| | | This week's European news |
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| Letter n°1045 of Tuesday 21st November 2023 |
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| Agenda | Other issues | Contact |
| ■ Foundation :
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| | | European recovery plans - figures and priorities | | In response to the economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Union has set up a €672.5 billion recovery fund. On 16 November, the Commission approved the updated recovery plans for Germany, Belgium, Latvia and Cyprus. On 17 November, it gave a positive assessment of France's payment claim for €10.3 billion. The Foundation offers you an interactive map of the plans country by country, to find out about the sums involved and the schedules. Read more |
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| ■ Commission :
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| | | Revised Economic Forecast | | On November 15, the European Commission published its economic forecasts, predicting a modest economic recovery over the next two years. It forecasts GDP growth of 0.6% for the European Union and the eurozone in 2023, which is 0.2 points lower than forecast in August, and 1.3% in 2024. Inflation should continue to fall, from 6.5% in 2023 to 3.5% in 2024 and 2.4% in 2025. Finally, the unemployment rate should remain stable at around 6% in 2023 and 2024. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Council :
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| | | Defence Ministers Meeting | | On 14 November, the defence ministers discussed the consolidation of European military support for Ukraine and the European rapid reaction force project. They took note of progress in permanent structured cooperation and approved the first space strategy for European security and defence. Read more |
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| | | European Ministers' Meeting | | On 15 November, the European Affairs ministers prepared for the European Council on 14 and 15 December, and discussed the rule of law and European values in Hungary and Poland. They discussed ways of reforming the way the European Union functions, in particular electoral reform, and relations with the United Kingdom. Read more |
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| | | Declaration regarding housing | | At their meeting on 13 and 14 November, the housing ministers adopted the Gijon Declaration, in which they pledged to work towards housing for all in a sustainable, healthy and inclusive environment. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Trilogues :
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| ■ Diplomacy :
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| | | Foreign Affairs Ministers' Meeting | | On 13 November, the foreign ministers discussed the global geopolitical situation, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read more |
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| | | Meeting with the United States on justice and security issues | | On 14 November, Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders met the US Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security, along with ministers representing the Spanish Presidency of the Council and the incoming Belgian Presidency. The meeting served to reiterate the importance of transatlantic cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs, against a backdrop of geopolitical instability, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East. Read more |
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| | | Meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkans | | On 13 November, at an interministerial meeting between the European Union and the Western Balkans, High Representative Josep Borrell reiterated the importance of the European Union's cooperation with the countries of the region in maintaining political stability on the European continent. They discussed the Commission's latest proposals on enlargement policy. Read more |
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| | | Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell in the Middle East | | The President of the European Commission and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy made separate visits to the Middle East between 16 and 20 November. Ursula von der Leyen met the President of Egypt and the King of Jordan. Josep Borell visited Israel, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. Both reiterated the European Union's position on the conflict, with a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, and welcomed efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Germany :
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| | | The Constitutional Court forces the government to review its budget | | On 15 November, the German Constitutional Court declared illegal the federal government's decision to reallocate €60 billion of unused pandemic funds to green initiatives and support for industry. This decision puts Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition in a difficult position, as it has already been shaken by a series of crises against a backdrop of worsening economic conditions, and now has a large hole to fill in the public finances. The Bundestag's current debate on the 2024 budget has been suspended until 21 November. Read more |
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| ■ Spain :
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| | | Pedro Sanchez reappointed as head of government | | Pedro Sanchez (PSOE), President of the outgoing government, was sworn in for a new term of office on 17 November, after obtaining the investiture of the Congress of Deputies the day before. Four months after the 23 July elections, he won 179 votes to 171, thanks in particular to the support of the Catalan party Junts per Catalunya, with which he reached an agreement on an amnesty following the 2017 independence referendum. Several demonstrations, including one in Madrid on 18 November attended by more than 100,000 people, took place to protest against this agreement. On 20 November, he announced the composition of his government, which comprises 22 ministers, including 12 women. Read more - Other link - Other link - Other link |
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| ■ Finland :
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| | | Half the border crossings with Russia closed | | Finland closed four of its eight border crossings with Russia on the night of 18-19 November. The authorities are accusing Russia of smuggling migrants in retaliation for Finland joining NATO. The border crossings are due to remain closed until 18 February 2024. Read more |
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| ■ France :
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| | | State visit of the French President to Switzerland | | French President Emmanuel Macron made a State visit to Switzerland on 15 and 16 November. He was welcomed by the Federal Council and the President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, with whom he discussed bilateral relations and closer cooperation between Switzerland and the European Union. The two leaders discussed scientific diplomacy and exchanged views on Europe with students from the University of Lausanne. Read more - Other link - Other link |
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| ■ Ireland :
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| | | Electricity interconnection with France | | French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne met her counterpart Leo Varadkar in Ireland on 14 November. Construction of the Celtic Interconnector, a high-voltage undersea electricity cable that will link the two countries' power grids, began on 13 November. Its aim is to enhance energy security and help reduce bills between the two countries. It should be completed in 2026 and connected to the grid in 2027. Read more |
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| ■ Luxembourg :
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| | | New government led by Luc Frieden | | The government formed following the legislative elections on 8 October took office on 17 November. A coalition agreement was signed the previous day between the Christian Social Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP). Luc Frieden (CVV) is now Prime Minister and heads a government of 14 ministers, including 5 women, who were sworn in by the Grand Duke. Read more - Other link - Other link |
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| ■ The Netherlands :
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| | | Polls ahead of the general elections | | With just a few days to go before the general elections in the Netherlands on 22 November, the latest polls place the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VDD) of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte with 28 of the 150 seats in the lower house, followed by the New Social Contract Party (NSC) with 26 seats, then the Labour Party (PvdA) and the Green Left (GroenLinks) with 23 seats, and finally the Party for Freedom (PVV) with 19 seats. Read more |
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| ■ Sweden :
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| | | New nuclear reactor construction programme | | On 16 November, the Swedish government announced the launch of a roadmap for new nuclear energy. The construction of a new nuclear power station with two reactors by 2035 is at the top of the list of objectives, as is the appointment of a government coordinator for nuclear energy. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Armenia :
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| | | Accession to the ICC and ICJ order | | Armenia is to become the 124th country to join the International Criminal Court (ICC). The country officially applied for membership on 14 November and will become an official member on 1 February 2024. In addition, on 17 November, the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to allow the "safe" return of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, Read more - Other link |
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| ■ UK :
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| | | An independent Scotland back in the European Union | | In a report entitled "An independent Scotland in the European Union", prefaced by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Angus Robertson, Scotland's ruling independence party (SNP) argues that Scottish independence is the only realistic path for the country to regain the benefits of the European Union, including access to the single market, the common agricultural policy and the Erasmus+ exchange programme. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Ukraine :
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| | | Damage Register Council for Ukraine | | On 16 November, the Register of Damage for Ukraine, a body set up to record claims for compensation following Russian aggression in Ukraine, elected its Board. It will be responsible for organising the work and taking final decisions on the claims submitted. The aim is for the Register to be able to start receiving claims in the first quarter of 2024, so as to set in motion an international compensation mechanism for the victims of the aggression. Read more |
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| | | Black Sea Economic Cooperation | | The 62nd Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) was held in Kyiv from 15 to 17 November. Representatives of the states in the region discussed issues such as territorial integrity, sovereignty, food safety and freedom of navigation. Read more |
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| | | Visit to Kyiv by David Cameron and Pierre Heilbronn | | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on 16 November, who also visited Moldova on 17 November. On 19 November, the French special envoy for aid and reconstruction in Ukraine, Pierre Heilbronn, met the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, to discuss French assistance in the fields of infrastructure, energy, technology and transport. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Studies/Reports :
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| | | Report on the EU's trade policy | | In a report on the European Union's trade policy, published on 15 November, the Commission states that the value of trade under free trade agreements exceeded €2,000 billion for the first time in 2022. This annual report shows that trade with countries that have a free trade agreement with the European Union increased by 30% in 2022, and that the agreements are having a positive impact on the economy. Read more - Other link |
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| | | Report on the drugs market in Europe | | In a report published on 16 November, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol warn of an increase in the strength and diversity of cannabis products consumed in Europe. Cannabis remains the drug with the largest market, with a record amount seized in 2021, and cooperation between criminal networks poses major security challenges for European police services. Read more |
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| | | Report on Denmark's migration policy | | In a report published on 16 November, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, expresses her concern at the orientation of Denmark's migration policy, which favours temporary protection and the outsourcing of asylum procedures to third countries. She calls for a reorientation of asylum policy towards protection and integration, in particular through measures to respect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and people with disabilities. Read more |
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| ■ Culture :
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| | | Opening of Michelangelo's secret room in Florence | | Discovered in 1975, Florentine artist Michelangelo's secret room will be temporarily open to the public until 30 March 2024. This premiere will give visitors access to a hidden room inside Florence's Medici Chapel. The walls of the underground room contain charcoal sketches attributed by some experts to the Renaissance artist. Read more - Other link |
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| | | Holbein and the Northern Renaissance in Frankfurt | | The Städel Museum in Frankfurt is presenting an exhibition entitled "Holbein and the Northern Renaissance" until 18 February 2024. The exhibition sheds light on the influence of Northern Renaissance painters such as Hans Holbein the Elder and Albrecht Dürer, and provides keys to understanding the meteoric rise of this artistic movement in Northern Europe in the 16th century. Read more |
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| | | Picasso, the Turning Point | | The exhibition "Picasso 1906 - The Turning Point" is on at the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid until 4 March 2024. The exhibition traces the first contribution made by the painter Pablo Piscaso to the definition of "modern art". Read more |
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| | | Bucolics in Warsaw | | Until 17 March 2024, the National Museum in Warsaw is devoting an exhibition to the myth of Arcadia, which originated in the "Bucolics" by the Latin poet Virgil. The exhibition presents the many European artistic interpretations of Arcadia, an ideal world of freedom, happiness, unchanging order and eternal youth. Read more |
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| | | Yayoi Kusama in Bergamo | | Until 24 March 2024, the Palazzo della Ragione in Bergamo is spotlighting the contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama with an exhibition entitled "Infinito Presente". Read more |
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| | | Women in revolt in London | | Until 7 April 2024, Tate Britain is presenting "Women in revolt!", an exhibition featuring the work of over 100 British women. Rooted in the context of the women's liberation movement of the 1970s and 80s in the UK, the exhibition highlights the creativity of women in their feminist struggle. Read more |
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| | | Glaz Festival in Rennes | | The Glaz Festival is taking place in Rennes until 7 January 2024, on the theme of "emergencies". This photography festival will feature a range of exhibitions and conferences, bringing together world-famous and emerging artists. Read more |
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| | | Plenary Session of the European Parliament (Strasbourg) | | |
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| | | European Economic Area Council (Brussels) | | |
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| | | Foreign Affairs Council (Development) (Brussels) | | |
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| | | General elections (The Netherlands) | | |
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| | | EU-Canada Summit (St-John's) | | |
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| | | Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Brussels) | | |
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| | | Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Equality (Pamplona) | | |
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| | | Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels) |
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| | The Letter n°1045 | | PDF | | in English -- Edition of Tuesday 21st November 2023 |
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| The Letter's Editorial Team : Stefanie Buzmaniuk, Helen Levy ; Louis Brand, Mila Shay, Romane Wanner, Loup Panteix; Dayna Osafo, Carole-Louise Ashby N° ISSN: 2729-6482 A question, a suggestion ? Contact us! [email protected] | Editors-in-chief: Eric Maurice: Publishing Director: Pascale Joannin: |
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