On 26th June the European Economic Forum 'EcoRévolutions' will take place in Nancy - it is organised by the review Le Point and the Robert Schuman Foundation is a partner. The theme of this third forum is "And what if we tried freedom?" The forum will take place around four round tables, 2 face to face interviews during which 16 personalities and experts such as Lech Walesa and Peter Hartz will be taking part.

On 17th June the European Central Bank raised the ceiling on emergency aid (ELA) made available to the Greek banks since February 2015 by 1.1 € and then on 19th June it raised it further (between +1.8 billion and +3 billion euro depending on sources) and also on 22nd June (total unknown). In all events these funds correlate to worrying figures that have been circulating over the last few days regarding withdrawals of savings, which totalled 3 billion € this week, by households and businesses who are worried about the possible introduction of capital control if the euro zone summit fails on 22nd June. Mario Draghi, the ECB President maintained on 15th June, during a hearing with the European Parliament's ECON committee, that the ceilings on loans granted to Greece under the emergency aid fund could be extended.

On 18th June the meeting of the 19 euro zone finance ministers was mainly devoted to the economic situation in Athens and concluded without agreement after a little less than an hour and a half of discussions. A new meeting then took place in Brussels on 22nd June. During this second meeting Ministers were mainly receptive of the reform plan put forward by the Greek government and asked for the institutions in the Brussels Group - European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - to analyse the latter in order to set out a list of priorities with the Greek government that will lead to a final agreement during the week. This Eurogroup meeting was followed by a Summit between the 19 heads of State and government of the euro zone, which had been convened as an emergency on 18th June by the President of the euro zone summit, Donald Tusk. The 19 leaders exchanged views on Greece and clarified their positions on the present negotiations between the Greek authorities and the institutions. Donald Tusk stressed after the summit that the reform plan put forward by Greece on 22nd June 2015 was a significant step forward in the negotiation process but that more indepth assessment by the institutions was necessary. A further Eurogroup meeting is planned for 24th June to this end.

On 18th June the Eurogroup lauded the efforts made by Cyprus in implementing reform. For the 19 euro zone finance ministers taxation continues to be effective, the debt perspective has improved and structural reforms are increasing in various sectors. They also agreed to say that confidence is returning, that the economy seems to be emerging from recession and that in spite of still high unemployment rates the labour market has stabilised. Moreover the Cypriot government has implemented several measures in the financial sector such as a new foreclosure procedure. The Eurogroup has accepted the disbursement a further tranche of aid totalling 100 million €, the IMF approved the payment of a further 280 million € to Cyprus also.

On 22nd June the "five Presidents" - Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the Commission, Donald Tusk, President of the Council, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, President of the Eurogroup, Mario Draghi, President of the ECB and Martin Schulz, President of Parliament, published their report entitled "Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union". This report highlights a strategy to enhance the EMU in three stages. The first (July 2015-June 2017) would aim, under the existing treaties, to improve budgetary responsibilities as well as completing financial union and improve democratic control. The second would entail the introduction of jointly defined convergence criteria on legal bases as well as a euro zone public Treasury. All of these measures would enable the completion of the EMU (third stage) by 2025 at the latest. The European Commission will present a White Paper to enable a transition between the first two stages.

On 15th and 16th June the 28 European Justice Ministers agreed on the regulation of data protection which will enable the start of negotiations with the European Parliament. They also adopted the general guidelines for draft legislation on the promotion of the free movement of citizens and economic players that aims to simplify public administrative obligations. The 28 Ministers for Home Affairs discussed the European migratory agenda as well as its implementation but they did not reach agreement on a minimum amount of solidarity in terms of hosting asylum seekers and of relieving the Mediterranean countries like Italy and Greece which are facing record flows of migrants.

On 18th and 19th June the 28 Ministers responsible for employment held a debate on measures in terms of employment and social policy included as part of the country specific recommendations of the European Semester. They reached agreement on the four guidelines to be followed by employment policy in the Member States i.e. increasing the demand for work, improving competences and knowledge about employment offers, improving the functioning of labour markets and developing social inclusion, as well as countering poverty and promoting equal opportunities. They also adopted conclusions on the Youth Guarantee scheme. Finally they took note of the progress achieved under the directive on equal treatment. The 28 Healthcare Ministers adopted two draft regulations that aim to modernise medical equipment.

The 28 Economy and Finance Ministers who met on 19th June discussed bank reform, capital markets union and economic policy. They would like to strengthen financial stability by protecting savers and banks from risky trading activities. The 28 Ministers also approved the position adopted by the Commission for the capital markets union. To strengthen this union they want to make the European Union more attractive for investments and to facilitate access to sources of financing for startups and innovation. Moreover ministers ended the excessive deficit procedures against Poland and Malta. They also said they supported specific country-per-country recommendations in terms of the economy and taxation.

On 19th June the Council decided to extend the restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea until 23rd June 2016. In particular these sanctions ban the import of products from Crimea, investments and services linked to tourism in Crimea, as well as the export of certain products and technologies in the direction of businesses in Crimea in the sectors of transport, telecommunications and energies (oil, gas and mining).

On 22nd June the 28 European Foreign Affairs Ministers met in Luxembourg for a Foreign Affairs Council. The Council agreed on the launch of a naval mission to counter migrant trafficking in the Mediterranean (Euronavfor Med) which will be restricted at first to increased surveillance of traffickers' networks. Ships, sub-marines, patrol planes and European drones will be deployed in about a week's time. The ministers also formally extended the heavy economic sanctions decided against Russia until the end of January 2016 because of its role in the conflict in Ukraine. These sanctions that are hitting entire sections of the Russian economy including the banks, defence and the oil sectors, prevented from finding finance on the European markets, were due to conclude at the end of July. They have been extended until "Russia fulfils its obligations under the Minsk Agreement." Finally ministers presented their conclusions on Burundi and Lebanon. In regard to the latter they notably called for the election of a new President as well as stability in the country. They also assessed the situation in Myanmar and discussed the EU's relations with the countries of ASEAN.

On 17th June the President of the Italian Council hosted his British counterpart at the Universal Exposition in Milan. Mr Renzi and Mr Cameron notably exchanged views on economic issues and immigration. The two men also exchanged views on the Brexit, with Mr Renzi maintaining that the EU without the UK was "unthinkable". Then David Cameron travelled to Luxembourg to speak with his counterpart, Xavier Bettel, on economic, migratory and Ukrainian issues. Finally he travelled to the Global Security Forum in Bratislava and he met Slovakian President Andrej Kiska with whom he discussed immigration and British negotiations over the EU.

The Global Security Forum took place from 19th to 21st June in Bratislava. The tenth meeting took place to a backdrop of serious tension between Russia and the USA with projects to deploy heavy arms to Eastern Europe. The Globsec conference also looked into the Ukrainian crisis, the situation of refugees, the war against the Islamic State. This forum rallied a great number of political leaders who came to discuss the world's security issues.

In a press release on 19th June Christine Lagarde, General Manager of the IMF congratulated the Ukrainian authorities for having adopted a law strengthening the independence of the Central Bank of Ukraine as part of the structural reforms supported by the IMF to modernise the economy. Ms Lagarde also congratulated the Ukrainian government on its work undertaken with its creditors regarding the Ukrainian government debt. The general manager did however recall that the reform programme must go hand in hand with a rapid settlement of the debt issue.

In the third quarter of 2015 the number of people in work rose by 0.1% in the euro zone and by 0.3% in the EU said Eurostat estimates. In comparison with the first quarter of 2014 employment increased by 0.8% in the euro zone and by 1.1% in the EU. Over the first quarter of 2015 the most important growth rates were recorded in Latvia (+1.5%), Hungary (+1.5%), Estonia (+0.9%) and Spain (+0.8%). Conversely Greece (-0.8%) and Malta (-0.4%) recorded the sharpest decreases whilst employment remained stable in France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

In the third quarter of 2015 185,000 requests for protection in the EU were made by asylum seekers said Eurostat. This figure is stable in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2014 but it was up by 86% in comparison with the first quarter of 2014. Over the first three months of 2015 the biggest number of first time asylum requests were recorded in Germany (40% of the EU total), and Hungary (18%). Then came Italy (8%), France (8%) and Sweden (6%). Half of the first asylum seekers came from Kosovo (26% of the EU total), Syria (16%) and Afghanistan (7%).

The EU's current account, adjusted to seasonal variations, recorded a surplus of 14.9 billion euro in April 2015 in contrast to a surplus of 11 billion euro in March 2015 and 4.9 billion in April 2014 according to Eurostat estimates published on 19th June.

On 16th June a report was published by the European Commission regarding the respect of the renewable energy goals set for 2020. This report stresses that the EU is progressing well in view of having 20% of renewable energies in its energy mix. Indeed the share of renewable energies achieved in terms of final consumption in 2014 was 15.3%. The Commissioner for climate and energy declared: "This report shows once more that Europe is achieving good results in terms of renewable energies and that these energies are beneficial for Europe."

On 18th June the Commission adopted an annual report on the integration of the Roma. The report's conclusions highlight the constant progress undertaken by the Member States in terms of Roma integration, but at the same time note that further work has to be made in terms of fighting to counter discrimination and to increase cooperation with civil society and the local authorities. Hence the European Commission called on the States to continue their work "notably by creating national platforms for the Roma, and stepping up efforts to counter discrimination and segregation and by implementing more widely practices that have been proven and crowned with success."

During their session on 22nd June the 28 European Foreign Affairs Ministers adopted the EU's annual report 2014 on the situation of Human Rights and democracy in the world.

The French town of Vienne (Isère) will be hosting its 35th jazz festival from 27th June to 11th July. The festival presents shows in four venues including the Old Theatre and the Midnight Club with its oak floor, red velvet drapes and crystal chandeliers offering concerts in various styles of music (electro, hip-hop, soul, etc)...

The Roskilde Festival in Denmark, one of the biggest rock and pop festivals in Europe organised by the Roskilde Festival Charity Society will take place from 27th June to 4th July. The aim is to support initiatives to the benefit of children and young people and support humanitarian and cultural activities independently of political parties and geographical borders. Paul McCartney will be playing on 4th July.