In an editorial published on his site, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, comments the composition of the European Commission which will be presided over by Jean-Claude Juncker. Firstly, Jean-Dominique Giuliani lauds the fact that Mr Juncker will make the revival of the European economy his priority, then he notes that the new Commission will comprise experienced leaders who have been successful in their own country. Finally, he stresses the benefits of the new way the Commission is to be organised with an executive of 7 Vice-Presidents who will be responsible for the management of the other commissioners. The latter will be able to devote themselves "entirely to the common interest" as demanded by the EU's treaties.

The Social Democratic Party (SAP) won the general elections on 14th September in Sweden taking 31.2% of the vote and 113 seats of the 349 possible seats in the Riksdag (+1 in comparison with the election on 19th September 2010). It came out ahead of the Moderate Assembly (M) of outgoing Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt which won 23.2% of the vote and 84 seats (-23 seats). The Swedish Democrats (SD) came third with 12.9% of the vote and 49 seats (+29). The Environment Party/Greens (MP) won 6.80% of the vote and 24 seats (-1) followed by the Centre Party (C), 6.10% of the vote and 22 seats (-1), the Left Party (Vp) 5.7% and 21 seats (+2), the People's Party/Liberals (FpL), 5.4% and 19 seats (-5) and the Christian Democratic Party (KD) 4.6% of the vote and 17 seats (- 2). Turnout rose to 83.3%. Together the three left wing parties won 43.70% of the vote and 158 seats, which is far from the absolute majority of 175 seats. The formation of a government may prove difficult.

The Portuguese national statistics institute declared on 8th September that the economy was growing in the 2nd quarter of 2014 up by 0.3%. However it revised its first estimate downwards noting growth of 0.6%. In the first quarter the GDP contracted by 0.5% against -0.6% estimated initially. The government is expecting growth of 1% of the GDP this year which will become the first year of growth after three successive years of recession. Moreover the Portuguese government approved the creation of a State investment bank on 11th September which will be specialised in lending to SMEs - initially it will have a capital of 100 million euro. This entity that is to be launched at the end of the year should "make good the shortfalls of the SME financing market," announced the Portuguese Economy Minister, Antonio Pires de Lima.

On 10th September, Jean-Claude Juncker, President elect of the European Commission announced the distribution of responsibilities within his college of Commissioners. There are 7 Vice-Presidents, each heading a "team" that will be responsible for a specific project, which covers several competences in close cooperation with the Commissioners. The candidates will be auditioned between 29th September and 7th October by the European Parliament. The future European executive will include 9 women, which is the same number as in the previous Commission. It comprises 5 former Prime Ministers. The average age is 53. The Juncker Commission is expected to enter office on November 1st.

The candidate Commissioners presented by the new President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junkcer are due to take part in auditions organised by the parliamentary committees on 29th September to 7th October. Auditions will take place from 29th September to 2nd October and on 6th and 7th October. If one or several candidates fail their assessment there will be a change of portfolio and new auditions will have to be organised.

The new sanctions of the 28 EU Member States against Moscow, notably aiming to limit the financing of the Russian economy, entered into force on 12th September as they were published in the EU's Official Journal. The new restrictions affect Russian oil companies (notably Gazprom's oil subsidiary) as well as the arms sector. These businesses will have their access to the capital markets restricted. The President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy did however say that the EU could suspend or modify these sanctions after an assessment of the situation in Ukraine by the end of the month.

On 11th September the EU's Court of Justice confirmed the General Court's decision to uphold the Commission's ban on multilateral interchange fees (MIFs) implemented by MasterCard. In 2007 the European Commission demanded that MasterCard remove the MIFs since they were contrary to competition law. The Commission found that the MIF had the effect of setting a floor under the costs charged to merchants and thus constituted a restriction of price competition.

On 9th September the ECB launched cooperation with the Central Bank of Montenegro to help the institution prepare its integration into the European system of central banks. It is one of the conditions to help towards the procedure for the country's accession to the European Union. This aid will be financed by Brussels to a total of 300,000 euro. For seven months these funds will enable the ECB to provide its expertise to its Montenegrin counterpart to pinpoint the main areas to work upon.

During his speech to the Bundestag on 9th September German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble re-iterated his attachment to the rigorous respect of budgetary rules. According to the latter, Europeans should not just rely on the European Central Bank's accommodating policies to revive growth. He said that lax attitudes to budgetary discipline would not enable the long term return of activity either. "We have shown that a sound budgetary policy was the best approach for growth and employment," declared the minister who presented a balanced federal budget for the first time since 1969. The first reading of the text was held in the lower chamber of Parliament from 9th to 12th September. Debate will continue over the next few weeks until a final vote on the budget is taken on 28th November.

The "International Conference for Peace and Security in Iraq took place on 15th September in Paris. It brought together international and regional partners who support the objective of peace and who are helping towards its accomplishment. It was jointly inaugurated by the President of the French Republic, François Hollande and the President of the Republic of Iraq Fouad Massoum. The international community promised to support the Baghdad's battle to counter the jihadists of the ISIL "by all necessary means" including military solutions. "Participants in the Paris conference maintained the Daech - the Arabic acronym for ISIL) is a threat for the entire international community" according a final text issued at the meeting."They stressed the urgent need to bring the presence of Daech to an end in the regions where it has taken position in Iraq. With this goal in mind the new goal in mind they committed to support by all necessary means the new Iraqi government to counter Daech, including by appropriate military aid, corresponding needs expressed by the authorities", continues the document. This support will be provided in the "respect of international law and the security of the civilian populations".

Polish Prime Minister Bronislaw Komorowski officially appointed Eva Kopacz as Prime Minister on 15th September. She takes over from Donald Tusk who resigned on 11th September after his appointment as head of the European Council as of 1st December next. Ms Eva Kopacz was leader of the lower chamber of Parliament (Diet) to date.

On 10th September David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg travelled to Scotland as a matter of urgency given the latest polls which credit the "yes" vote with the majority next week in the referendum on independence. On 11th September 2014 in Edinburgh the Prime Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond held a press conference during which he accused the British government of scaremongering after the leak of information about the possible withdrawal of the Royal Bank of Scotland from Scotland if the "yes" vote wins. A new poll by Survation for the Daily Record suggests that a result of 53% for the "no" and 47% for the "yes" if those undecided are not taken into account. In all events it will be a very tightly run race!

Slovenian Prime Minister designate Miro Cerar signed a coalition agreement on 8th September with two parties to form a government. "We came to agreement to end the crisis in Slovenia, to stabilise the political arena, stimulate economic development and consolidate public finance," declared Miro Cerar to the press after concluding the coalition agreement with the Pensioners Party (DeSus) and the Social Democratic Party (SD). Miro Cerar was put forward as Prime Minister on 29th August by Slovenian President Borut Pahor. The three coalition parties that have 52 seats of the 90 in the Slovenian parliament, will put a 16 member government together. The coalition decided that its priorities will be "economic growth, the protection of existing jobs, the creation of new jobs and the increase of international competitiveness" of Slovenia as well as the protection of the present healthcare system. On 9th September the Prime Minister delivered a list of candidates for the various ministries to the National Assembly. Miro Cerar's government still has to be approved by Parliament which is due on 18th September next.

On 10th September Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced the introduction of a new draft bill which will offer much greater autonomy to the country's east. But it is stipulates that these transfers of competence should however be accomplished respecting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the regions concerned must not detach themselves from that territory. Given the declarations made by the pro-Russian rebels, who consider the ceasefire to be simply a temporary postponement of the issue of their independence, with this bill the President of Ukraine aimed to stress the assertion of his positions set during the negotiations in Minsk and of his intransigeance regarding the respect of national unity.

Three NATO ships took part in the exercise "Sea Breeze" from 8th to 10th September 2014 in the Black Sea. The goal was to show NATO's commitment regarding its ability to work with its naval partners. The US and Ukraine organised this annual exercise. Amongst the participants were Georgia, Romania, Turkey as well as the USA. This exercise came in response to Russian activities in Ukraine. The Alliance has increased its air patrols over the Baltic countries as well as its naval activities in the Baltic Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. These exercises follow NATO's decision taken at the summit on 4th and 5th September to improve collective Allied defence.

According to the most recent economic study of Spain published by the OECD on 8th Sepember, Spain is emerging from an extended period of recession and has now started back along the path of moderate growth together with an improvement in international competitiveness. Decisive bank and tax reform and a monetary policy that favours growth undertaken by the ECB have appeased financial tensions and helped towards the recovery of public finances. The OECD believes that unemployment is the most urgent economic and social challenge that Spain has to overcome: the exceptionally high level of unemployment is weighing on revenues and is also worsening poverty and inequality.

The press release by Eurostat published on 12th September announced an increase in employment of 0.2% in the euro zone and 0.3% in all EU Member States in the second quarter of 2014 in comparison with the first quarter of the year. Year on year the rise in employment has been +0.4% and +0.7% respectively in comparison with 2013. According to Eurostat's estimates 224.9 million men and women were employed in the EU in the second quarter of 2014 of which 146.5 million were in the euro zone.

The German Marshall Fund presented its annual report "Transatlantic Trends 2014" on 10th September. This yearly report provides a panorama of the complex relations entertained by the USA and Europe focusing on various articles notably within the American and European public opinion. The 2014 survey "reveals many significant results" including some that stand out on the European side: Americans and Europeans do not agree on the future of the transatlantic relationship, with three Europeans in four thinking that the EU is not doing enough to counter the economic crisis. In addition to this it seems that most Europeans want the EU to respond to the UK's concerns rather than seeing it quit the EU (except for the French).

On 5th September the jury of independent experts appointed Plovdiv in Bulgaria as European Capital of Culture in 2019. The various towns running in the competition were selected according to different criteria including the drafting of a cultural programme with a strong European bias, a lasting impression and the contribution of cultural and social development to the town long term. Plovdiv is the first European capital of culture in Bulgaria.