The Newsletter n°745 — 30 janv. 2017
La Lettre
Philippe Delivet
—
30 January 2017
The free movement of people is a fundamental acquis of European integration. Introduced as part of the internal market it assumed a wider dimension with the Schengen Agreements. It is inseparably linked to European citizenship. And yet real difficulties have affected the dynamic of free movement. Pinpointing these difficulties is vital if we are to provide pragmatic answers without endangering the founding principle.
Foundation
"A new political roadmap for Europe"
30 January 2017
On 20th February "L'Europe des Citoyens" is organising a seminar in Paris entitled "A new political roadmap for Europe". Joachim Bitterlich, a member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee is one of the speakers. It is obligatory to enrol.
Presentation of the Albanian translation of Robert Schuman's book
30 January 2017
The Albanian Institute for International Studies and the Robert Schuman Foundation invite you to the launch of the new edition of Robert Schuman's book "For Europe" in Albanian on 31st January with the participation of the translator Besnik Mustafaj, a member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee.
World Think Tank Ranking
30 January 2017
The University of Pennsylvania has published its 2016 World Think Tank Ranking. The Foundation is ranked 22nd worldwide in the best ideas on political paradigms categories. It is deemed to be the 33rd best managed think tanks and in the first 100 in Western Europe.
Migration
Further three month extension to border controls
29 January 2017
The European Commission gave the green light on 25th January to a further three month extension for controls on some borders within Schengen, reintroduced in 2015 by five countries (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) which are facing a high migratory flow.
The Commission propose greater support to Libyan coast guards
29 January 2017
On 25th January the European Commission proposed measures to impede African migrant flows travelling to the EU via Libya and to counter smugglers better, including greater support to Libyan coast guards.
Financial Crisis
Unemployment increased in France in December
30 January 2017
According to a publication by the French Ministry for Employment on 24th January the number of job seekers registered with the employment agency, Pôle Emploi in the category of those without any work at all increased by 26,100 in comparison with November i.e. an increase of 0.8%.
Debt: the euro zone releases aid to Greece
30 January 2017
The European Stability Mechanism announced on 23rd January that it had decided to release funds for the Greek debt grants then suspended under pressure by Germany after the surprise announcement in December of social measures by Athens.
Commission
Amazon and competition in e-book marketing
29 January 2017
The American company, Amazon, is suspected by Brussels of abuse of dominant position in the marketing of e-books, and it has been suggested that it give up certain clauses in its agreements with publishing houses. "The interested parties" now have a month to "draw up their observations."
Commission report on the cooperation mechanism for Romania and Bulgaria
29 January 2017
On 25th January the Commission published a report on recent developments in Romania and Bulgaria and the reform that were expected of these countries notably in terms of justice and the fight to counter corruption.
The Commission sets anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Taiwanese steel
29 January 2017
On 27th January the European Commission decided to set anti-dumping duties on two steel products from China and Taiwan.
Parliament
Chairs of the European Parliamentary Committees appointed
29 January 2017
The 22 committees have elected their chairs. 16 renewed the mandate of the outgoing chair, including the Britons. Six committees have a new chair (foreign affairs, women's rights, environment, transport, culture and human rights). There are as many women chairs as men. Two committees of inquiry (EMIS and PANA) also appointed their chair.
MPs of the International Trade Committee support the EU-Canada agreement
30 January 2017
The Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA) was adopted on 24th January by the International Trade Committee at the European Parliament, 25 votes in support, 15 against and 1 abstention.
Council
Meeting of Economy and Finance Ministers
30 January 2017
On 27th January the 28 Economy and Finance Ministers discussed future own resources of the European budget before welcoming the progress made by Member States in terms of reducing their macro-economic imbalances. They approved the macro-economic and budgetary guidelines issued under the European Semester 2017.
Eurogroup Meeting
30 January 2017
On 26th January the 19 Finance Ministers of the Euro Zone Member States discussed Greece's economic adjustment plan, Spain and Lithuania's draft budgetary plans and approved the Council's recommendations regarding the euro zone's economic policy for 2107.
Court of Justice
Court decision on the ECB's scheme for the exchange of Greek debt instruments
29 January 2017
According to a decision delivered on 24th January by the ECJ the ECB is not obliged to bound to make good the loss allegedly sustained in 2012 by two French commercial banks holding Greek debt instruments in connection with the restructuring of Greek debt in the same year.
Germany
Presentation of the Annual Economic Report
30 January 2017
On 25th January the government presented the annual economic report. The country's good economic health is a result of the opening of the markets and free trade.
First trip by the new Foreign Affairs Minister to France
30 January 2017
The new German Foreign Affairs Minister Sigmar Gabriel made his first official trip to France on 28th January. He recalled the importance of Franco-German cooperation for the future of the Union.
Bulgaria
Appointment of interim Prime Minister and snap election on 26th March
29 January 2017
On 25th January the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev appointed Ognyan Gerdzhikov as interim Prime Minister of a government comprising 19 members, five of whom are women. He set the date for the general elections on 26th March.
Spain
Ariane places a Spanish telecommunications satellite into orbit
30 January 2017
A Soyuz launcher took off on 27th January from the Space Centre in Guiana and placed a Spanish telecommunications satellite into orbit for Hispasat.
Estonia
The Estonian President meets his Ukrainian counterpart
30 January 2017
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid on 23rd January to discuss the situation in the east of Ukraine, reform and the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union undertaken by Estonia in the 2nd Semester of 2017.
France
François Holland visits Berlin
30 January 2017
On 27th January German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande met to prepare the European Summit of La Valette and deemed that the new American President comprised a "challenge" for Europe.
Italy
The Constitutional Court rules on the electoral law
29 January 2017
On 25th January the Italian Constitutional Court validated part of the electoral law (Italicum) whilst guaranteeing that the "law is likely to be used immediately". The Court rejected the idea that general elections might take place in two rounds but accepts that a party which wins at least 40% of the vote would benefit from a majority bonus.
Romania
Reform of penal legislation will take place by referendum
30 January 2017
On 24th January Romanian President Klaus Iohannis informed the presidents of the two houses of Parliament as well as the Prime Minister that in virtue of article 90 in the Constitution he was convening a process to revise penal legislation by referendum.
UK
Parliament must be consulted before any exit by the UK of the EU
29 January 2017
On 24th January the Supreme Court of the UK decided that Parliament must be consulted to trigger the country's exit of the EU. On 26th January the British government therefore presented a draft bill that it intends to submit to Parliament to gain permission to start the process to leave the EU.
Theresa May visits the USA and Turkey
30 January 2017
On 27th and 28th January Theresa May, the British Prime Minister travelled to the USA and Turkey. She mentioned the new dynamic to provide after the Brexit to the UK's relations with these countries, notably in terms of trade.
Sweden
Sweden will host the Social Summit in November
30 January 2017
On 23rd January Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced that his country will host a Social Summit on 17th November in Göteborg which will focus on employment and fair growth.
Council of Europe
Nicos Anastasiades determined to settle the Cypriot question
30 January 2017
The settlement of the Cypriot problem based on the of the values of the Council of Europe, the respect of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms is one condition sine qua non to strengthen democratic security in Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, declared Nicos Anastasiades, the President of Cyprus on 24th January.
The Freedom of the Press seriously threatened in several European countries
30 January 2017
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said it was concerned on 24th January about increasing violence that has been directed towards journalists over the last two years in Europe, notably in Turkey and Crimea.
ECHR Annual Report
29 January 2017
On 26th January during the annual conference the European Court of Human Rights, President Guido Raimondi reviewed the year 2016 and said that after two years of decline the number of new cases had increased significantly.
Studies/Reports
Report on European Citizenship
29 January 2017
On 24th January the European Commission published its report on European Citizenship which put forward five actions to strengthen the latter, including an awareness raising campaign and the strengthening of the European Solidarity Corps.
Record level of participants for the 30th anniversary of Erasmus
30 January 2017
On 26th January the Committee presented its annual report on the education and training programme Erasmus +. In 2015 it helped 678,000 Europeans to study, train, work and do voluntary work abroad, a hitherto unequalled record.
Report on progress achieved by the action plan for the circular economy
30 January 2017
On 26th January the European Commission presented a report on the progress achieved one year after the adoption of the Circular Economy Package. It also provided guidelines to the Member States for the conversion of waste into energy and suggested an improvement in legislation regarding some substances present in electric and electronic equipment.
Report on the European Research Area
30 January 2017
On 26th January the European Commission published a report in which it assessed the progress achieved in terms of the implementation of the European Research Area (ERA).
Culture
Saint Blaise Festival in Dubrovnik
30 January 2017
From 1st to 9th February the traditional Saint Blaise festival is taking place in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The latter has taken place since 972 and celebrates the town's patron saint.
Carnival of Viareggio
30 January 2017
From 5th to 28th February the Viareggio Carnival is taking place in Italy. Considered to the be one of the most impressive in Europe, this event is known for its floats.
London: "A Cabinet of Rarities"
30 January 2017
Until 27th July the Royal College of Physicians is running an exhibition "A Cabinet of Rarities" which focuses on Sir Thomas Browne, a 17th century physician and philosopher and his collection of scientific objects which reveals a fascinating view of scientific and medical research of this period.
Festival of Political Photography in Helsinki
30 January 2017
From 3rd February to 29th April the Finnish Museum of Photography is organising a festival of political photography entitled "Post-food" devoted to engaged photos which highlights the political, social and environmental dimensions of food.
Music festival in Nantes
30 January 2017
From 1st to 5th February the "Folle Journée de Nantes", a festival devoted to classical music, will be taking place. The theme this year will be "the rhythm of the people". Specific focus will be made on dance.
Agenda
1st and 2nd February
Plenary Session of the European Parliament (Brussels)
3rd February
Informal Council of heads of State and government (La Valette)
6th February
Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels)
7th February
General Affairs Council (Brussels)
Newsletter Archives
The challenges facing European agriculture: Crisis or opportunity for transformation?
European support to the defence industry - Mid-term review of the European Defence Fund
Greenland:a geostrategic challenge for the European Union in the age of Trump 2.0
Polish Presidency of the Council - A paradigm shift in Poland's European policy
De Gasperi-Schuman: the origins of the European Project
The Editors of the Newsletter :
Charles de Marcilly, Helen Levy ,Léa Degorre, François Frigot,Lucas Mehler, Benjamin Penassou, Athina Reuter
N°ISSN : 2729-6482
Editor-in-Chief :
Eric Maurice
Director of Publication :
Pascale Joannin
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