The Foundation and the Martens Centre are organising a debate on 21st November in Brussels devoted to the future Union's multi-annual financial framework notably with Alain Lamassoure, MEP in attendance.

In view of the next European elections, the Robert Schuman Foundation has published the Permanent Atlas of the European Union. Unique in its genre, written by the Foundation's experts, it offers a full, accessible panorama of the Union, the euro zone and each of its 28 Member States. It summaries the vital elements of the Union's history and its political and statistical realities, and offers readers more than 50 physical and geopolitical maps of Europe...

Parallel to the negotiations over a Brexit agreement on 13th November the Commission published a communication describing a number of emergency actions that could be implemented in priority in areas (visa, finance; air travel ...) if there is no deal for Brexit. It also provided detailed information regarding the changes affecting people travelling between the EU and the UK in the event of a no deal.

After one and a half years of negotiations, the EU and the UK came to a draft agreement on 14th November on the terms of the UK's exit, covering citizens rights, financial regulations and the issue of the Irish border in particular, as well as a draft political declaration that sets the main outline of the future relationship between the Union and the UK. The texts were approved by the British government on 15th November and validated by the Council on 19th November. They will be approved by the heads of State and government during an extraordinary summit on 25th November. The agreement and declaration then have to be approved by the British parliament and the European parliament.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 13th November as part of a debate over the future of Europe. Given geopolitical developments, she called for the creation of a European army and a European Security Council. She insisted on the balance between responsibility and solidarity in the reform of the euro zone and declared that she preferred a world digital tax rather than a European one.

In a resolution adopted on 13th November MEPs expressed their "deep concern" regarding the reform of the legal system in Romania which threatens the separation of power and the fight to counter corruption. Adopted 473 votes in support (151 against and 40 abstentions), the text calls on the Romanian government to introduce protective measures for the re-establishment of the balance of power.

Parliament deemed in an interim report adopted by 429 votes (207 against and 40 abstentions), that the Commission's proposal for the 2021-2027 multi-annual budget is just a starting point if the Union aims to achieve its political commitments. MEPs hope to increase the budget of the research programme, Horizon Europe, the Juncker Plan, the Cohesion and Agriculture policies and measures to counter climate change. They hope to introduce new source of funding thanks to corporate tax, the emissions quota system and a tax on plastic.

On 14th November parliament approved the provisional agreement concluded with the Council in June regarding the telecommunication's package. It will lead to a cap on intra-EU telephone calls as of 15th May 2019 and a more sophisticated encryption of information exchanged on online messages like Whatsapp and Skype. It provides for a 5G network by 2020 in at least one large city in every Member State and the creation of a European warning system to alert citizens by SMS or via an app of emergencies or catastrophes.

The Group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) in the European Parliament appointed Czech MEP Jan Zahradil on 13th November as its lead candidate in the European elections in May 2019 and the candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission. Mr Zahradil of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), want to be "the voice of a pro-European but anti-federalist political force."

On 15th November MEPs adopted their position regarding the update of the rules regarding rail passengers. They hope that compensation for delays of over one hour will rise from 25% to 50% of the ticket price. They are asking for better assistance for people with reduced mobility and easier access for cyclists.

On 19th November the Council finally adopted three regulations on the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS). They introduce the additional warning categories to prevent the abduction of a child by his parents or regarding return procedures of foreign illegally resident citizens. From now on Europol will have total access to SIS and Frontex will have partial access.

On 16th November the French and German Finance Ministers, Bruno Le Maire and Olaf Scholz agreed on a project to create a euro zone budget, presented during a Eurogroup meeting on 19th November. The budget would be integrated into the Union's general budget with the aim of encouraging the competitiveness, convergence and stability of the euro zone.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council approved the total admissible catches (TAC) regarding certain stocks of deep-water fish in the seas around the EU and in the international waters of the North East Atlantic for 2019 and 2020. Most of the TACs were reduced given the vulnerability of the species to protect fishing resources and the fishing sector. The regulation will apply as of 1st January 2019. Regarding agriculture, Ministers discussed the difficult situation in the dairy and pork market. They exchanged views regarding the reform of the CAP post 2020, EU-Africa relations in the area of rural development and the protection of fauna.

Europe's Defence Ministers met on 19th November and adopted 17 new projects in addition to the existing 17 underway as part of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). They also adopted a pact that aims to strengthen the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) which includes some strategic guidelines and 22 political commitments to improve the civilian CSDP response capabilities. Ministers also discussed defence cooperation and planning tools, such as the European Defence Fund and the European Peace Facility.

The Eurogroup met as 27 to debate the deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and to prepare the December euro zone summit. Ministers discussed progress made regarding the reduction of risks under Banking Union and issues linked to the Single Resolution Mechanism, notably regarding the end of the transition period in 2024. They also exchanged views regarding the reform of the European Stability Mechanism, as well as suggested stabilisation and convergence mechanisms, particularly the draft Franco-German euro zone budget.

The Council and the Parliament, which had until midnight to come to an agreement over the Union's 2019 budget failed to come to a compromise. Discussions will begin again when the Commission has put a new proposal forward. The Austrian presidency of the Council hopes to come an agreement before the end of the year.

On 19th November the European Foreign Affairs Ministers reasserted the support to the Iranian nuclear agreement despite the re-introduction of American sanctions on 5th November. They also discussed the particularly difficult situations in Yemen and Gaza. They deemed that the "elections" on 11th November in the two regions occupied by Russian in the East of Ukraine were "illegal and illegitimate" and that the EU is prepared to take "targeted, appropriate measures". They also prepared the 14th EU-Asia ministerial meeting that will take place on 23rd November in Brussels.

The American Federal Communications Committee announced on 15th November that private parties and American businesses will now be able to access certain Galileo satellite signals, the European satellite navigation system.

French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Berlin on 18th November on the occasion of the annual ceremony in honour of the victims of the all wars and tyranny. He met German Chancellor Angela Merkel then spoke to the Bundestag. In his speech the President maintained that it was Europe and the Franco-German couple's duty not to let the world sink into chaos."

According to the most recent figures published by Eurostat on 14th November the employment rate increased by 0.2% in the euro zone and in the EU in the third quarter of 2018 in comparison with the previous quarter. This is not as strong as in the last quarter since employment rose by 0.4% at that time.

According to Eurostat's estimates published on 15th November the international goods trade balance in the euro zone was in surplus by 13.1 billion € in September. At the same time the EU was in deficit by 1.8 billion €.

According to the most recent estimates made by Eurostat, published on 16th November the euro zone's annual inflation rate and that of the EU lay at 2.2% in October 2018 against 2.1% in September 2018. Energy, services and foodstuffs (including tobacco and alcohol) are the main factors in inflation.

The Rodin Museum in Paris is running an exhibition until 24th February called "Rodin, Cut-Outs", bringing together 250 silhouette drawings and assembled by the sculptor.

The Jazz Festival London is offering a rich programme of jazz concerts in many venues across the British capital until 25th November.

The Tate Liverpool is devoting an exhibition to the artist of the "mechanical age" Fernand Léger (1881-1955). More than forty of his paintings, photographies and videos are to be seen from 23rd November 2018 to 17th March 2019.

Until 17th January the mobile exhibition "International surrealism now" is stopping off in Coimbra, Portugal. Drawings, paintings, digital works and sculptures by 107 artists from 45 countries are on show.