In an editorial published on his site the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, believes that "the European Union has resisted the crisis, the euro has proved that it can last, that Europe is strong". However in his opinion we must "now make full rapid use of this respite and complete the reforms. No one is saying that recovery will be easy but this is the price we have to pay to recover the competitiveness of the European economy," he maintains.

3.5 million Norwegians will be renewing 169 members of the Storting (Parliament) on 9th September next. After eight years of social democratic government, the time might have come for political alternation. Indeed, according to a poll by VG the rightwing opposition might return to power. The Conservative Party is due to win 31.9% of the vote, ahead of the Labour Party with 27.5%. The Progress Party is due to come third with 14.2%. Far behind these parties the Liberal Party is due to win 5.6%; the Christian Democratic Party 5.5% and the Centre Party 5.3%. Finally the Socialist Left Party would be excluded from parliament since it is due to win 3.3% of the vote. Altogether the right is due to win 57.2% of the vote (43% without the Progress Party) against 36.1% for the left.

Portugal has emerged from recession with a GDP up by 1.1% in the second quarter of 2013 for the first time in over two years indicated the National Statistics Institute (Ine) on 14th August 2014. After ten consecutive quarters of contraction, the GDP increased by 1.1% in the second quarter in comparison with the three previous months but it had declined by 2% over one year said Ine.

The WP29, the group of European Data Protection Authorities has turned to the European Commission and launched an independent assessment of the American personal data monitoring system named PRISM, indicated the French body responsible for freedom on the internet in a press release on 19th August 2013. The American National Security Agency (NSA) which supervises PRISM is accused of spying on electronic communications worldwide exchanged on line such as on Facebook, Google, Skype as part of this programme according to revelations made by former American NSA consultant Edward Snowden. The personal data of European citizens are transferred and used by the USA without the knowledge of Europeans citizens and without them having any means to defend themselves in the American courts. The WP29 "believes that it is its responsibility to assess the precise effect of the PRISM programme on the protection of European citizens' private life and data" and it has therefore turned the Vice-President of the European Commission Viviane Reding on 13th August last to "request clarifications on the American legislation in terms of the surveillance of European citizens and this programme," says the text.

During an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on 21st August 2013 the 28 Foreign Affairs Ministers toughened up their stance against the new Egyptian regime by suspending the delivery of security equipment but maintained aid to the population and re-iterated their desire to help the country emerge from the crisis. They "condemned quite clearly all acts of violence" that have led to the deaths of hundreds of people since the beginning of the week. "The EU believes that the recent operations undertaken by the Egyptian security forces were exaggerated and have led to an unacceptable number of deaths and injured." At the same time they firmly condemned "the acts of terrorism such as the murder of policemen in the Sinai, the destruction of several churches and the targeting of the Copt community." Most of these attacks have been blamed on the supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood of former president Mohamed Morsi.

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi warned on 1st August 2013 that the dangers of a contraction continued to weigh over the euro zone's economy in spite of an obvious stabilisation. The ECB maintained its main rate at 0.5%. In view of these dangers the governor's board is "expecting that interest rates will remain low for a long time," warned Mario Draghi.

Nine EU countries (Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, UK and Sweden) asked on 1st August 2013 for the creation of a European personal data file of passengers on airlines to prevent the departure of young Europeans to areas of conflict and also to counter terrorism. This file "will help the competent authorities to detect and monitor the movements of these people, in order to spot and prevent, often young, vulnerable people, who might be tempted to risk their life by travelling to war zones and also possibly to prevent the ordering of attacks in Europe and to counter certain serious crimes" stressed the Belgian Interior Minister Joëlle Milquet and her French counterpart Emmanuel Valls.

On August 1st 2013 during an extraordinary session with MEPs the head of the Spanish government Mariano Rajoy explained the corruption scandal in which his name has been quoted . "I am appearing before the MEPs to provide the necessary clarification to the situation we are experiencing," maintained Mariano Rajoy adding that he intended to deny the "lies and manipulation" and ruled out resignation on his part. "I made a mistake by trusting someone who did not deserve it," he added quoting Luis Barcenas, the man who managed the finances of the People's Party for twenty years and who is said to have paid illegal money to several leaders. The Prime Minister admitted that the party had paid "additional remuneration" to some of its leaders for their "work". These sums "were paid legally and were included in the accounts." On the same day the party's second in command in Spain, Maria Dolores de Cospedal, denied the existence of a parallel accounting system in the party as she appeared as a witness during an audition held by the judge who is investigating this scandal.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves le Drian presented a draft bill on 2nd August 2013 relative to military programming over the period 2014-2019. This draft bill implements the guidelines of the French defence policy for the next six years following the White Paper on defence and national security pubished on 29th April 2013. Many goals have been identified, some of which are causing friction: reduction in numbers of staff, both military and civilian, to total 242,779 people in 2019, the "sanctuarisation of the Defence Budget; industrial investments (submarines; helicopters, aviation), renewal of equipment (MRTT, A400M, missiles). Information, future equipment, cyberdefence and Europe will be privileged.

Czech MPs decided on 20th August 2013 to dissolve the lower chamber of parliament. Early general elections, which are supposed to put an end to the political crisis caused by the collapse of Petr Necas's government, are due to take place this autumn. "Of the 147 voters, 140 MPs approved dissolution - seven voted against" observed the leader of the chamber, Lubomir Zaoralek. A qualified 3/5th majority ie 120 of the 200 MPs were required for this decision which follows parliament's refusal to approve the "government of experts" led by Jiri Rusnok. The general election will take place on 25th and 26th October according to a decision taken by Czech President Milos Zeman on 23rd August 2013.

On 31st July 2013 Romania, the IMF and the EU concluded negotiations on a new two year agreement together with a credit line of four billion euros. The new agreement, the third since 2009 still has to gain the approval of the IMF's board, probably in September. Romania must however focus on stepping up reform, notably in terms of energy and transport and consolidate the economic stability that has been achieved under the previous agreements. "Structural reforms will help Romania to use its economic growth potential more effectively." The IMF has revised its growth forecast upwards from 1.6% to 2% in 2013 and is counting on a 2.25% increase of the gross GDP in 2014. Exports and agriculture are due to drive growth.

The EADS board approved a major decision on 31st July 2013. EADS which is determined to remain a world leader both in the commercial aviation sector as well as in terms of defence and space is now called "Airbus Group". It also decided to integrate the activities of Airbus Military, Astrium, and Cassidian within one defence and space group, named "Airbus Defence & Space", which brings together all of the group's space and defence activities except for military helicopters. Airbus Defence & Space's HQ will be in Munich and this division will be led by Bernhard Gerwert. Eurocopter is still a separate division but will be called Airbus Helicopters. The implementation of this new structure is planned for the beginning of next year whilst the change in name is to be approved by the General Assembly of Actionholders in 2014.

According to the first estimates for June 2013 published by Eurostat on 16th August 2013 the euro zone recorded an international goods trade surplus of 17.3 billion euro with the rest of the world compared with +12.8 billion in June 2012. The balance recorded in May 2013 lay at +14.5 billion , in comparison with +6.2 billion in May 2012. In June 2013 in comparison with May 2013 exports adjusted to seasonal variations increased by 3% and imports by 2.5%. The first estimates for the balance of trade in goods outside the EU for June 2013 indicate a surplus of 9.9 billion euro against -1 billion in June 2012. In May 2013 the balance lay at +15.7 billion against -5.2 billion in May 2012. In June 2013 in comparison with May 2013 exports adjusted to seasonal variations remained stable and imports increased by 1.8%.

According to the results of the most recent Eurobarometer survey published on 23rd July 2013 six EU citizens in ten feel "European" and want to learn more about their rights but less than half (46%) know what these are. In spite of the crisis in 19 countries out of 28 those who say they are optimistic about the EU's future outnumber those who say they are pessimistic, excpet in France where more than half of those interviewed (52%) say they are "pessimistic" about the continent's future. An absolute majority (51%) of Europeans support the euro: a 2/3 majority (62%) of those who live in the euro zone support the single currency.

The 47th Music Festival of La Chaise-Dieu is taking place until 1st September 2013. Classical music concerts and conferences will be taking place in the religious buildings of the region, ranging from the Roman to the Baroque.