On 2nd and 3rd December the 10th Conference for the Maritime Economy will be taking place in Nantes. Jean-Dominique Giuliani, the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation will be speaking at a round table on 3rd December on the theme "Industry, naval forces: the place of the French military on the world's seas" alongside Admiral Rogel, Naval Chief-of-Staff.

In the World Economic Outlook presented on 25th November the OECD insisted on the weak nature of recovery and the vulnerability of the euro zone, which is exposed to a high risk of recession or "continued stagnation". The world economy, says the institution, is functioning slowly: + 3.3% in 2014, + 3.7% in 2015 and + 3.9% on average annually. It is due to recover its pre-crisis growth rate in two years' time (4% on average between 2000 and 2004). Amongst the 34 developed OECD economies, whose GDP is due to rise by 2.3% in 2015 and by 2.6% in 2016, there are some which are doing well like the US (+ 2.2% and + 3.1%) and those which remain weak as in the euro zone (+ 1.1% and + 1,7%) and Japan (+ 0.8% and + 1%).

On December 1st Donald Tusk took office as President of the European Council. The former Polish Prime Minister replaces Herman Van Rompuy. He has been appointed for a 2 and a half year mandate.

On 26th November the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker presented his investment and growth plan to MEPs in assembly in Strasbourg. This plan is based on the creation of a new "European Strategic Investment Fund" which should lead to the "mobilisation of 315 milliards € over the next three years." The President of the Commission did not rule out going beyond this total maintaining that the mechanism to be introduced might be "renewed in 2018, 2019 and 2020." He also laid out how the investment plan would work explaining that 21 billion € would be released as a "public upfront sum" with 16 billion €, serving as a guarantee that will come from the existing EU budget, whilst 5 billion € will be provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The 21 billion € provided as a guarantee to a new "European Strategic Investment Fund" should raise 315 billion € in investments according to a leverage effect of between 1 to 15. Finally Jean-Claude Juncker rejected any political interference in the choice of projects that are to be financed since their selection will depend on their profitability, in other words according to their ability to attract investments from the private sector.

Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege was awarded the Sakharov Prize during a ceremony organised on 26th November during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The Sakharov Prize, which is given to people for their commitment to the defence of human rights and fundamental freedom, was awarded this year to Dr Mukwege who has devoted his life to thousands of victims of gang rape and sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The 28 European Culture Ministers met on 25th November Brussels and adopted conclusions on the "European audiovisual policy in the digital era" notably in view of a future review of the audiovisual media directive. They also drew up a Working Plan for Culture which defines European cooperation priorities regarding cultural policies for the next four years (2015-2018). Ministers debated the contribution made by the creative and cultural sectors to the Europe 2020 goals as part of its mid-term assessment. Finally they adopted several conclusions on sport highlighting that it was a driver for growth, innovation and employment; they also debated real measures to be taken to promote sport amongst young people in schools and also more widely in society.

The Council decided on 25th November to extend the suspension of EU restrictive measures specified in the Joint Plan of Action agreed by E3/EU+3 and Iran on 24th November 2013. This follows the decision taken by the countries involved (US, Russia, China, France, UK and Germany) to extend negotiations as well as the validity of the measures in the action plan until 30th June 2015.

In its "Making the best use of EU money: a landscape review of the risks to the financial management of the EU budget" published on 25th November the European Court of Auditors pinpoints several key issues that "endanger the good financial management of the EU's funds." According to the Court all of those involved in managing the Union's budget should "give priority to obtaining results and to the provision of European added value," whilst ensuring that the EU's funds are used as planned and that they are the focus of "appropriate accounting". The report highlights several shortfalls that could impede the optimal use of the EU's budget - which is notably the case in terms of the overly complex system of rules governing eligibility and other conditions regarding the attribution of EU funds.

During the management board meeting that was held on 26th November in Warsaw Frenchman Fabrice Leggeri was appointed Executive Director of Frontex, the European Agency for the management of the operational cooperation on the external borders of the Member States of the European Union. Aged 46, Fabric Leggeri has been in charge of countering illegal immigration at the Ministry for French Home Affairs since 2013. He will enter office in January 2015 replacing the interim executive director, Spaniard, Gil Arias-Fernandez.

In its most recent report published on 25th November 2015 on financial stability the German Central Bank highlights the dangers of investors seeking risky placements to avoid the lowest rates. Given the present risks the Bundesbank believes that German banks, which are sometimes still weak, have to further strengthen their own funds and make their model less dependent on credit.

Spanish Healthcare Minister Ana Mato, who is said have been involved in a vast corruption scandal, resigned on 26th November. Her name has been quoted by Judge Pablo Ruz responsible for the investigation into the Gürtel Affair which revealed a series of retrocommissions paid to political leaders in the People's Party in office as part of the public procurement market. In her press release the minister explained her resignation saying that she did not want to impede the work of Mariano Rajoy's government.

French President François Hollande hosted the President of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy on 1st December for the 24th Franco-Spanish Summit. With 20 of their ministers they discussed reviving growth in Europe and energy issues. In a joint press conference the two heads of State announced that they were going to ask the European Commission to ensure that major Franco-Spanish energy interconnection and transport projects benefit from the new European 315 billion € investment plan. In addition to this France and Spain have said they want to "introduce a common strategy for the development of renewable energy, capabilities and interconnections". To do this a joint seminar bringing together both governments, regulators and transport companies involved will be organised in the first half of 2015.

On 25th November the International Labour Organisation published a report on productive jobs for Greece. It analyses the problems being encountered by Greece in the extended crisis and advocates the adoption of further measures to support employment and business, more social protection and a halt to wage reductions in country. Macro-economic goals and employment must be pursued together.

On 24th November Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi travelled to Vienna as part of the Italian presidency of the Council of the European Union. He spoke with Austrian Chancellor M. Faymann. During the joint press conference they insisted on their shared vision of Europe which must give priority to growth. They said they stood together against economic austerity. The Italian Prime Minister insisted on the need to refocus European priorities on the fight to counter employment as well as on helping young people.

Former Portuguese Prime Minister José Socrates (2005-2011) has been arrested as part of an investigation into a tax fraud and corruption scandal and appeared in court on 24th November. He has been placed in detention. He is due to face accusations of "qualified tax fraud, corruption and money laundering."

On 28th November D. Cameron, the British Prime Minister unveiled his plan to reduce access to social benefits by immigrants from the EU. These restrictions are, in his opinion, absolutely necessary in the UK. He said he supported a four year period of deferment before European immigrants would be able to claim certain benefits such as tax credit and social housing. However he will have to discuss the change of the treaty on free movement of people with other heads of State and government from the EU in order to be able to validate these new measures.

On Monday December 1st the official results of the Moldovan general election revealed that the pro-European parties were slightly ahead of the pro-Russian movements. After the counting of 90% of the voting slips three parties advocating EU membership had won 44.6% of the vote (Democratic Liberal Party 19.46%, Democratic Party 15.78%, Liberal Party 9.36%) and 54 seats whilst the pro-Russian opposition won 39.2%% of the votes (Socialists 21.54%, Communist 17.95%) and 47 seats.

On 27th November the new Ukrainian parliament started work. It is the first time that parliament has been dominated by pro-Western parties. The Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk was reappointed by 341 votes by the new Parliament. He promised to defend the country's independence given the "Russian military invasion." "We have an historic mission on our shoulders and that is to protect our State and defend our independence," declared Mr Yatsenyuk.

On 25th November Pope Francis travelled to Strasbourg where he gave a speech at the European Parliament. He focused on recalling the basis of the European ideal, solidarity amongst people and democracy, which are so often neglected. He qualified solitude as being the "sickness that had to be countered in Europe". Pope Francis also insisted on recalling the importance of human dignity and the respect of this. He addressed the issue of immigration and how it was being managed in Europe, maintaining that "we cannot tolerate the Mediterranean becoming a giant cemetery!" In his speech to the Council of Europe the Pope lauded peace in Europe but was quick to point out that this balance was a fragile one. He insisted on the need to counter unemployment in the name of the dignity that work provides.

The EU's current account, adjusted to seasonal variations, recorded a surplus of 7.8 billion euro in the third quarter of 2014, marking a sharp decrease in comparison with the surpluses of 21.2 billion euro in the second quarter 2014 and 17.3 billion in the third quarter of 2013. However the services account surplus increased, rising from 41.2 billion euro in the second quarter to 47 billion in the third quarter of 2014. These estimates were published on 25th November by Eurostat.

According to a survey undertaken amongst 6000 Europeans aged 18 to 30, young Dutch people are the most optimistic and most confident about their future. Indeed 71% of the Dutch answered optimistically about their view of the future whilst only 41% of the Italians seem to share the same opinion. One point shared amongst most young Europeans is that they believe that the European Union can offer them an opportunity for success. Only young British people mainly believe (33%) that their professional future lies outside of Europe. Published on 24th November by the German Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications as the Berlin Summit on "Digital Europe" draws closer, this survey covered six countries : Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.

The Marc Chagall National Museum is running an exhibition "Marc Chagall, colours for the Bible" until 9th March 2015. The exhibition explores the importance of the Bible in Chagall's work placing him in a vast movement to revive sacred art in the 20th century. The exhibition shows 17 pictures with the biblical message kept at the National Museum, painted between 1956 and 1966 - these are true spiritual testaments by the French artist. For the first time the etching press set up by Marc Chagall in his house at Saint-Paul-de-Vence and which was given as a gift to the museum is on show to the public.