The Newsletter80123 avr. 2018

La Lettre

Yves Bertoncini

23 April 2018

Regular predictions announcing the "death of the Schengen area" have been rather excessive, if not meaningless. Indeed, they echo the high tension that opposes the 26 countries sharing this area, notably becoming clear during the massive influx of refugees in 2015-2016 and then during the terrorist attacks of the last few years. Tension like this is symptomatic of a double crisis, whose causes must be identified to provide effective remedy: an often-mentioned solidarity crisis between the States of the EU, but also a confidence crisis, which reflects the difficulty in sharing a so-called area "without internal borders."

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Front page!

Europ: Macron's Lesson

24 April 2018

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In his editorial "Europe: Macron's Lesson", published on 23rd April the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani calls on the leaders of Europe to support the project embodied by the French President, that of a "Europe on the move".

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Foundation

For a better understanding of Europe, get your copy of the Schuman Report 2018

23 April 2018

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The Schuman Report 2018 on the State of the Union is available in French and English. This edition analyses the challenges that Europe faces, notably in terms of trade. With articles by the best experts, an exclusive interview with the French President Emmanuel Macron, unique maps and commented statistics, this book offers a complete overview of the EU. It is available in bookshops, on our website and in digital version.

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Commission

Trade: free-trade agreements with Singapore and Japan

22 April 2018

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On 18th April the European Commission presented the trade and investment agreements to the Council between the EU and Singapore as well as the text for an economic partnership agreement with Japan. These stages mark the beginning of the ratification process at EU level.

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The launch of membership negotiations with Albania and Macedonia

22 April 2018

On 17th April the Commission unveiled its conclusions on the progress achieved by the States of the Western Balkans in view of a future membership of the EU. It recommends the launch of negotiations with Albania and Macedonia.

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Security Union: facilitating access to electronic evidence

22 April 2018

On 17th April the Commission put forward new rules aiming to help police and judicial authorities to obtain electronic evidence faster and more easily. This includes emails and documents on the cloud, which they need to undertaken their investigations as well as to prosecute and convict criminals and terrorists.

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EU-Mexico: agreement of principle on a new free trade treaty

22 April 2018

The free-trade treaty between the EU and Mexico has governed their relations since 2000. It will now be modernised after an "agreement of principle" that was signed in Brussels on 21st April.

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Protection for Whistleblowers

23 April 2018

On 23rd April the European Commission launched a draft directive that aims to protect whistleblowers against retaliation from within or by the justice - drawing lessons from a series of world scale scandals.

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Parliament

Speech by Emmanuel Macron to European Parliament

22 April 2018

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In a speech delivered on 17th April to MEPs in Strasbourg the President of the French Republic recalled the fundaments of the Union emphasising the need to re-found European sovereignty as a complementary element to the national sovereignty of each individual State. Moreover he proposed a deepening of Economic and Monetary Union, the taxation of the web giants and financial support to local communities hosting refugees.

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MEPs give greenlight to the management of the 2016 budget

23 April 2018

MEPs approved the implementation of the EU's 2016 budget in plenary session on 18th April. They notably welcomed the reduction in mistakes regarding payments totalling only 3.1%, the lowest rate seen in the last ten years.

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Reduction of CO2 emissions and energy savings

23 April 2018

On 17th April, MEPs set the goal of almost zero energy consumption by buildings in the EU by 2050. They also are also demanding a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions by transport, agriculture, buildings and waste in the EU as well as a CO2 balance, absorbed by forests by 2030, in order to reach the Paris climate goals.

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New rules for organic food

23 April 2018

On 19th April MEPs adopted rules to stimulate organic production to guarantee its quality at European level.

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Council

Conclusions of the "General Affairs" Council

23 April 2018

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On 17th April the European Affairs Ministers addressed the reform of the European electoral law and the issue of the rule of law in Poland. They also attended the Commission's presentation of its new enlargement package.

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Diplomacy

Joint declaration by the G7 countries

23 April 2018

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In a joint declaration on 17th April the leaders of the G7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA and the EU unanimously condemned the use of chemical weapons in the attack on 7th April in Eastern Ghouta and re-iterated their support the intervention by the USA, France and the UK in Syria on 13th April.

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Germany

Emmanuel Macron in Berlin

23 April 2018

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French President Emmanuel Macron was in Berlin on 19th April to discuss the reform of Europe with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. This meeting aimed to prepare for the Franco-German Council of 19th June. The French President recalled the need to promote European responsibility and solidarity in the euro zone. The Chancellor called for work to be undertaken via compromise and the reform of the European stability fund.

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Andrea Nahles elected head of the SPD

23 April 2018

Former Employment Minister Andrea Nahles was elected on 22nd April as head of the SPD. Aged 47 she is the first woman to lead the party, taking over from Martin Schulz. She won 66% of the vote.

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Cyprus

Informal meeting between the Cypriot President and the head of the Turkish community

23 April 2018

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On 16th April the Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis met the head of the northern part of the island, Mustafa Akinci, together with the UN's Special Envoy to Cyprus, Elizabether Spehar. "Frank" discussions focused on the prospect of further dialogue (under the auspices of the UN), and an agreement of principle on the management of certain crossing-points.

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Spain

ETA announces its dissolution

23 April 2018

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On 18th April the Basque terrorist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) founded in 1959 announced that it had programmed its dissolution for the end of next month - May. Its disarmament was finalised in April 2017.

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France

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau visits France

22 April 2018

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On 16th and 17th April Canadian PM Justin Trudeau made an official visit to France and met with President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the French PM Edouard Philippe. He also spoke at the National Assembly.

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Launch of European Citizens' Consultations

22 April 2018

On 17th April the French President Emmanuel Macron launched the citizens' consultations in Epinal in the Vosges. These consultations are to provide citizens with an opportunity to exchange views about their expectations of Europe.

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Greece

Budgetary Surplus 2017

23 April 2018

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Greece achieved a budgetary surplus in 2017 of 0.8% of its GDP and a primary surplus of 4%, going beyond the goals set by its creditors (IMF and EU) for the second year running said Elstat on 23rd April.

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Ireland

The Fishing industry prepares for the consequences of Brexit

22 April 2018

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On 20th April the representatives of the fishing industry met the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Business, to exchange views on the potentially negative effects of Brexit on the fishing sector.

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Malta

Daphne Project: international media investigation into the death of a journalist

23 April 2018

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On 17th April the first results of the investigation of the "Daphne Project" involving nearly 18 international media were published. This project aims to throw light on the assassination of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, on 16th October last and to continue her investigation on cases of corruption on the Mediterranean island.

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The Netherlands

The State appeals in the case of British expats

23 April 2018

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On 19th April the Dutch State asked the Amsterdam Court to cancel its decision to refer to the ECJ regarding the issue of the status of British expats after Brexit. In what seems to be the first case of this type on the eve of the UK's exit from the EU, 5 Britons living in the Netherlands and two expat associations, concerned about losing their rights had taken the Dutch government to court in January.

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UK

Lords amend the bill on Brexit

22 April 2018

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On 18th April the House of Lords approved an amendment that challenges the project to leave customs union, as they assessed the Brexit withdrawal bill. This amendment supported by the members of the majority and the opposition was adopted 348 votes in support 225 against.

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Turkey

Presidential and legislative elections on 24th June

23 April 2018

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Turkish President Erdogan announced on 18th April that a snap election would take place on 24th June next. The regional situation justifies the change over to an executive system in his opinion, whilst the previous constitutional reform already provided him with more power.

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WTO

The EU turns to the WTO

23 April 2018

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On 16th April the EU turned to the WTO as China has done in the issue of customs duties being imposed on US imports of steel and aluminium. Russia did the same on 19th April.

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IMF

World economic outlook

22 April 2018

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On 18th April the IMF confirmed it growth forecasts for the year at 3.9%. Its forecasts for 2018 for the developed countries lie at 2.5% against 2.3% in 2017; a 0.2% rise also for the euro zone at 2.4% for Germany at 2.5% and the same for France 2.1%. The IMF deems however that the trade war may impede growth.

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IMF & World Bank Spring Meetings

23 April 2018

The spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank took place in Washington from 16th to 22nd April. The IMF's Managing Director Christine Lagarde laid out her world action plan, notably speaking of a "window of opportunity" to take and reasserted her support to a fair, multilateral trade system based on rules and cooperation.

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Eurostat

Annual inflation rate up to 1.3% in the euro zone

23 April 2018

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According to figures published by Eurostat on 18th April the annual inflation rate in the euro zone lay at 1.3% in March 2018, against 1.1% in February. A year earlier it lay at 1.5%.

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Europe 2020 Indicators on Employment

23 April 2018

In 2017 the employment rate of the population aged 20 to 64 in the EU lay at 72.2% up in comparison with 2016 (71.1%). The aim of the Europe 2020 strategy is to reach a total employment rate of the 20-64 year olds of at least 75% in the EU by 2020.

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Asylum Requests in the EU in 2017

23 April 2018

The 28 EU Member States agreed on the protective status for 538,000 asylum seekers in 2017, a figure that was down by 25% in comparison with 2016. They also received nearly 24,000 relocated refugees according to a Eurostat study published on 19th April.

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Eurobarometer

According to Europeans how fair is life in the Union?

23 April 2018

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According to a new survey most Europeans think that life is fair in general but they are concerned about justice, political decisions and wage inequality.

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Studies/Reports

Report on main obstacles to migrant integration

23 April 2018

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On 17th April the Commission and the OECD published a report that covers the main obstacles to migrant integration and provides a response via real strategic recommendations.

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Public Opinion: concern about globalisation

23 April 2018

The Bertelsmann Foundation published a study on globalisation on 19th April that was undertaken in 12 countries. This showed that in the developed and emerging countries the effects of free-trade are largely feared.

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Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers

23 April 2018

On 20th April the G20 Finance Ministers were not able to completely rule out the risk of a trade war. The meeting ended on the observation that there was disagreement about settling trade tension.

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Culture

Klimt: digital immersive exhibition at the Atelier des Lumières

23 April 2018

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The Atelier des Lumières in Paris is organising a unique digital exhibition until 11th November. It offers visitors a panorama of the major representatives of the Viennese artistic world and in particular Gustav Klimt. Work is projected and set to music, giving visitors an exceptional immersive experience.

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Canaletto at the Museum of Rome

23 April 2018

Until 19th August the Museum of Rome is offering an exhibition of the works of Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768) otherwise known as Canaletto. This exhibition celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Venetian artist's death; it presents work that has never been seen before in Italy: 42 pictures, including some masterpieces, 9 drawings as well as 16 books and archive documents.

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"Hieroglyphs - Symbolist drawings 1890-1910" Copenhagen

23 April 2018

Until 12th August the Danish National Gallery is running an exhibition entitled "Hieroglyphs - Symbolist drawings 1890-1910" in which visitors are invited to discover the works of artists like J.F. Willumsen, Johannes Holbek and Jens Lund, who developed a new visual language in art at the end of the 19th century.

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Agenda

24th and 25th April

Conference on aid to provide for the future of Syria and the countries in the region (Brussels)


26th April

Meeting of the Council of the Governors of the ECB (Frankfurt/Main)


27th April

Eurogroup Meeting (Sofia)


27th and 28th April

Informal meeting of Economy and Finance Ministers (Sofia)


Newsletter Archives

Cyprus: 20 years of membership of the European Union, between singularities and a theatre of geopolitical oppositions.

Review of the 9th Legislature of the European Parliament

What to take away from the European law on artificial intelligence

A "commissioner" responsible for defence issues

European agriculture and Ukrainian agriculture complement each other

The Editors of the Newsletter :
Charles de Marcilly, Helen Levy ,Eva Gerland, Salomé Hénon-Cohin, François Henry-Segura,Lily Lajeunesse, Kémi Quinio

N°ISSN : 2729-6482

Editor-in-Chief :
Eric Maurice

Director of Publication :
Pascale Joannin

Any questions or suggestions?
Contact Us!

info@robert-schuman.eu

Schengen: from resistance to resilience?

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The Newsletter n°801- version of 23 avr. 2018