After the vote, and for a better understanding of the Union and what it does, the Foundation suggests you read the "Permanent Atlas of the European Union" a book that gives a complete overview of the Union, the euro zone and each of its Members States and their overseas territories. It is available in print version from the Foundation's website, in bookshops and in digital version. It is kept permanently up-dated.

In "La grande bascule", published by Ecole de guerre publications, Jean-Dominique Giuliani shows - contrary to habitual ideas - that the European Union has the means to meet the new challenges of the 21st century. Europe has succeeded beyond the hopes of its founding fathers. It can continue to succeed and guarantee its place, at the end of the century, amongst the three biggest world powers.

Between 23rd and 26th May, 427 million Europeans elected their MEPs for the next five years. Our website dedicated to the European elections provides all the results from the 28 Member States and the names of the 751 MEPs who will sit until 2024.

On 12th June the Commission published its fifth communication on preparations in case of a no-deal Brexit after 31st October 2019, the extension date granted by European leaders in April. The Commission has evaluated the degree of preparation of the 27 Member States and has drawn up a list of sectors that will require particular attention in case of a no-deal Brexit: the social security of European citizens living in the United Kingdom and of British citizens living in one of the countries in the Union; customs; transport; fishing and financial services.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, announced on 11th June that the Commission opposes the creation of a joint ThyssenKrupp -Tata Steel company, second and third largest flat carbon steel producers in the European Economic Area. After an enquiry started in October 2018, the Commission believes that this planned concentration would have led to reduced competition and increased prices for European customers. After consultation with stakeholders in the market, the Commission judged insufficient the corrective measures proposed by the two companies.

On 13th June the European Commission called on European leaders to make progress on negotiations for the Union's 2021-2027 budget. It wants the European Council of 20th and 21st June to adopt a road map with a view to an agreement in the autumn, in order to avoid any kind of delay that could be damaging to citizens, particularly students, researchers and farmers. Progress has been made in certain areas (convergence and competitiveness budgetary instrument, modernisation of the revenue side) but many financial aspects have yet to be discussed.

On 14th June, the Commission proposed re-establishing certain measures relating to emissions tests on cars in real driving conditions. This follows a ruling by the European Union Court that had cancelled some of these measures due to a procedural error. The Court had delayed the effects of this cancellation until February 2020 in order to allow the Commission time to comply with the ruling. The Commission proposes re-establishing the same conformity factors, this time following the ordinary legislative procedure. The new types of diesel vehicles tested according to these factors since September 2017 produce less emissions than older vehicles.

Andrus Ansip, vice-president of the European Commission, in charge of the digital single market, announced on 17th June that he will leave his job at the Commission on 30th June to sit in the European Parliament. He was elected as an MEP in Estonia on the Reform Party list.

Ministers for Employment, Social policy, Health and Consumer Affairs, meeting on 13th and 14th June, adopted a directive on the transparency of working conditions in the EU, setting up new minimum rights and new rules on information to be provided to workers. They also adopted the directive on professional and private life balance, which aims to increase the use of family leave, and the place of women in the world of work.

Economy and Finance Ministers, meeting on 14th June, discussed the Commission's strategic plan for a neutral economy and were informed of progress made in negotiations on a European tax on financial transactions. They also adopted two reforms within the context of the Capital Markets Union, facilitating access to personal pension products and investment funds. They also removed Dominica from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

The EU-Armenia Partnership Council was held in Brussels on 13th June to draw up a report on relations and restate a joint will to implement reforms in Armenia in the fields of justice, human rights and the economy. The Council also underlined the importance of promoting foreign investment, jobs growth and poverty reduction.

European ministers for foreign affairs, meeting on 17th June, discussed global strategy and adopted conclusions with a view to reinforcing multilateralism. They also adopted conclusions on the security and defence policy. They adopted a declaration on the situation in Sudan, condemning the attacks by the military transitional council that took place on 3rd June and supporting the call by the African Union in favour of a civil transitional authority. With regard to the increasing tension in the Gulf, ministers declared that any escalation would represent extreme danger, not only for the region but also for Europe and the rest of the world. Finally, ministers referred to the situations in Syria, Venezuela and Moldova.

The EU-Jordan association council, meeting on 17th June, discussed cooperation in terms of security, counter-terrorism, human rights and economic relations. The Council adopted a joint declaration referring notably to the Syrian crisis and the Union's commitment to supporting Jordan in its efforts to welcome Syrian refugees.

On 17th June the Spanish electoral commission declared vacant the seats at the European Parliament won by Catalan independents Oriol Junqueras, Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comín, due to their failure to take the oath that is obligatory in order to be able to sit. On 14th June the Spanish supreme court had refused to release temporarily O. Junqueras, imprisoned since 2017 for his role in the Catalonia independence attempt, to allow him to take the oath. On 17th June the electoral commission stated that a document lodged by the lawyer of C. Puigdemont and T. Comin to prove that they had taken the oath in front of a notary in Belgium, where they are in exile, did not allow their election to be validated.

The 20th meeting of the Association of European Senates, held on 14th June, restated the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation and valorised bicameralism as an element of greater democracy. The Association received the Presidents of delegations from the upper Chambers of Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco and the Republic of Congo. European and African senates discussed the strengthening of Euro-African relations and the importance of bicameralism for democracy and the rule of law.

At the inauguration of the Air Show in Le Bourget on 17th June, Dassault Aviation and Airbus SE submitted a joint industrial offer to the French and German governments for the initial demonstration phase of the future combat air system programme. This major new step in the programme took the shape of public presentation of the model of the new generation fighter plane and support drones.

In the first round of the vote held on 13th June to elect the head of the British Conservative party, who will also become Prime minister, Boris Johnson came well out ahead with 114 votes out of 313. Conservative MPs will vote again on 18th June to reduce the number of candidates in play. They will meet until there remain only two candidates who will then be put to the vote by party members. The remaining candidates are, in addition to Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid and Rory Stewart. A televised debate was held on Channel 4 on 16th June, including all candidates with the exception of Boris Johnson who did not wish to participate.

On 13th June German Chancellor Angela Merkel received the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev. The aim of their meeting was the country's progress towards entering NATO and the opening up of negotiations with the European Union. At the end of May 2019, the Commission had recommended that negotiations for North Macedonia and Albania to join should be opened. However, the choice of a date for starting negotiations will have to be postponed insofar as several Member States are reluctant to see North Macedonia and Albania join the Union together.

On 14th June the Commission published a report on progress made in the combat against disinformation. It considers that measures taken have helped to prevent attacks and to show up attempts to interfere in the electoral process of 23rd-25th May. Specifically, it denounced "continuous, sustained misinformation on the part of Russian sources". Amongst the measures stand out the rapid alert system which has strengthened cooperation between Member States and the code of good practice signed by on-line platforms - notably Google, Facebook and Twitter. The Commission has published the latest monthly reports drawn up by these three platforms on their application of the code of good practice. The issue of the combat against disinformation will be examined by the European Council in June.

On 17th June the Commission published a report on obstacles to trade and the opening of export markets for European businesses. It confirms the increase in obstacles met by European companies working on third country markets. Although 123 of these obstacles have been removed since 2014, they remain in record numbers: 425 in 59 countries. China and Russia are the top countries concerned, with respectively 37 and 34 problematic measures. Measures with the greatest impact on European exports are those introduced by China, the United States, India and Algeria.

From 20th June to 10th November, the National Gallery of Slovakia presents "Artist's(heavy) luggage", an exhibitions of paintings, drawings and sketches by the Polish artist Arnold Peter Weisz-Kubincan, as well as press cuttings dated from the 1920s to the 1940s reflecting his memories and the context of the Second World War.

The Lyon Cultural Festival, Les Nuits de Fourvière, offers a varied programme including plays, circus, dance and concerts. In all over 60 shows will be held, through until 30th July.

The "Sommerszene" festival of theatre and dance will be held in Salzburg until 29th June. Dedicated to contemporary artistic performances, the various events include the presence of international and European artists from the world of theatre, dance, film and photography.

The 47th Olympia Art Fair, an international art and antiques fair, will be held in London from 19th to 28th June. This is the largest, most well-known fair in the United Kingdom with over 30,000 visitors expected.

For Make Music Day celebrated on 21st June in 120 countries, the French Culture Minister suggests playing Ode to Joy at 8pm in every European country and on all digital channels. This extract from Beethoven's 9th symphony has been the European Union's anthem since 1986.