Together with the European Commissioner, Vera Jourova, Eric Maurice, the manager of the Foundation's Brussels office, is taking part in the Vaclav Havel European Dialogues on 27th November in Brussels the theme of which is "Strengthening democracy in the EU's neighbourhood."

On 21st November the Commission published three report as part of the European Semester, the Union's economic governance. In its annual assessment of growth it recalls that measures should be taken to ensure inclusive, sustainable growth. It stresses the importance of the quality of investments at national level and the deepening of the single market and of Economic and Monetary Union. In the report on the warning mechanism, which detects macro-economic imbalances, it notes that 13 Member States are due to be the focus of indepth review in 2019. The draft joint report on employment in 2019 shows that the rate of employment in the EU has never been as high but that wage inequality remain and that older people are more vulnerable to poverty than in the past.

On 22nd November the Commission presented a communication on the positive results produced by the Investment Plan for Europe, or the "Juncker Plan". The Commission insisted on the sharing of benefits of the Juncker Plan between all of the Member States and to a lesser degree the Union's neighbourhood. Despite the recovery of an environment that is supportive of investment, the Commission deems that work has to continue to do away with regulatory obstacles that limit the results of the single market and to continue to efforts to make structural reforms to favour investment notably regarding the efficiency of the judicial system.

On 22nd November the Commission published an assessment of the Single Market. The report shows that the deepening of the Single Market means the rapid adoption of proposals that have already been put forward, such as the capital union and the Digital Single Market. The Commission is asking all Member States to take care in the implementation and monitoring of the EU's law but especially it hopes that the integration of the Single Market will continue, notably in the areas of services and taxation. At the same time the Commission presented an action plan to increase efficiency and transparency of harmonised standards that are vital to the smooth running of the Single Market.

On 23rd November the Commission presented several initiatives to help the Union's outermost regions, one year after the launch of a new strategy. These initiatives aims to promote innovation, research, the circular economic and blue growth. The Commission is committed to paying them particular attention in the establishment of the next multi-annual financial framework 2021-2027. It hopes that these regions will have greater access to the advantages of the Juncker Plan from the point of view of investment projects. It also wants to ensure that there are differentiated programmes according to the regions so that their efficiency is guaranteed.

Europe's Defence Ministers met on 19th November and 20th November and adopted 17 new projects in addition to the existing 17 underway as part of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) one year after its launch. 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.

European Foreign Affairs and Development Ministers adopted conclusions on the implementation of the Union's action plan II on gender equality on 26th November. They discussed this theme with the two 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nadia Murad and Dr Denis Mukwege. They also exchanged views on the Europe-Africa Alliance for sustainable investments and employment, and notably regarding the way to improve coordination and coherence of action in the field. They debated the place given to development in the upcoming multiannual financial framework and also discussed world food security and access to education in times of war and political crisis.

The Council of the European Economic Area (EEA) met on 20th November in Brussels to discuss the implications of Brexit. Those taking part (EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) recalled the importance of the coordination and integrity of the Single Market. They re-iterated their total cooperation in the financial and research areas and in the fight to counter climate change and also new technologies

During the EU-Central Asia Summit on 23rd November, the High Representative Federica Mogherini recalled the Union's strong commitment to the region and announced the opening of a Union embassy in Turkmenistan in 2019. On the day before the Cooperation Council with Uzbekistan positively assessed the country's reform programme and welcomed its commitment to making a bid to join the WTO. During the Cooperation Council with Tadjikistan the Union reviewed relations positively notably in the area of economic, judicial and political reform. The Union also stressed its work in terms of regional cooperation notably with Afghanistan and insisted on the country's stabilising role in the region.

Until the end of May 2019 the presidency of the Committee of the Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg will be in the hands of Finland, which is taking over from Croatia. The government intends to work for six months to guarantee Human Rights, the rule of law in the face of present challenges - notably technological - gender equality and the prevention of the radicalisation of young people. It is due to address the future of Russia within the organisation and the reform of the latter.

According to the report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) on greenhouse gases published on 20th November, 2017 experienced a record peak in concentrations of greenhouse gases, which are responsible for global warming. This publication has taken place just days before the start of COP24 in December in Katowice, Poland.

From 30th November 2018 to 30th March 2019 three exceptional exhibitions illustrating the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci have been gathered together in a major event that will pay tribute to the greatest spirit of all time, 500 years after his death.

The exhibition "Japon-Japonismes. Objets inspirés 1867-2018" is open at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris until 3rd March 2019. It highlights the exceptional foundations of ancient Japanese art as part of the celebrations of the 160 years of diplomatic relations between France and Japan.

The Museum of Culture in Milan - the MUDEC - is running an exhibition until 14th April 2019 devoted to Banksy. The artist who cultivates an aura of mystery around his identity and who enjoys making fun of objects in the consumer society is on show for the first time in a public museum.

Until 22nd April 2019 the Reine Sophie Museum in Madrid is running an exhibition devoted to foreign artists in Paris between 1944 and 1968. It establishes a panorama of artistic and political life in the capital through the work of painters, sculptors, musicians, film-makers and writers who often came from the USA and South America.

The season of Christmas Markets has started and will last for more than one month across Europe and in many cities: Fauquemont in the Netherlands (16/11), Strasbourg in France (23/11), Vienna in Austria (16/11), Florence in Italy (28/11), Stockholm in Sweden (21/11), Tallinn in Estonia (24/11), Copenhagen in Denmark (17/11) and everywhere across Germany.