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 English in digital form.

In 2021, the Foundation participated through its proposals and its active presence in European debates in the necessary development of joint policies. While France will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2022, the Foundation will increase its efforts to raise awareness of the European project and will continue its strategy of influence in Brussels, Strasbourg and within the Member States. Now more than ever, it needs your support to continue its activities.

As part of the preparations for the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the De Gasperi Foundation is organising a videoconference on 16 December on the theme of recovery in post-pandemic Europe. Online enrolment.

France, Belgium and Ireland have closed discos. In Ireland, tables are limited to 6 adults in bars and restaurants, and indoor events are limited to half the capacity of the room. Denmark has brought forward the school holidays and bars, restaurants and discos close at midnight. In Poland, from 15 December, discos will be closed and restrictions will be put in place in bars and restaurants. In Romania, on the other hand, restrictions will be relaxed in bars and restaurants for the holidays. In Austria, the lockdown ended on 12 December, except for non-vaccinated people. To follow the developments in the situation and to learn about the measures in place in the EU Member States, the Foundation offers you a complete map of the measures in place. An indispensable, regularly updated resource.

On 12 December, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced additional EU support of €30 million for Belarusian youth, independent media, exiled SMEs and cultural actors. To follow the latest developments in 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.

On 8 December, the Commission proposed an EU police cooperation code to improve cross-border operations, establish short channels and deadlines for information exchange and give a stronger role to Europol. The Commission proposes, among other things, the establishment of common standards to strengthen cooperation between Member States' law enforcement authorities, equal access to information for all EU police officers, and revised rules on the automated exchange of information.

On 8 December, the Commission presented a new tool to combat economic coercion by third countries against the EU. These coercive measures include the restriction of EU trade and investment through selective border controls or boycotts of EU goods. The proposed new legislative framework will allow the EU to restrict access to the internal market or apply customs duties to third countries that put pressure on the EU.

On 9 December, the Commission presented an action plan to boost the social economy. There are 2.8 million social economy entities in Europe, employing 13.6 million people. The aim is to help Europe's social economy to flourish.

On 9 December, the Commission proposed new measures to improve working conditions for activities via digital platforms. The proposed directive aims to ensure that platform workers can benefit from a legal employment status corresponding to their actual working arrangements.

On 10 December, the Commission presented two proposals on individual learning accounts and micro-certifications. The first aims to ensure that everyone has access to training tailored to their needs at any time in their lives.

On 7 December, the Healthcare Ministers supported the harmonisation of the validity of the EU Covid certificate and appealed to citizens for the 3rd booster dose. They agreed on the priority areas for strengthening the Health Union as part of the European Health Emergency Response and Preparedness Authority (HERA). The Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs agreed on 6 December to support an adequate minimum wage in the EU and transparency of pay to help close the gender pay gap.

Meeting on 7 December, finance ministers agreed on a proposal for a directive on value added tax (VAT) rates, giving more scope for applying reduced rates. They also discussed the state of play regarding the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as digital finance. They took stock of progress in strengthening the Banking Union and exchanged views on legislative proposals in the area of the Capital Markets Union (CMU).

The Parliament and the Council agreed on 9 December to extend until 2032 the European roaming system, which expires on 30 June 2022. This will allow citizens to continue making calls, sending texts and surfing the internet on their mobile phones without additional charges when travelling in other EU countries. The regulation also allows for price adjustments to ensure that the provision of roaming services remains viable for operators.

On 9 December, the Home Affairs Ministers discussed the fight against hybrid attacks and migrant smuggling. They adopted the regulation establishing the EU Asylum Agency. They concluded that Croatia has fulfilled the necessary conditions for the full application of the Schengen acquis, which is a precondition for the lifting of internal border controls. On 10 December, the Justice Ministers discussed the lessons to be learned from the pandemic in terms of digitisation of justice, the fight against hate speech, the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Union's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Transport Ministers met in Brussels on 9 December to discuss the use of fuel in the maritime (FuelEU Maritime) and aviation (ReFuelEU Aviation) sectors, as well as alternative fuels to meet the objectives of the Fit for 55 climate change package. They stressed the need to increase the demand and deployment of low-emission energy while taking into account the specificities of each Member State.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, meeting on 12 and 13 December, agreed on fishing quotas in the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean and Black Seas. They adopted conclusions on how to ensure food supply and security in times of crisis. The Commission's proposal to limit the import of products that contribute to deforestation was discussed.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, meeting on 7 December, agreed to strengthen mutual engagement between the EU and Pakistan, including on security and regional cooperation. They agreed to hold the first meeting of the security dialogue in 2022, focusing on non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as the fight against terrorism. Both sides also agreed on the importance of continued engagement with Afghanistan to promote stability and combat the terrorist threat.

Meeting on 13 December, Foreign Affairs Ministers decided to sanction the Russian mercenary group Wagner and eight individuals and three companies linked to it for their "destabilising actions" in Ukraine and Africa. They modified the criteria of the sanctions regime in Mali, so that restrictive measures can be imposed on persons and entities responsible for threatening peace, security or stability, or for obstructing the implementation of its political transition. The Ministers recalled the Union's support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's military build-up on its border. They recalled the Union's solidarity with Belarus and Cyprus. They discussed relations with Africa.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was hosted in Paris on 10 December by French President Emmanuel Macron, on the occasion of his first visit as Chancellor. The two European leaders discussed issues relating to Franco-German cooperation, European sovereignty in the run-up to the French Presidency of the EU Council, and major international issues including the situation in Ukraine. The day before, Foreign Minister Annalana Baerbock had also come to Paris.

New Caledonian voters voted on 12 December against "independence and full sovereignty for the territory", by 97.02% of the votes cast. The turnout was 43.87%. This was the third and final referendum under the 1998 Nouméa Accords.

On 11 December, the UK authorities granted 23 licences to French vessels, allowing them to fish in their territorial waters, including 8 to fish in Jersey waters. The Commission has given assurances that it will continue to negotiate with France on the granting of new licences with the UK.

In a report published on 8 December, the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (Moneyval), considers that the Czech Republic has made substantial progress in the area of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), but nonetheless considers that further efforts are needed to fully implement international standards.

In a report on the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Union published on 10 December, the Commission stressed the importance of safeguarding the protection of fundamental rights in the digital age. The report highlights the issue of transparency of artificial intelligence systems, the preservation of social rights for platform workers and the protection of data and privacy in the context of digital surveillance.

According to the annual report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), published on 6 December, arms sales by the 100 largest defence groups reached a new record of $531 billion in 2020. This represents a 1.3% year-on-year increase in arms sales and military services, while at the same time the global economy fell by more than 3%. Behind US companies, French, British, Russian and Chinese companies are among the largest arms sellers.

The Hôtel de Caumont in Aix-en-Provence is devoting an exhibition to the treasures of Venice until 27 March 2022 to mark the 70th anniversary of the creation of the Giorgio Cini Foundation. Through 70 paintings, sculptures, drawings and objects from the 14th to the 18th century, the exhibition presents contemporary creations in connection with the works of the Italian ancient art collection.

Until 5 February, the Marlborough Gallery in Madrid is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its opening with the group exhibition "Year Zero", which brings together a number of artists around the idea of a new beginning, a rebirth after a long period of lethargy caused by the pandemic.

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Marcel Proust's birth, the Carnavalet Museum in Paris is unveiling an exhibition entitled "Marcel Proust, a Parisian novel" from 16 December to 10 April 2022 to evoke the place of the capital in the French novelist's writings.

Until 21 April 2022, the C/O Berlin gallery in the Amerika Haus is showing 250 photographs by Harald Hauswald of social life in East Berlin during the communist period from 1970 to 1989.

The Polish Association of Aberdeen is holding an exhibition at the Cruickshank Botanic Garden until 28 February 2022, dedicated to the Jewish artists who worked in the Bialystok ghetto during the Second World War. The exhibition is based on the works and memories of Jewish painter Izaak Celniker, a survivor of the ghetto.

The first edition of Art Antwerp will take place from 16 to 19 December at Antwerp Expo. This international contemporary art fair will bring together almost 300 emerging and internationally established artists, represented by 59 galleries from Belgium and other European countries.

The Bosnian film The Voice of Aida (Quo Vadis, Aida) won the Best European Film Award at the European Films Awards ceremony in Berlin on 11 December, as well as the Best Director Award for Jasmila Zbanic and the Best Actress Award for Jasna Duricic. Anthony Hopkins received the Best Actor award for The Father.