Since the start of the health crisis, some Member States have suspended free movement and have withdrawn behind their national borders, flouting EU rules. Now that the ambitious European recovery plan is being put in place, it is time to consider making its benefits conditional on another step forward, since the harmonisation of health decisions has an impact on free movement. Those who keep their borders closed to their European partners should be excluded from the benefits of the recovery plan, says Giuliani.

The 2020 edition of the "Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union", a reference work for European decision-makers, is available in hard copy in French, published by Marie B, and in electronic format in French and English. With contributions from leading personalities and experts, together with original maps and annotated statistics, it provides a comprehensive view of the European Union and analyses the challenges facing Europe. You can order it on our website.

On 3 September, the Commission presented its strategy to secure the Union's supplies of rare raw materials and published a list of 30 raw materials considered critical. It proposes a plan of 10 concrete measures, including the creation of a European alliance by the end of the year.

Agriculture ministers, who met on 1 September in Koblenz, discussed the introduction of a European animal welfare label. They looked at ways to strengthen European supply chains and the agri-food sector to make them more resilient to crises. The Commission has been asked to draw up a report on the subject.

In a statement on behalf of the 27 Member States, High Representative Josep Borrell condemned the poisoning of Russian opponent Alexei Navalny and recalled that the use of a neurotoxic product such as Novichok was "totally unacceptable". He called for a common international response and said the EU was ready to take appropriate measures, including further sanctions against Russia. Germany, which holds the EU presidency, is demanding answers from the Russian authorities "within the next few days" about the circumstances of the poisoning.

The Court of Justice ruled on 3 September that Italian legislation preventing the French media company Vivendi from acquiring 28% of the capital of the Italian telecommunications giant Mediaset was contrary to EU law. It considers that it constitutes a restriction on the freedom of establishment and that it is not justified as it does not meet the objective of information pluralism.

In a report published on 3 September, the Court of Auditors made several recommendations to improve the European Semester, the mechanism for coordinating the economic and budgetary policies of the Member States. It proposes, among other things, to give priority to research and the fight against poverty, to ensure better monitoring of the implementation of the Commission's country-specific recommendations (RPPs) and to strengthen the link between EU funds and the application of these recommendations.

In an article published on 2 September, the Vice-President of the European Central Bank, Luis de Guindos, and two members of the Executive Board, Fabio Panetta and Isabel Schnabel, stress the need to strengthen the Capital Markets Union.

The Vega rocket took off from the Kourou base on 3 September and put 53 nano and micro-satellites into orbit. This mission was a validation flight for the SSMS (Small Spacecrafts Mission Service), the European Space Agency's (ESA) new small satellite launch programme.

The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi completed a diplomatic tour of Europe in Berlin on 1 September, which also took him to Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and France. Hosted by his German counterpart Heiko Maas, they discussed the deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries, the fight against Covid-19, international tensions and human rights. On 30 August, Wang Yi met in Paris with the head of French diplomacy Jean-Yves Le Drian. The two ministers discussed trade and climate issues as well as human rights.

On 4 September, King Philippe of the Belgians appointed Egbert Lachaert (Open Vld) and Conner Rousseau (sp.a) to carry out a pre-government formation mission in order to create the conditions for the establishment of a coalition resulting from the elections of 26 May 2019. After 16 months of discussions, 7 parties are expected to form a coalition. The "pre-formateurs" are due to submit their report to the king on 11 September.

On 2 September, the Bulgarian Parliament approved by 127 votes out of 240 the launch of the examination of Prime Minister Boïko Borissov's plan to reform the Constitution. The discussion could last between two and five months and will have to be followed by a vote to set up a Constituent Assembly. The draft new constitution is a response to the demonstrations that have been taking place since July against the government and corruption.

On 3 September, the French government presented its economic recovery plan, called France Relance. The €100 billion plan is divided into three parts: ecology (€30 billion), competitiveness (€35 billion) and cohesion (€35 billion), directed towards investment, the reduction of manufacturing taxes, training, the health sector and the fight against unemployment and job insecurity. The plan is to be financed to the tune of €40 billion by the European recovery plan decided in July.

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova said she was "shocked" on 3 September after a court acquitted billionaire Marian Kocner in the trial for the murder of journalist Jan Kucak and his girlfriend in 2018. Kocner is regarded by investigators and the families of the victims as the instigator of the murders, which led to the fall of the government. While the public prosecutor's office and the civil parties intend to appeal, the president assured that "the search for justice is not over and will continue before the Supreme Court". The Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Justice, Vera Jourova, said that the Union was still waiting for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed an agreement on "economic normalisation" between their countries on 4 September. The agreement provides for the improvement of transport infrastructure and movement, the reduction of customs duties and the sharing of water and energy resources. At a meeting with the Union in Brussels on 7 September, the two leaders discussed for the first time the arrangements between communities and the issue of mutual compensation.

Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga inaugurated the Ceneri railway tunnel on 4 September. 15.4 km long, it completes the Loetschberg and Gotthard tunnels, which were opened in 2007 and 2016, to complete the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) project designed to facilitate traffic and reduce lorry traffic.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe urged Turkey on 4 September to release businessman and human rights defender Osman Kavala immediately. Arrested in 2017 for attempting to overthrow the Turkish government and constitutional order, Osman Kavala was acquitted in February 2020 but was again arrested and imprisoned. The Council of Europe has given the Turkish authorities until 11 November to submit an action plan to prevent further violations of the European Convention on Human Rights in the future.

Following a meeting of NATO countries on 4 September, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to fully disclose its Novitchok programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, following confirmation by Berlin two days earlier that Russian opponent Alexei Navalny had been poisoned. NATO is calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. After the meeting, he spoke of "technical talks" between Greece and Turkey to resolve the crisis created by Turkish gas prospecting operations in Greek territorial waters.

According to an OECD study released on 3 September, governments have taken unprecedented budgetary measures in response to the COVID-19 crisis, but they will need to sustain economic recovery in the face of growing budgetary challenges. The OECD encourages governments to continue their efforts to support future economic recovery.

Euro-zone annual inflation fell to an estimated -0.2% in August from 0.4% in July, Eurostat estimated on 1 September.

The Creative Europe Programme Report 2019, published on 2 September by the Commission, provides an annual review of the programme to support Europe's cultural and creative sector and presents the key elements of the programme, Creative Europe 2021-2027. In 2019, the programme financed 25% of European film production; 44 television series, 290 films and 75 festivals.

The Paris Modern and Contemporary Art Fair is being held at the Grand Palais from 10 to 13 September. 112 galleries are present for this 22nd edition, and address two main themes: the French art scene focusing on the notions of narrative, singular and universal stories; and Spanish and Portuguese art from the 1950s to the present day.