Jean-Dominique Giuliani will be participating in a conference on the future of Europe on 24th January organised in Viroflay by Jean-Noël Barrot, MP in the Yvelines with Nathalie Griesbeck, MEP and Sylvain Waserman, Vice-President of the National Assembly.

The EU has adopted an annual budget for 2019 of 1.6 billion € for humanitarian aid. Most of this money will be used to rise to the Syrian and Yemeni crisis and to help refugees in this region of the world. In Africa the EU will provide its aid to the populations affected by the crises in South Sudan, Central African Republic, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad and the Sahel. A share of this money will go to Colombia and Venezuela and also to Ukraine and to the Rohingya population in Myanmar. In a context of accelerated climate change, European aid will also go to vulnerable communities in the countries exposed to climate catastrophes.

On 17th January the Commission announced that measures, that have been temporary to date, designed to protect the European steel industry were going to become permanent, after having won the support of the Member States the day before. A 25% tax will be implemented beyond a certain import threshold, whatever the country of origin. These measures match the punitive customs duties set by the American President Donald Trump in 2018. These measures will enter into force at the beginning of February and will remain so until July 2021.

On 18th January the Commission adopted two draft mandates for trade negotiations with the USA, ie on the assessment of conformity, a tool to lift customs barriers and on the elimination of customs duties on industrial products, thereby implementing the joint declaration made by American President Donald Trump and the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker last July. The Member States now have to approve the mandate so that negotiations can start.

In a non-binding resolution adopted on 15th January MEPs said they were pleased with the emphasis placed on autonomous mobility, notably in the communication by the European Commission on the issue. However MEPs called on the Commission to make greater effort to ensure road saftey, support to European industry and technical harmonisation of autonomous vehicles. They also hope that the Commission will established detailed rules regarding other modes of autonomous transport, notably autonomous ships and planes.

On 16th January MEPs adopted two resolutions concerning the work of the ECB and regarding the progress towards Banking Union. They approved the halt of the ECB's exceptional monetary measures and called on the bank to remain wary of increasing concern about the reappearance of real estate bubbles and debts in the private sector. They support the creation of a European guarantee banking deposit system and greater harmonisation for the completion of banking union.

MEPs adopted amendments to the InvestEU programme on 16th January put forward by the Commission. A part of the multi-annual financial framework 2021-2027, InvestEU brings together various European financial instruments designed for projects that were having difficulty in finding funding. The programme that has been adopted targets in particular climate, employment and growth projects.

On 17th January MEPs approved a regulation allowing the suspension or reduction of European funds, 397 votes in support, 158 votes against and 69 abstentions, that are granted to Member States which breach the rule of Law. The Commission would be responsible for the detection of the existence of "generalised deficiencies in terms of the rule of law," with the help of independent experts. The decision would only be made once approved by the Parliament and the Council and would remain temporary for the period the Member State took to remedy the situation. Negotiations with the Council are now to start.

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă debated with European Parliament on 15th January regarding the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council which started on January 1st. The main goal is to achieve greater political and economic cohesion between Member States. She stressed her commitment to taking questions regarding enlargement forward, notably the Western Balkans. She declared that economic competitiveness, digitisation, the protection and safety of citizens are the core of the Romanian presidency. During the debate the Prime Minister faced criticism, notably due to the controversial reform of the Romanian legal system undertaken by her government.

Eurogroup met on 21st January in Brussels. The 19 ministers discussed the Council's recommendations regarding the euro zone's economic policy for 2019 as part of the European Semester. They exchanged views regarding the role of the European currency at international level on the basis of the Commission's December communication on this issue, notably regarding the implementation of a European deposit insurance system and a budgetary convergence and competitiveness system (budget and euro zone).

Foreign Affairs Ministers added 1 entity and 11 Syrian businessmen to their black list on 21st January, which targets supporters of the Syrian regime. They also registered 9 Syrians and Russians and one entity on a sanctions list to counter the proliferation and use of chemical weapons. They sanctioned the head of Russian military intelligence (GRU), his deputy and two agents deemed responsible for the poisoning of Serguey Skripal via the freezing of any assets they have in the EU and a travel ban in the EU. They maintained their support to the action plan to counter disinformation, presented by the Commission in December. They insisted on the need to step up the EU's operational capabilities and to have a common, inclusive Alert System, which protects the freedom of the press and of expression.

The Special Representative of the Council of Europe for migration and refugees presented an interim review on 17th January of the Action Plan for the Protection of Refugee and Migrant Children in Europe launched in 2017. The plan aims to guarantee access to rights and procedures adapted to children, especially those separated from their families, to guarantee them effective protection against violence and to improve their integration.

In a report on Malta's economic situation, published on 16th January the IMF congratulated the country on its economic growth, which is still one of the strongest in Europe and has led to a rapid convergence of incomes towards the EU's average. It advises the country to improve its infrastructures and the offer of labour and to reduce budgetary risks to foster high, inclusive growth.

According to the most recent data published on 17th January by Eurostat, the annual inflation rate of the EU lay at 1.7% in December 2018, against 2% in November. That of the euro zone lay at 1.6% in December 2018, against 1.9% in November.

Since 1956 the Mozart Foundation of Salzburg has been organising the "Mozart Week" on the occasion of the artist's birth on 27th January 1756. From 24th January to 3rd February, the concerts played by the bests artists from around the world will refect Mozart's personality, who was reputed to love dancing, playing, eating and drinking.

In 2019 Germany will be celebrating the centenary of Bauhaus, the revolutionary school of art founded by Walter Gropius in 1919. The inaugural festival is taking place at the Academy of Arts in Berlin until 24th January, with a programme of concerts, theatre plays, and virtual reality installations. Celebrations will continue in 100 emblematic venues across Germany, including three new Bauhaus museums in Weimar, Dessau and Berlin which are organising major exhibitions from now to the end of the year.

Until 16th March the House of Culture of Japan in Paris is organising a retrospective of the works of Tsugouharu Foujita, the first Japanese artist of international renown to establish in Paris. 37 paintings are no show in a five part exhibition covering the entire career of the artist, his arrival in Paris in 1913 until his death in 1968.

From 23rd January to 6th May the Tate Modern in London is running an exhibition on Pierre Bonnard called "The Colour of Memory". It highlights the artist's unconventional use of colour as he painted based using his memories as a base. It is the biggest exhibition of his work in the UK for over 20 years.