The Robert Schuman Foundation Chairman Jean-Dominique Giuliani has published a book entitled "Pourquoi et comment l'Europe restera le cœur du monde – Petit traité d'optimisme." Europe is no longer the centre of the world. It is not a leading military power. But Europe is the heart which sets the pace, which feeds minds and culture - which creates and attracts. It is the leading economic and trade power. In Jean-Dominique Giuliani's opinion Europe has all of the means to rise to the challenge. This book published by Lignes de Repère is available in all bookshops and from the Foundation's site in paper and digital format (e-readers and tablets).

The Democratic Party (PDK) led by outgoing Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi won the early election on 8th June in Kosovo. With 30.69% of the vote he beat the Democratic League (LDK), led by the former Mayor of Pristina (2007-2014), Isa Mustafa, 25.7%. These were followed by the Self-Rule Movement (Vetëvendosja, VV) with 13,48%, a left-wing party led by Albin Kurti, the Alliance for the future of Kosovo (AAK), led by former Prime Minister (2004-2005) and former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), Ramush Haradinaj 9.6%, the United Serb List (JLS) 4.21%. Turnout totalled 43.16% ie -5.5 points in comparison with the previous general elections on 12th December 2010.

"Cyprus's GDP contracted by 0.7% in the first quarter to reach -4%" said the Cypriot statistics institute. This contraction is a slighter than that seen in the fourth quarter of 2013 when growth fell by 0.8%. According to the statistics institute this contraction is linked to a reduction in the activity of the main sectors of the economy.

On 4th June 2014 the European Commission released its 2014 Convergence Report, which assesses eight Member States' readiness to join the single currency. These countries have made uneven progress on the road to euro adoption, but Lithuania stands out from this group as it now fulfils the convergence criteria. The Commission is therefore proposing that the EU Council of Ministers decide that Lithuania can adopt the euro on 1st January 2015. The Council will take the final decision on the matter in the second half of July, after EU Heads of State and Government have discussed the subject at the 26th-27th June European Council, and after the European Parliament has given its opinion.

German MEP Manfred Weber was elected on 4th June 2014 Chairman of the European People's Party (EPP, Conservatives), the leading political group in the new European Parliament. Manfred Weber, 41, a member of the Bavarian CSU, was elected Chairman of the EPP Group by 190 votes (192 votes). He was the only candidate for this position and succeeds Frenchman Joseph Daul. Mr. Weber has been an MEP since 2004 and Deputy Chair of the group since 2009. The EPP group also elected 10 Deputy Chairs including Sandra Kalniete MEP, former Latvian Foreign Minister, former European Commissioner and member of the Robert Schuman Foundation's Board.

On 5th June 2014 EU Member States' Transport Ministers reached political agreement on new rules for the maximum weights and dimensions of lorries, buses and coaches. They also reached agreement on the draft directives on the interoperability and safety of European railways and the draft regulation on the European Railway Agency. Then, they adopted conclusions on the mid-term review of the EU's maritime transport policy leading up to 2018 and on prospects for 2020. The conclusions include the Athens Declaration endorsed by maritime transport ministers at their informal meeting on 7th May.

The heads of State of the G7 (US, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Canada, Japan) met on 4th and 5th June 2014 in Brussels. During their first meeting on 4th June, the heads of state welcomed the smooth organisation of the presidential elections on 25th May in Ukraine and reaffirmed their support; again, they condemned Bashar al-Assad's regime before discussing the situation in Mali, Iran and other sensitive areas. During talks on 5th June they recalled the importance of supporting growth and employment. They also stressed the importance of energy security and the need for urgent action to counter climate change. As for development they declared that continued sustainable, inclusive development and greater prosperity everywhere was a major commitment that was common to all populations and countries.

On 5th June 2014, Mario Draghi, the ECB president decided to lower the interest rate on the main refinancing operations down to 0.15% and the rate on the marginal lending facility down to 0.40%. The rate on the deposit facility was lowered to -0.10%. He announced a series of measure to encourage lending to the real economy including the launch of two four year loans to euro zone banks "to support bank lending to households and non-financial corporations, excluding loans to households for house purchase, the bank will be conducting a series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (LTROs). The Governing Council also decided to step up preparatory work related to outright purchases in the ABS market to enhance the functioning of the monetary policy transmission mechanism. Mario Draghi added that he could not see any deflationary threat emerging in Europe and that ECB interest rates had reached "their limits". It should also be noted that ECB macro-economic forecasts estimate that growth will be 1% in 2014, 1.7 % in 2015 and 1.8% in 2016, inflation will total 0.7% in 2014, 1.1% in 2015 and 1.4% in 2016.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble met his Italian counterpart Pier Carlo Padoan in Berlin on 5th June. The two men discussed the economic situation in Italy, in the knowledge that the latter was one of the most affected countries during the crisis. According to the Italian minister the GDP is due to increase to an estimated 0.5% and consumer spending by a total 0.1% in 2014. The country is due to experience slight recovery in 2015 with a GDP rate of +0.9%. The Italian Minister said however he was optimistic and that the EU's priority should be based on growth and employment. His German counterpart confirmed the need to strengthen the means to increase growth and to counter unemployment in Europe. The German minister also stressed the need to increase investments not only with public funds but also with public/private partnerships.

The Bulgarian party of the Turkish minority - Movement for Rights and Freedom, whose votes in parliament are vital for the upkeep of the minority government, demanded early elections on 5th June. According to Lutvi Mestan, the party's Chairman, the results of the European elections make it impossible for Plamen Oresharski's government to finish its term in office. Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has started discussions in this regard. Moreover Mr Oresharski's government is being heavily criticised by the European Commission which is against the construction of the gas pipeline South stream. On 8th June Sofia suspended preparatory work to build the Russian/Italian South Stream pipeline which was due to start this summer in Bulgaria, after Brussels and Washington expressed criticism said Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the representative of the northern part of the island, Dervis Eroglu, met on 2nd June to continue negotiations over fundamental issues regarding reunification. UN representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim declared that it was a meeting that involved reviving the various technical committees and other fundamental issues. She added that the leaders will meet twice a month in a bid to step up the negotiation process to be able to come to a solution as fast as possible.

French President François Holland re-iterated "the financial commitments made for the military programming law" (LPM, 2014-2019) on 2nd June 2014. At the same time he asked the government to "put forward ideas to improve the management of equipment and projects." The head of State gave this decision during a Defence Council, whilst Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and military leaders have been concerned about further cuts to the armed forces' budgets. The head of State recalled "the vital nature of our defence work to enhance our international influence, protect our vital interests and to ensure France's security," stressed the Presidency in a press release.

On 9th June 2014 the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras reshuffled his government. This was marked by the appointment of Guikas Hardouvelis to the vital finance portfolio. The latter, a professor of finance at the University of Pireus and economic advisor to the Eurobank, one of Greece's main banks, was director to former Prime Minister Lucas Papademos between November 2011 and May 2012 at the height of the Greek crisis. A pro-European, like his predecessor Yannis Stournaras, Guikas Hardouvelis took part in the negotiations to restructure the Greek debt in 2012 which led to the cancellation of 106 billion euro in bonds held by private creditors, especially banks. This reshuffle, during which at least five ministers were replaced including Education, Healthcare, Development, Interior, aims mid-mandate to restore the government's image that was damaged by the European election victory of the main opposition party, Syriza.

The Hungarian Parliament invested the government put forward by Prime Minister Viktor Orban on 6th June 2014. This small government of 10 ministers has no women members!

The central theme of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union which starts on July 1st will be "growth and employment" since the debate over "yes or no to austerity" is now "sterile and will take us nowhere," maintained the Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan. Italy's agenda during its six month presidency will focus on "three main themes: priority to the internal market, the establishment of structural reform and the financing of growth. "Italian growth, which is still very weak (the GDP contracted by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2014 in comparison with the precedent), must be given new impetus by launching a structural reform programme", emphasised Pier Carlo Padoan.

On 4th June 2014 Poland celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first "semi-free" elections - a major step towards the end of communism in the country. These elections, in which some of the seats in the Assembly (Sejm) and all of the mandates in the Senate were open to competition on the part of the opposition, led by the union Solidarnosc, were followed by the creation of a government led by Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki. On the occasion of this anniversary the Polish government put a game online that is designed to highlight the changes and transformations that Poland has experienced over the last 25 years. It insists on the progress made in terms of freedom, modernity and democracy. American President Barack Obama, who was present at the commemorative ceremony, celebrated Poland's victory over communism and maintained American commitment to its NATO allies in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Spanish and Portuguese heads of government, Mariano Rajoy and Pedro Passos Coelho met in Vidago, Portugal, on 4th June for a Luso/Spanish Summit on cross-border cooperation between the two countries. During the joint press conference which was held after the summit the Spanish Prime Minister called on the EU to grant more support the countries which are emerging from a serious crisis to help to gain strength. Lisbon and Madrid also deemed that the EU should take steps to respond to youth unemployment. Finally the two heads of government called on the Union to implement an energy policy that will bring the Iberian peninsula's isolation to an end. On this issue the Portuguese Prime Minister stressed that as long as energy markets were not integrated in Europe the single market would not really exist.

The Queen's Speech was delivered on 4th June 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II during the inaugural session of parliament 2014/2015. It lays down the government's policy and Parliament's legislative programme. This speech, the last for the Conservatives in office was therefore also David Cameron's last opportunity to put forward new ideas for the election in 2015. Eleven draft bills were announced comprising changes to retirement regimes, more proposals designed to protect the most vulnerable and also an initiative to impose a fee on plastic bags in supermarkets. Nine of these draft laws are applicable in Scotland, which is due to vote "yes" or "no" on 18th September to a question regarding independence.

While Sweden may be a global leader in R&D investment, the EU as a whole is still lagging behind the Japan and the US: new data shows that 6.6% of total R&D government support is invested in ICT in the EU, compared to 9.1% in Japan and 7.9% in the US. Figures from the Digital Scoreboard show that more effort is necessary to meet the goal set by the Digital Agenda for Europe: to reach €11 billion of annual total public spending on ICT R&D by 2020.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings at the end of the Second World War American President Barack Obama started a tour of Europe. On 3rd June 2014 as he was in Warsaw the latter offered to grant up to one billion dollars to deploy new American land, air and sea forces in Eastern Europe, which is concerned about the Ukrainian crisis. This "initiative to re-assure Europe" still has to be approved by Congress. It should also help to develop the capabilities of non-NATO member countries like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to enable them to cooperate with the USA and their Western allies and to strengthen their own defences. The American President is also asking Moscow to use 'its influence" amongst the pro-Russian separatists in the east of Ukraine to achieve a halt to their attacks against government troops. "Any further Russian provocation will lead to further costs for Russia, including more sanctions if necessary ", he announced.

On 5th June Vitaly Klichko, leader of the pro-European protest movement in Ukraine was sworn in as Mayor and promised to make the capital into a model of the changes that the entire country has to undergo. He promised "zero tolerance for corruption. "The changes to be made to our country will start in the capital, in Kiev," he declared after having won 56.7% of the vote in the election on 25th May, which took place at the same time as the presidential election. "I declare that there will zero tolerance regarding corruption. We will audit the services provided by the town's authorities," he continued. "Kiev must become a true European capital," he insisted.

The Roma minority in Romania is still far too often the victim of discrimination or insults including on the part of the political classes without anyone reacting, regretted Council of Europe experts in a report that was published on 3rd June 2014. "The political classes frequently insult the Roma, which hardly raises any criticism, but which the press, the audiovisual media and the internet then repeat," deplore the experts of the ECRI (European Committee Against Racism and Intolerance). The authors of the report are worried that some MPs have suggested, in a draft law put to parliament, that there is link between the Roma and crime" and accuse the minority of "not trying to integrate". However according to the authors of the ECRI report the Roma are not protected adequately against discriminatory behaviour on the part of the police force and their children are still subject to "segregation" and "discrimination" in school.

Meeting in Brussels on 3rd June the NATO Members' Defence Ministers decided to extend the mission Ocean Shield's mandate to counter piracy " until December 2016. Launched in August 2009 this mission operates in the region off the Horn of Africa in cooperation with the EU's mission Atalante. Since its launch NATO indicates that the mission has helped significantly in the reduction of acts of piracy undertaken committed in this region. NATO notes however that piracy is still a threat to merchant ships which cross through the region and it is with this in view that it was decided to extend Ocean Shield's mandate. During the meeting in Brussels Defence Ministers also met their Ukrainian and Georgian counterparts to discuss the latters' situation; they looked into the ISAF mission in Afghanistan with the countries that are contributing to this together with the Afghan Defence Minister . They discussed the next NATO summit in Wales in September. Ministers re-iterated their support to Ukraine and its sovereignty.

According to estimates published by Eurostat on 3rd June 2014, euro area annual inflation is expected to be 0.5% in May 2014, down from 0.7% in April, according to a flash estimate by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Looking at the main components of euro area inflation, services are expected to have the highest annual rate in May (1.1%, compared with 1.6% in April), followed by food, alcohol & tobacco (0.1%, compared with 0.7% in April), non-energy industrial goods (0.0%, compared with 0.1% in April) and energy (0%, compared with -1.2% in April).

The 14th Venice Biennale, which opened on 7th June and runs to 23rd November, is looking into the way architecture "absorbs modernity", drawing lessons from the last 100 years, explained its organisers. According to the theme "Fundamentals" Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the curator of the 2014 Biennale intends to investigate all of the contradictions of a century marked by the loss of national identity and the expansion of globalisation. An exhibition which brings together the finalists of the EU modern "Mies van der Rohe" architecture prize over the last 25 years will also be unveiled. The exhibition "Made in Europe", which presents 150 projects, as well as audiovisual material,was inaugurated with a seminar on 6th June together with architects Dominique Perrault, Vittorio Gregotti, Inaki Abalos and Kjetil Traedal Thorsen. It will run at the Palazzo Michiel until 4th August 2014.