal system, the European Commission, which is monitoring the development of rule of law in Romania, criticised the presence of ministers who were being prosecuted or under investigation in the government. Moreover it is the first time that the Romanian courts have sentenced a minister in office to prison.

On 9th July 2013 the UK government confirmed in parliament its intention to withdraw from 133 European justice and police measures. However the government is planning to re-enter 35 of these measures including the European arrest warrant as well as measures concerning participation in Europol, the EU's police cooperation office. According to the Lisbon Treaty the UK has until 1st June 2014 to present its decision to withdraw totally from these European cooperation measures in the police and judicial areas which would then cease to be applicable as of 1st December 2014.

On 11th July 2013 the ICTY reversed the acquittal of the former political leader of the Serbs of Bosnia, Radovan Karadzic for the role he played in the massacre of Muslims and Croats of Bosnia in 1992. Last year he was acquitted of this charge. This judgement only concerned one of the eleven indictments brought against Mr Karadzic. However the decision on 11th July does not mean that Karadzic has been found guilty since his trial is still on going at present. This means that the indictment in question will feature in the new list of accusations which the judges will have to assess. This decision was taken 18 days to the day after the Srebrenica massacre.

As an extension of the European Council of 22nd May 2013 and of the G8 of 18th June 2013 a new Franco-Swiss tax convention on inheritance was signed on 11th July 2013 by Pierre Moscovici, the French Economy and Finance Minister and his Swiss counterpart Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. On its ratification this convention should lead to the end of the "tax exile of people with large fortunes who try to organise their inheritance in favourable tax conditions for their descendants living in France", according to the French Economy and Finance Minister. Inheritance will be taxed by the country where the heirs live and not by the State of residence of the deceased. Regarding the place of residence of the deceased, heirs will be taxed in France under certain conditions. The convention also plans for a lifting of restrictions on "requests for information."

On 9th July 2013 the European Court of Human Rights condemned the UK for its life imprisonment legislation, deeming that any life sentence should be reviewable after a certain period of time - which is normally 25 years. The Court was addressed by three British prisoners sentenced to life, who believed that the set nature of their sentence comprised inhuman and degrading treatment. The Court upheld their complaint explaining that in order for a life sentence to be compatible with article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights "there had to be a possibility of freedom and a possibility of reassessment," of the case. But British legislation that was modified in 2003 stipulates that prisoners sentenced to a life sentence no longer automatically qualify, after 25 years in prison, for an assessment of their case and early release, on the decision of the public authorities. The British government explained that it reformed the law so that this kind of decision was no longer the responsibility of the executive.

On the occasion of the sixth EU-South Africa Summit on 18th July 2013 Eurostat the EU's statistics office, published data on trade and investment between South Africa and the EU. After a contraction in the trade of goods between the EU and South Africa in 2009, exports peaked at 26.6 billion euro in 2012, whilst imports rose at a more moderate pace to total 20.5 billion euro in 2012, which is lower than the peak of 24.6 billion recorded in 2008. As a result the trade in goods from the EU with South Africa registered a surplus of 6.1 billion euro in 2012 in comparison with +1.3 billion in 2010 and +4.4 billion in 2011.

According to the most recent Eurobarometer study published on 8th July 2013 which looks into the way Europeans use the internet connection time seems to be a key issue. Indeed nearly half (45%) of European households would like to move into a higher internet subscription category or change provider to have a faster connection. The study also revealed that more than half (54%) of households limit their national and international calls using a mobile phone because of costs. Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission believes that "it is unacceptable that half of the population has to limit its telephone calls because of costs and it is unacceptable that the lack of a single connected market justifies these restrictions."

The Bertelsmann Foundation has published a study on the means available to the EU to help Member States reduce spending (The European added value of EU spending: Can the EU help its Member States to save money?). According to the authors Member States might save around 1.3 billion euros per year by integrating their consulate services and they could save nearly 9 billion by creating a joint armed force.

The most recent issue of review "Géoéconomie" includes an interview with the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on the position of "France in the diplomatic economic battle". An article by Josephy Nye, the founder of the Soft Power concept looks into balances of power in the 21st century. This issue brings together articles on Africa, the Arctic, Murmansk, South Korea, and also on French diplomacy, the policy implemented by French President François Hollande, the Welfare State crisis, the French cultural exception and even on the French forests.

As part of the second Normandy Impressionist Festival devoted to the theme of water the Impressionism Museum in Giverny is putting on an exhibition until 31st October 2013 by Japanese painter Hiramatsu Reiji, entitled "Hiramatsu, the water-lilly pond. Homage to Monet". This exhibition brings together 30 paintings by Hiramatsu Reiji which are on show for the first time in France. This complements the large selection of Japanese prints in the Claude Monet collection, together with work by the latter.