On 14th July the Commission published a proposal focusing on a short term financial assistance loan to Greece for a total of 7 billion euro, whose maximum maturity would be three months and implemented under the European financial stability mechanism. On 17th July the Council approved this loan. The latter will be undertaken in two stages and will enable Greece to pay back its debt to the IMF and the Bank of Greece as well as its debt to the European Central Bank. This loan ensures the interim before the launch of the third aid plan to Athens which will come under the European Stability Mechanism. Moreover a specific measure has been established to guarantee that non euro zone members do not run any risk if the loan is not repaid by Greece.

On 15th July and in line with the agreement that was met during the euro zone summit on 12th and 13th July last the European Commission unveiled its "Plan for Employment and Growth" designed to support economic recovery in Greece. The plan will mobilise 35 billion euro in support of the Greek economy, by means of an optimal use of European funds and programmes and is one of the counterbalances to the reforms that Athens has promised to undertake. This plan notably introduces exceptional co-financing conditions under the European funds for the Greeks covering the periods 2007-2013 and 2014-2020. Moreover a High Level Group placed under the management of the Vice-President of the Commission Valdis Dombrovskis will aim to support the Greek authorities to ensure that the country takes optimal advantage of the European funds made available. The European Fund for Strategic Investment will also be used.

On 16th July the Greek Parliament adopted the first round of reforms (VAT increases, retirement measures, adoption of a golden budgetary rule) provided for in the agreement achieved during the euro zone summit on 12th and 13th July. The Vouli voted in support of the measures: 229 MPs voted in support, 64 MPs voted against (39 of whom were from Syriza) and 6 MPs abstained. These reforms comprise the first counterbalance demanded by the countries of the euro zone in order to be able to start the negotiation phase for a third bail out for Athens.

On 16th July and following the adoption of the first reforms requested by the heads of State and government of the euro zone on 12th and 13th July by the Greek Parliament, the Eurogroup decided to grant a further aid plan to Greece for a three year period which will be implemented immediately via the European Stability Mechanism. The official decision will come after the procedure provided to this effect and will also depend on Greece's respect of its other engagements. On 17th July the Council of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) invited the institutions to negotiation a Memorandum of Understanding with Greece, a vital condition for the payment of the third aid plan to Athens.

The French National Assembly approved the draft agreement on the Greek debt on 15th July 412 votes against 69. In the Senate the majority was 260 against 23. On 16th July the Finnish Eduskunta gave its go-ahead to the temporary financing of Greece and to the negotiation of an euro zone aid plan. This greenlight was given by the Parliament's Grand Committee, a body of 25 MPs who are competent in this area, 16 votes in support, 4 against and 5 abstentions. On the same day the Estonian government delivered the proposal to the European Affairs Committee in the Riigikogu (parliament) for the adoption of a position on the Greek situation. On 17th July the Bundestag, the lower chamber in the German Parliament, approved 439 votes in support 119 against and 40 abstentions. The vote was preceded by a speech by Angela Merkel who explained that Greece must absolutely stay in the euro zone or "chaos would ensue". The Swedish Riksdag gave its consent on the same day to the emergency loan: the European Affairs Committee has given its agreement." Within the Committee, the two government parties, Social Democrats and Greens and the four centre-right opposition movements voted in favour whilst the Left and the Democrats of Sweden voted against. The Austrian Parliament, which met in extraordinary session, approved the negotiation on 17th July. The mandate was given by a simple majority of the Social Democratic Parties (SPÖ) and the Christian Democrats (ÖVP) of the grand left-right coalition in office, without the votes of the opposition parties on the far right and the ecologists.

After the resignation of Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis on 6th July, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced further departures: Deputy Finance Minister Nadia Valavani, and Secretary General of the same ministry, Manos Manousakis also resigned on 15th July before the vote of Parliament on 16th which approved the first package of measures demanded by the euro zone in exchange for the release of a third aid plan to Greece. On 17th July Alexis Tsipras announced a ministerial reshuffle comprising ten portfolio changes including the departure of the energy minister Panagotis Lafazanis. With this reshuffle Alexis Tsipras decided not to respond to European pressure which demanded the formation of a new coalition with the opposition parties and notably with the centrist party To Potami.

On 20th July the Greek banks were open again after having been closed for three weeks. Greek citizens will now be able to withdraw 420 euro per week once only. The re-opening follows the agreement found last week with the Eurogroup and a legislative act on 18th July. Capital control remains effective however.

On 16th July the European Union announced the provision of further humanitarian aid of 64 million euro in response to the Syrian crisis. This new aid follows growing concern about the displacement of the population in Syria and in neighbouring countries. Aid aims to meet healthcare, food, water, hygiene and population protection requirements. To date 3.7 billion euro have been mobilised by the EU and its Member States to palliate the humanitarian situation in Syria.

On 20th July the EU's Foreign Ministers met in Brussels for a Foreign Affairs Council. They addressed recent European diplomatic events including the recent agreement achieved by the P5+1 with Iran - an agreement that the Ministers welcomed. The Council also took note of recent developments in Libya notably regarding political dialogue established under the UN and the role played by the EU in this regard. Moreover ministers exchanged views over the peace process in the Middle East and the action to undertake to improve the situation. Finally the Council adopted the new action plan regarding Human Rights and Democracy for the period 2015-2019.

On 15th July the European Commission presented its package of proposals to transform the European energy system as part of its Energy Union strategy. The package focuses on four proposals that aim to adapt the European quota trading system to bring it in line with the EU's environmental and energy goals, to revise energy labelling for transparency purposes, to reorganise the European electricity market in order to offer consumers a better energy deal. The completion of Energy Union is one of the Juncker Commission's ten priorities.

From 13th to 17th July the 10th round of negotiations over the transatlantic partnership for trade and investment took place in Brussels between the EU and the USA. This round of negotiations notably came after the European Parliament's vote on 8th July last on a resolution on the TTIP in which it expressed its support as well as its conditions in the negotiations. Discussions focused on all negotiation issues in the partnership: market access with particular focus on revised offers on services, regulatory cooperation and trade legislation.

On 13th July Europe's ministers for agriculture and fisheries who met in Brussels noted the Luxembourg presidency's programme especially the importance of the idea of sustainability for the development of European agriculture, alongside economic and social aspects as well as factors linked to healthcare and the environment. The ministers were informed by the European Commission of a draft regulation on Member States being able to restrict or ban the use of GMO foodstuffs or animal feed within their territories. Finally they analysed information on the development of the agricultural markets.

On 14th July an Economic and Financial Affairs Council took place in Brussels. The 28 Ministers exchanged views on the Luxembourg Presidency's work programme in which investment will play a central role. They also gave their opinions on the "five presidents' report that targets the completion of the Economic and Monetary Union. On 14th July the Council delivered its recommendations and opinions on the economic, employment and budgetary policies of the Member States thereby closing the European Semester 2015. In this context they made recommendations about the Member States' economic, employment and budgetary policies. They also published recommendations on the euro zone's economic policies. The recommendations concern 26 of the 28 EU Member States; Cyprus and Greece were excluded due to the macro-economic programmes that are on-going in these two states at present.

On 20th July Ministers of the 28 Member States met in Brussels for a "Justice and Internal Affairs" Council devoted to the issue of migration. Ministers agreed on a draft decision establishing a temporary and exceptional relocation mechanism for 40,000 people migrating through Italy and Greece towards other Member States. The Council agreed on the distribution of 32,256 people whilst the remaining 7,744 people will be distributed after a decision taken at the end of 2015. This decision will be formally adopted once the European Parliament has given its opinion ie in September. Moreover the Council adopted conclusions on the re-settlement of 22,504 people living in third countries and who require international protection. Finally the Council adopted conclusions on the designation of some third countries as being safe countries of origin according to the directive on asylum procedures.

Several European police forces arrested 14 people on 14th July who are suspected of having organised VAT fraud to a total of hundreds of millions of euro said Europol. The arrests took place in the UK, Germany, Poland and in other countries under the operation Vertigo 2, undertaken together with the European judicial coordination body "Eurojust". "The leaders of a criminal ring responsible for fraud to a total of 300 million euro in tax revenues" were arrested said a joint Europol/Eurojust declaration in their HQ's at The Hague, Netherlands.

On 17th July the Commission published the report drafted by the European Aviation Safety Agency's work group on the crash of Germanwings flight 9525. After analysing the preliminary conclusions of the inquiry into the accident and checking the nature of the community's aviation safety rules, the EASA's working group published six recommendations in order to improve the checks made on crew members. These recommendations will be analysed by the European Commission which will have to decide whether it is appropriate to take new measures in this area.

On 14th July British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke in support of the eradication of the wage gap between men and women in the UK. To do this he suggests several solutions: each company of over 250 employees must publish its accounts and notably the average wage difference between men and women; and the launch of a new consultation designed to assess how the regulation of the wage gap can be defined. Finally the Prime Minister said he was pleased that FTSE 100 companies had achieved the 25% goal of women in executive positions.

The Ukrainian government presented a project for constitutional reform to Parliament in order to provide the separatist regions with greater autonomy. This reform, which is controversial in Ukraine, has the support of the western powers which view it as a means to appease the present conflict. Ukrainian MPs approved the dispatch of the project to the Constitutional Court - which is vital before a vote is taken in Parliament.

In June 2015 the euro zone's annual inflation rate lay at 0.2% against 0.3% in May 2015 said Eurostat. Over the same period the EU's annual inflation rate lay at 0.1% instead of 0.3%. The lowest annual inflation rates were recorded in Cyprus (-2.1%), Greece (-1.1%), Romania (-0.9%) and Slovenia (-0.9%). Conversely the highest rates were recorded in Malta (1.1%), Austria 1.0%), Belgium (0.9%) and in the Czech Republic (0.9%).

On 14th July the European Central Bank published the results of its quarterly survey on bank loans undertaken between 9th and 24th June amongst 142 banks. The survey aims to provide better understanding of lending behaviour in the euro zone. It highlights four behavioural trends amongst the banks interviewed: a continued easing in lending standards on business loans; a clear easing in standards for housing loans granted to households; easing in the net demand for business and house purchase loans; and the use of additional liquidities provided by the TLTRO's (targeted longer-term refinancing operations) to grant loans.

Nyon in Switzerland is hosting the Paléo Festival until 26th July. Over 230,000 visitors are expected and there will be more than 230 concerts and shows produced on 6 stages. The Paleo Festival is a major music event in Europe. On the line-up this year Joan Baez, Patti Smith, Charlie Winston, David Guetta, Christine and the Queen and Ben Harper and many others ...

The town of Bayreuth in Bavaria is hosting its traditional yearly music and opera festival on the theme of Richard Wagner - as it does every year. The latter founded the festival in 1876 and the Festival Hall has maintained the tradition in tribute to the composer. Wagner's ten main operas will be played from 25th July to 28th August, including "Siegfried", "Tristan and Isolde". The event attracts many opera enthusiasts due to the quality of the production and also because of Wagner's name and the Germanic legends which are the main focus of his works.

From 10th to 17th August Budapest is hosting one of the biggest music festivals in Europe on the island of Obuda on the banks of the Danube. Nearly 400,000 people will be attending this year, and the festival will be awarded the prize for being the Best European Festival 2014. This year many artists like Asaf Avidan, C2C, Limp Bizkit, Kasabian, Robbie Williams and the Kings of Leon, Alt-J will be playing.

The 38th Marciac Jazz Festival will be taking place from 27th July to 16th August. This year there will be over 37 concerts in the main tent, 30 in the Astrada and over 120 in the Bis Festival. This year the line-up includes Wynton Marsalis, Robin McKelle, George Clinton, Chick Corea, Mélody Gardot, Larry Carlton, Gilberto Gil, Zaz, with a mix of rhythm and tunes to enjoy as you wish.

The Chaise-Dieu Festival is taking place from 21st to 30th August in cooperation with Radio France which will be broadcasting concerts on "France Musique". This festival brings together orchestras that focus mainly on classical music with works by Beethoven, Bach and Scarlatti. A Spanish evening and also a jazz version of classical themes are on the programme together with workshops for children.