As part of the 13th "Rencontres de la Fédération de l'Hospitalisation Privée" (FHP), which will take place in Marseilles on 3rd and 4th December, Jacques Barrot, former Healthcare and Social Security Minister and Member of the Robert Schuman Foundation Board is holding a conference on the theme "What kind of healthcare for Europe in the future?" on 4th December at 3pm.

On 26th November 2013 Portuguese MPs approved the 2014 budget which is marked by public spending cuts and tax increases totalling 3.9 billion euro. Measures will enter into force on January 1st 2014 targeting in particular civil servants and pensioners who will witness a reduction in their wages and pensions. Moreover the draft 2014 budget plans to push back the age of retirement from 65 to 66 years. In his speech to Parliament Finance Minister Maria Luis Albuquerque defended the bill stressing that it had to be seen as a necessary step to enable the country to recover its financial autonomy.

In view of countering tax evasion the Commission suggested toughening up business tax rules on 25th November 2013. The proposal aims to make good the lacuna in the "parent companies" directive used by some businesses to escape taxation. Particularly,companies will no longer be able to use differences between Member States in tax processing applied to intragroup payments in order to avoid paying the slightest amount of tax.

On 28th and 29th November 2013 during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius European leaders signed association agreements with Moldova and Georgia. They signed a visa facilitation agreement with Azerbaijan and a framework agreement with Georgia concerning Tbilissi's participation in EU crisis management operations. Finally European leaders regretted the decision taken by the Ukrainian authorities to suspend the signature of their association agreement. This refusal has led to demonstrations in Ukraine.

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on 26th November 2013 that a new 10 euro note would enter into circulation after the summer of 2014 in the euro zone. It will feature a hologram of the princess from Greek mythology, Europe. Additional safety measures will be added to make counterfeiting harder. This is the second series of new notes baptised "Europe" after the introduction of the five euro note in the spring of 2013. Gradually new versions of other notes (20,50, 100, 200, 500€) will also be launched.

Angela Merkel's Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian Christian-Social Union (CSU) came to an agreement on 27th November 2013 with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for a joint government. The agreement plans for the introduction of a minimum salary in Germany of 8.50€ per hour and to improve retirement pensions for small wage earners and mothers. But there will be no major change in Germany's European policy. This agreement is to be approved by SPD members by 12th December. On 28th November 2013 the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani analysed the issues at stake in this agreement in the TV programme "28 minutes" on Arte on the theme of "The German Coalition: what changes will this bring to Europe?"

The Federal Government and the Regions of Belgium adopted "revival and competitiveness plan" on 29th November 2013 which will notably imply a reduction in VAT on electricity and a reduction in business charges announced Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. On April 1st 2014 VAT on electricity will drop from 21% to 6%, which should lead to annual savings of 100 euro per Belgian household said Mr Di Rupo during a press conference. The plan also includes business charge reductions of 450 million euros in 2015, then again in 2017 and 2019 ie around 1,350 billion euros in all. One third of these reductions will target low wages, one third sectors in difficulty and the rest all businesses.

French President François Hollande travelled to Spain on 27th November 2013 on the occasion of the 23rd annual bilateral summit between France and Spain. He met the head of government Mariano Rajoy with whom he wanted to define a joint position on banking union. During a joint press conference the head of the Spanish government stressed that France and Spain had the "same vision and interests" concerning growth and employment in Europe. Both leaders maintained their support for the project of banking union and the creation of a direct recapitalisation mechanism for banks in difficulty. They also indicated that the first Paris-Barcelona high speed train would be launched on 15th December next.

On 27th November 27th November 2013 the Senate voted in support of depriving Silvio Berlusconi of his mandate as Senator of Molise after his final conviction for tax fraud and his prison sentence. Most senators voted confirming the conclusions of the parliamentary commission and rejecting proposals by "Forza Italia" to prevent the destitution of its leader. On the tribune "Via del Plebiscito" and speaking to his loyal followers Silvio Berlusconi declared that it was "a day of mourning for law, rights and democracy". He promised to "continue" the fight.

On 27th November 2013 after his weekly interview with the President, Andris Berzins, Latvian Prime Minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, announced the resignation of his government. With this resignation he is assuming political responsibility for the catastrophe that took place on 21st November 2013. The roof of a supermarket collapsed in Riga, at peak hours, leading to 54 deaths. The Latvian President hopes to form a new government before the end of this year.

Three Luxembourg parties (liberal, socialist and ecologist) agreed on 29th November 2013 to form a grand coalition. The liberal leader, Xavier Bettel, appointed to form the government after the general elections on 20th October, announced that they had finalised the government programme with the socialists of the LSAP and the ecologists of the Dei Greng (The Greens). He said that his government would comprise 15 ministers (6 liberals, 6 socialists and 3 ecologists). Xavier Bettel is due to be sworn in on 4th December next.

On 29th November 2013 French President François Hollande and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to agreement to work together on a compromise for seconded workers. The French president deemed it necessary to counter the "use of workers for wage levels which were incompatible with European criteria."

On 26th November 2013 16 Heads of State and government from Central and Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia) met with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang during his official visit to Bucharest. The aim of this summit was to strengthen economic ties with China. The latter is interested in infrastructure investments, renewable energies and agriculture. The heads of State and government of Central and Eastern Europe stressed the strategic importance of a partner like China in the modern world.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he wanted to reduce social aid to European immigrants before the end of restrictions on migrants coming from Romania and Bulgaria come to an end on January 1st 2014. Mr Cameron wants European immigrants to be unable to claim unemployment benefit during the first three months of their stay whilst limiting the payment of this benefit to six months to those who cannot prove any real prospects of finding work. Other benefits will also be subject to conditions. On 29th November 2013 four Foreign Ministers from Eastern Europe warned against the British project to restrict certain social rights for European migrants. "The free movement of people is one of the key elements to integration, a vital part of the functioning of the single market," maintained the heads of Hungarian, Czech, Polish and Slovakian diplomacy in a joint letter.

The Slovenian Healthcare Minister handed in his resignation on 25th November 2013 which is the second departure within one week in this euro zone country in crisis. "There is simply no other solution (for the healthcare system) which might satisfy all of the parties," declared Tomaz Gantar, who belongs to the small pensioners party, (DeSUS) in his resignation letter.

Since the end of the Summit in Vilnius on 29th November 2013 more than 100,000 Ukrainians, including former world boxing champion, Vitali Klitchko have rallied in Kyiv in demonstration against President Viktor Yankovych's refusal to sign an association agreement with the EU. This is the biggest turnout since the Orange Revolution of 2004. On 2nd December several demonstrators blocked government HQ with the intention of forcing the authorities in power out. Demonstrators are demanding the departure of Mr Yanukovych and the organisation of early elections. Some young people in the demonstration shouted "Azarov in prison!" and "Long Live Ukraine!" before singing the national anthem. They are complaining about a government of "gangsters" - which is too "corrupt" in their opinion.

On 26th November 2013 NATO launched a vast cyber-defence exercise - the biggest of its kind designed to counter massive, simultaneous cyber-attacks against Member States and their partners. "Cyber-attacks are a daily reality and they are increasingly sophisticated and complex," declared Jamie Shea, Delegate Deputy Secretary General for NATO's Emerging Security Challenges.

After a visit to Turkey on 1st to 5th July last the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, Nils Muižnieks published his report on 26th November on the misconduct of the Turkish police regarding the respect of human rights during the Gezi events that took place in May and June 2013. The Commissioner recommends the lifting of obstacles which presently prevent judicial inquiries into the police forces and their suspension when they are the focus of credible allegations of human rights infringements.

On the occasion of European Development Days, Eurobarometer indicated on 26th November 2013 that more than six Europeans in ten (61%) supported increasing aid to developing countries in spite of the economic crisis in Europe and more than eight Europeans in ten (83%) believe that it is important to help these countries. The survey highlights EU citizens' commitment, since 48% of those interviewed say they were "ready to pay more for products, including groceries, which support developing countries."

On 26th November 2013 the OECD published a report on the retirement reforms and on social sustainability in Europe entitled "Pensions at a Glance 2013". In this study the organisation analyses the reforms of the retirement systems in each of the European countries and lays out various perspectives for these countries in terms of reducing inequality and poverty amongst pensioners. Hence in 2015 it forecasts that the age of retirement will be at least 67 in the countries of Europe. Governments are being invited to consider the problem of the ageing population and therefore the rise in retirement costs whilst taking on board the social sustainability of reforms.

According to figures published on 27th November 2013 by Eurostat in 2011 more than 783,100 people acquired the nationality of an EU Member State which represents a decline of 4% in comparison with 2010 after rising for three consecutive years. Nationality acquisition fell significantly in the UK (-9% in comparison with 2010), France (-20%), Spain (-7%) and Italy (-15%). However Germany recorded an increase of 5%. These new EU citizens have a median age of 32.5; nearly one third of new citizens are aged under 25 and nearly half are aged between 25 and 44.

It's Advent! The Christmas Markets have opened their doors in several towns of Europe. From Germany to Austria, without forgetting some towns in France, the streets are now illuminated, Christmas trees are being decorated and in the markets the perfume of mulled wine, chocolate and gingerbread go together with Christmas carols. Several towns including Nuremberg, Salzburg and Strasbourg have been decorated magnificently on this occasion.