The fifth edition of the unique Permanent Atlas of the European Union provides a comprehensive and easily accessible overview of the European Union, the euro area and each of its 27 Member States. It is available in hard copy on our website and in bookshops, or in digital form.

Since 1 November, the health pass is mandatory in bars and restaurants, cultural venues and sports halls in Belgium, in bars and restaurants in the Czech Republic, and in bars, restaurants and hotels in Luxembourg. In Slovakia, bars, hotels and restaurants are closed in areas with high infection rates. In view of the health situation, a lockdown is still in force in Latvia and a partial curfew in Romania. To follow the developments in the situation and to see what measures are in place in the different EU Member States, the Foundation offers you a complete map of the measures in place. An indispensable, reguarly updated resource.

In response to the economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU has set up a €672.5 billion recovery fund, called the Recovery and Resilience Facility, for Member States in the form of grants and loans. 22 plans have so far been approved by the Commission and Council, and 19 countries have already received the planned pre-financing, including Estonia, Finland and Romania this week. The Commission has yet to approve the Hungarian and Polish plans due to infringements of the rule of law. The Foundation provides you with an interactive map of the plans country by country, to know the amounts, the timetables and the priorities.

At a meeting at the UN on 25 October, the European Union and its member states condemned the escalation of human rights violations in Belarus and supported the work to bring those responsible for the regime to international justice. To follow the crisis triggered by the rigged presidential election of August 2020 and the repression of the democratic opposition, the Foundation offers you a chronology of events and links to European responses and initiatives...

As part of the preparations for the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Conference on the future of Europe, the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) in Zagreb is organising a video conference on 12th November on the initiative of the Robert Schuman Foundation on how the European Union can act to regain its economic impetus and strengthen the European identity of its citizens. Register before the 5th November.

On 28 October, the Commission tabled proposals for stricter limits for 8 substances or groups of substances in waste, to prevent them from entering the economic cycle again.

Energy ministers met on 26 October to discuss rising energy prices. They are now awaiting reports from the Commission on the gas and electricity markets before trying to agree on concrete measures in December.

The Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on 28 October on strengthening the role of the European Medicines Agency. In particular, they agreed on the need to increase its funding and to ensure better data protection.

On 29 October, the Council approved the EU's €23.39 billion pledge to help developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change.

At the sixth meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council on 28 October, both sides renewed their commitment to strengthening their political and economic ties. The EU stressed the need for Moldova to introduce more measures to support the rule of law and fight corruption. The EU also pledged to help Moldova deal with the consequences of the energy crisis and the pandemic.

At a meeting in Kigali on 25-26 October, EU and AU foreign ministers agreed on greater cooperation between the two regions to ensure fair access to Covid-19 vaccines. They also discussed the importance of access to education, especially for girls, and investment in sustainable industries. The EU confirmed its commitment to maintaining a dialogue to improve democracy and governance in Africa.

The European Union and the United States reached an agreement on 31 October on the suspension of US tariffs on European steel and aluminium, and of EU retaliatory measures on certain US imports. Both sides committed to working together to find a global agreement on decarbonising steel production and trade.

In a joint statement issued on 30 October, the leaders of France, Germany, the UK and the US reiterated their determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and called on the new Iranian President, Ebrahim Raissi, to make "a good faith effort" to find a negotiated solution.

The French and American presidents, Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden, met in Rome on 29 October. Joe Biden acknowledged that the establishment of the AUKUS alliance at the expense of France in September was "clumsy". In a joint statement, the two presidents pledged to cooperate on issues such as the fight against the pandemic, economic recovery, climate, new technologies and arms control. They stressed the complementarity between "a stronger and more operational European defence" and NATO.

In its annual report on the implementation and enforcement of trade agreements, published on 27 October, the Commission shows the effectiveness of the various trade measures introduced since 2020. It stresses that the elimination of trade barriers, the fight against unfair trade practices and measures to promote sustainable development have helped increase EU exports by €5.4 billion in 2020. Agreements to remove trade barriers in 22 countries have helped EU companies export an extra €4bn.

In its annual report on the state of the energy union, published on 26 October, the Commission notes that greenhouse gas emissions will be almost 10% lower in 2020 than in 2019, and 31% lower than in 1990, the base year for the EU's long-term climate targets. It also points out that for the first time more energy was produced in the EU from renewable sources than from fossil fuels.

Until 6 March 2022, the Kunsthalle in Munich is presenting an exhibition on Belgian modernism from Ensor to Magritte from 1860 to 1960. Around 130 paintings, graphics and sculptures illustrate how the art of this period constantly pushes the boundaries of imagination and reality. It focuses on simple everyday reality as well as on the mysteries and enigmas beyond the visible world.

Until 30 January 2022, the Belvedere Museum in Vienna is presenting the exhibition "The Age of Dürer, Austria at the Gate of the Renaissance" with works by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Albrecht Altdorfer, Jörg Breu - some of the great names found among the contemporaries of Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

Until 20 March 2022, the Tate Britain is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the depiction of changes in European society and culture during the 18th century. For the first time, this exhibition brings together works by the British painter William Hogarth with those of his peers, including Francesco Guardi in Venice, Chardin in Paris and Cornelis Troost in Amsterdam, to suggest parallels between these works by European artists.

A self-taught artist, Paul Signac (1863-1935) was also a collector and learned to paint by observing the works of the Impressionists. He was particularly fond of paintings by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Gustave Caillebotte and Paul Cézanne, all of whom feature in his collection. The Musée d'Orsay will be showing this incredible collection until 13 February 2022.

The Brussels Light Festival will run until 6 November. Art installations and light shows are on display throughout the city, including around the Royal Park and in the European Quarter.

Until 6 February 2022, the Valencia Museum of Fine Arts is hosting the exhibition "Believing through the eyes", which highlights Valencian religious painting of the 17th century. 44 works illustrate the particular way of painting and sculpting specific to the Catholic territories of the Mediterranean basin.

Until February 27 2022, the Sztuki Museum in Lodz is presenting an exhibition on the avant-garde, a space for experimenting with art and its reception, creation, the exchange of ideas, critical reflection and the exploration of different ways of seeing the world.