In the new international context the Foundation's Chairman recall in an editorial on his site the need for Europe to be autonomously strategic.

On 27th January the Robert Schuman Foundation is organising, together with the European Circle of Support for Polish Culture, a conference-debate on the results of Poland's membership of the EU. It will take place at the French Senate in Paris. It is obligatory to enrol.

According to a press release published on 6th January by Frontex the number of illegal immigrants arriving by sea in the Schengen Area totalled 364,000 out a total of 503 700 in 2016, ie a reduction of 2/3 in comparison with 2015. It should be noted that arrivals have increased sharply in Italy. (+20%) and have decreased by 79% in Greece thanks to the agreement concluded with Turkey.

On January 5th the European Commission adopted a new deployment plan for the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The aim of this new plan is to offer greater guarantees to rail companies and to facilitate investment so that around 50% of the Europe's strategic rail network will be equipped by 2023.

On 4th January the European Parliament presented its priorities for 2017. MEPs want notably to work on a fairer distribution of asylum seekers, the fight to counter terrorism, the single digital market, the fight to counter tax fraud and the reduction of greenhouse gases.

Since January 1st, Malta has been presiding over the rotating Council of the European Union. Its priorities are migration, security, Single Market, a more inclusive European society, the Brexit negotiations.

On 1st January the free trade agreement signed between the EU and Ecuador entered into force. This completes the agreement established with Peru and Colombia.

A nursery of stars lying 1350 light-years from earth has been photographed in detail by a telescope. The European Southern Observatory published a spectacular picture of the famous Orion cloud on 4th January. It was taken by VISTA, that is established in the Atacama desert in the north of Chile.

On 3rd January in a column published in the daily Frankfurther Allgemeine Zeitung German Home Affairs Minister, Thomas de Maizière, laid out the major guidelines for the redesign of the security services.

On 4th January the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament granted their confidence to the new government led by Sorin Grindeanu, 295 votes in support, 133 against. This government comprises 26 ministers including 8 women. 22 ministers are members of the Socialist Party and 4 of the ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats).

On 3rd January Ivan Rogers, British Ambassador to the EU handed in his resignation due to disagreements over the way the UK's exit of the European Union is to be managed. He was replaced by Tim Barrow, Political Director at the Foreign Office. who has already held office in Brussels on two occasions.

Negotiations regarding the formation of a government in Iceland are about to be completed between the Independence Party, Reform and Radiant Future. The idea of a possible referendum on Iceland joining the EU might feature in their government programme.

In his first official speech as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the world to make "peace our absolute priority."

According to an estimate published by Eurostat on 4th January the euro zone's annual inflation rate totalled 1.1% in December 2016 against a previous 0.6% a month earlier.

On 5th January the European Commission presented an assessment report of the European Social Fund. Between 2007 and 2014 the FSE helped, 9.7 million Europeans to find a job and enabled 8.7 million Europeans to achieve a diploma or qualifications.

From 5th to 15th January Berlin's "Tanztage" are taking place. This is an inevitable venue for the world of dance and choreography in the German capital. In this 26th edition audiences will be able to see in eight premieres and four revivals of past productions.