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| Tuesday 16th May 2017 | issue 760 |
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| Dublin and Schengen - Restoring confidence and strengthening solidarity between Member States of the European Union |
| Author: Corinne Balleix |  The Dublin regulation that is presently being re-drafted aims to protect the area of free movement rather than share the burden of asylum seekers between Member States. The migratory crisis of 2015 demonstrated that this system could endanger the Schengen Area, kindling a confidence crisis between Member States and forcing the EU into uncertain cooperation agreements with third countries that threatened its values. Although greater border control seems vital right now, this does not mean that the issue of making a qualitative leap forward in terms of European migratory solidarity can be avoided.
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| Agenda | Other issues | Contact |
| Elections :
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| General election in Malta 3rd June
 On May 1st Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (Labour Party (MLP)) announced that a snap election would be held on 3rd June. He under attack because it has been suggested that his wife, his chief of cabinet and the Energy Minister are the respective owners of offshore accounts and businesses, that were challenged in the Panama Papers affairs... Read more |
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| General election in the UK on 8th June
 On 18th April last British Prime Minister Theresa May (Conservative Party) took everyone by surprise as she announced that there would be a snap election (3 years before the planned date) on 8th June. Theresa May took over from David Cameron without passing via the ballot box and hopes to strengthen her parliamentary majority on the eve of the Brexit. The situation is favourable to the Tories who hold a significant lead over their Labour rivals in all the polls. Just three weeks before the general elections, victory for the Conservatives seems guaranteed. The only question that remains is how wide the margin will be... Read more |
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| Foundation :
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| "For a few stars more ... which European policy for France?"
 The Foundation's Chairman, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, has published "For a few stars more ... which European policy for France?" An enlightening reach after the appointment of the French president in order to understand what President Emmanuel Macron might do... Read more |
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| The "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2017", now available in paper and digital form
 The "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2017", published by Lignes de Repères in French and English provides a better understanding of the issues and challenges faced by Europe at present. It is available in bookshops and on the Foundation's site and in digital form... Read more |
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| Commission :
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| Growth forecasts up
 In its spring forecasts published on 11th May the European Commission is expecting a rise in the GDP of 1.7% in 2017 and 1.8% in 2018 in the euro zone. EU GDP growth is due to stabilise at 1.9% over the next two years... Read more |
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| Assessment of the strategy for a digital single market and thought about globalisation
 Whilst it is now mid-mandate the European Commission published the mid-term assessment of its strategy for the digital single market and its document on thought about harnessing globalisation... Read more |
| Other link | Other link | Other link |
| Final report on the sectoral inquiry into e-commerce
 On 10th May the Commission published its final report on the sectoral inquiry into e-commerce... Read more |
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| Parliament :
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| The EU and UK should first take care of their citizens
 According to a communiqué released by the European Parliament on 12th May the EU and the British government should first negotiate an agreement over the situation and the rights of their citizens as a matter urgency, before starting any other talks over the Brexit... Read more |
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| Council :
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| Conclusions of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council
 The 28 Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers approved new rules on 11th May regarding the protection of fishing resources and the protection of marine ecosystems which define how, where and when fishermen can exercise their profession. They also exchanged views about the MedFish4Ever declaration and the conference on the ocean that will take place in New York from 5th to 9th June 2017 in New York... Read more |
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| Prevention and fight to counter violence against women and domestic violence
 On 11th May the Council adopted two decisions regarding the signature of the Convention of the Council of Europe (Istanbul Convention) regarding the prevention and fight to counter violence against women and domestic violence... Read more |
| Other link | Other link |
| Declaration of the EU-Tunisia Association Council
 On 11th May the Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella, published a joint declaration on behalf of the EU's High Representative and her Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui after the EU-Tunisia Association Council. On 10th May a report on the state of EU-Tunisia relations covering the period 2015-2016 was published... Read more |
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| Meeting of the Cooperation Council with Tajikistan
 On 15th May the EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council spoke of the strategy to adopt between the EU and the countries of Central Asia and the political and economic developments ongoing in Tajikistan... Read more |
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| Foreign Affairs Ministers' Meeting
 On 15th May the 28 Foreign Affairs Ministers debated the situation in Africa and notably the Horn of Africa, Venezuela, the Eastern Partnership and the EU's Strategy regarding Security and Defence... Read more |
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| Diplomacy :
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| Antidumping and border controls
 On 11th May the 28 Foreign Affairs Ministers debated the new anti-dumping measures and adopted a recommendation aiming to extend the temporary but exceptional internal border controls for a further 6 months at the most... Read more |
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| Federica Mogherini at the UN
 On the occasion of Europe Day on 9th May the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini re-asserted the EU's commitment to multilateralism, stressing that no State can face the present world crises alone... Read more |
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| International Conference on Somalia in London
 On 11th May an agreement entitled "A new partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in Somalia" was signed between Somalia and the international community with the aim of stabilising this country, which is one of the poorest in the world. The EU's High Representative Federica Mogherini announced aid totalling 200 million €... Read more |
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| Meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel
 On 15th May, French President Emmanuel Macron visited German Chancellor Angela Merkel on his first visit abroad with the aim of re-committing to the key role to be played by the Franco-German couple in a Europe that he would like to "reshape.".. Read more |
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| Arctic Council
 On 11th May the 10th Arctic Council took place in Alaska, thereby opening the presidency of Finland. The 8 Member States (including five European Nordic States) signed an "Agreement to improve international scientific cooperation in the Arctic" with the aim of fighting against climate change... Read more |
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| Court of Justice :
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| ECJ decision on the right to residency in the Union
 On 10th May the Court of Justice delivered a decision establishing that a "citizen from a non-EU country, can in virtue of his status as parent of a minor that has European citizenship, rely on the derived right to residency in the Union.".. Read more |
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| Germany :
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| German Chancellor meets NATO Secretary General
 German Chancellor Angela Merkel met NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg on 11th May in preparation for the meeting of NATO country leaders in Brussels on 25th May and which will focus on sharing the burden of and countering terrorism... Read more |
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| Trade surplus increases in Germany
 The German Statistics Institute Destatis published further data regarding the trade surplus in Germany on 9th May which totalled 25.4 billion € in March... Read more |
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| The CDU wins the elections in North-Rhine Westphalia
 The German Chancellor's Party, the CDU won the elections in North Rhine Westphalia on 14th May, the most populous Land in Germany. The CDU led by Armin Laschet, won with 33% of the vote (+7 points in comparison with 2012). SPD candidate Hannelore Kraft lost as many points taking only 31.5% of the vote - the worst score in the party's history... Read more |
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| Austria :
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| Austrian Vice-Chancellor resigns
 Austrian Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner, head of the People's Party (ÖVP) announced on 10th May that he was resigning from his political office. On 14th he was replaced as ÖVP head by Sebastien Kurz, the Foreign Affairs Minister. A snap election may now be organised... Read more |
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| Bulgaria :
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| Mariya Gabriel, new European Commissioner?
 On 10th May the Bulgarian government announced that it had put MEP Mariya Gabriel forward as the country's representative at the European Commission after the resignation of Kristalina Georgieva at the end of 2016 as Vice-President responsible for the Budget.. Read more |
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| France :
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| Emmanuel Macron becomes president of the French Republic
On 14th May Emmanuel Macron officially became the 8th President of the Republic. Taking over from François Hollande, he was invested at the Elysée. On 15th May he will be travelling to Germany to meet the German Chancellor Angela Merkel... Read more |
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| Edouard Philippe, new French Prime Minister
 On 15th May Edouard Philippe, deputy Mayor of Le Have -LR - 46 years old - was appointed Prime Minister by Emmanuel Macron... Read more |
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| Greece :
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| Contraction of GDP in Greece
 Greece started 2017 with a GDP contraction after 2016 passed by without any growth at all, announced the statistics authorities Elstat on 15th May, just days after the approval of a new series of austerity measures. The GDP contract by 0.1% in the first quarter in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2016 and by 0.5% in comparison with the first quarter of 2016 said Elstat... Read more |
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| Ireland :
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| Michel Barnier calls for non-aggressive negotiations with London
 On 11th May during a speech delivered at the Irish Parliament in Dublin the Brexit negotiator for the EU Michel Barnier called for "non-aggressive" negotiations with London so that the EU and the UK can maintain "strong relations"... Read more |
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| Italy :
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| G7 Finance Ministers Meeting
 The meeting of the G7 Finance Ministers and the governors of the central banks met on 12th and 13th May in Bari to discuss cybersecurity and the fight to counter the financing of terrorism... Read more |
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| The Netherlands :
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| Opening of biggest offshore windfarms in the Netherlands
 The Gemini windfarm in the North Sea, off the coast of the Netherlands celebrated its opening on 8th May. It is one of the biggest offshore farms and will provide energy for one and a half million people... Read more |
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| Kosovo :
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| Collapse of Kosovo government and elections to come
 The Kosovar parliament brought down the government on 10th May as it adopted a motion of censure thereby leading to a snap election. The two main parties in the coalition in office have not agreed over the ratification of an agreement over the definition of the border with Montenegro, a condition for visa exemptions with the EU... Read more |
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| Ukraine :
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| Permission for short stays without visas for the Ukrainians
 On 11th May the EU gave the greenlight for the visa-free entry of Ukrainian citizens into its territory, for stays of under three months, a measure that has been much awaited in Ukraine... Read more |
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| Switzerland :
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| Switzerland limits the arrival of Romanian and Bulgarian workers
 Switzerland announced on 10th May that it was to limit access to its labour market for one year to Romanian and Bulgarian citizens quoting the triggering of the "safeguard clause" provided for in its relations with the EU. On 11th it published a report on the implementation of support measures to the free movement of people between Switzerland and the EU in 2016... Read more |
| Other link | Other link |
| Eurostat :
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| 63,300 asylum seekers deemed to be unaccompanied minors
 In 2016 63,300 asylum seekers asking for international protection in the EU's Member States were deemed to be unaccompanied minors, a number that is one third less than in 2015 but still nearly five times higher than the national average noted over the period 2008-2013 (around 12,000 per year)... Read more |
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| Studies/Reports :
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| A new accelerator at the CERN
 On 9th May the CERN (European Centre for Nuclear Research) presented a new linear accelerator (Linac 4). It is due to feed the CERN accelerator complex with particle beams of higher energy. It took ten years to build... Read more |
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| Culture :
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| European Museum Night
 On 20th May European Museum Night will take place in 30 European countries. The museums are open to all artistic movements with which visitors make up their own visit... Read more |
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| Film Festival Cannes
 One of the biggest cinema festivals in the world and one covered most by the media, the Cannes Festival, is taking place between the 17th to 28th May... Read more |
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| EUROPAfest in Bucharest and Sibiu
 The 24th edition of the EUROPAfest will be taking place in the Romanian cities of Bucharest and Sibiu between 11th and 20th May. This international music festival brings together groups playing jazz, blues, pop and classical music... Read more |
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| Film music festival Krakow
 From 17th to 23rd May Krakow is hosting its Film Music Festival. Grandiose performances on the programme with symphonic orchestras from all around the world which will be playing music from films that will be on screen... Read more |
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| Jazz Festival Slovenia
 From 18th to 20th May the town centre of Cerkno in Slovenia will be moving to the rhythm of jazz on the occasion of its annual music festival... Read more |
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| Brighton Festival
 Until 28th May Brighton is hosting its festival which is one of the biggest British gatherings for the performing arts with parades, theatre plays and circus performances, concerts and dance... Read more |
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| Les Puces du Design
 From 18th to 21st May the "Puces du Design" are taking place in Paris. This is the first historical market exclusively devoted to design in the 1950-2000's, a unique event of this size in France bringing together design, vintage and contemporary... Read more |
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Agenda :
 | | 15May |
| 15th May 2017 Brussels
"Foreign Affairs" Council
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| | | 15May |
| 15th to 18th May 2017 Strasbourg
Plenary session of the European Parliament
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| | | 16May |
| 16th May 2017 Brussels
European Economic Area Council
Brussels
General Affairs Council
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| | | 18May |
| 18th May 2017 Brussels
Justice and Internal Affairs Council
Brussels
Foreign Affairs Council (Defence)
Brussels
Foreign Affairs Council (Development)
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| | | 22May |
| 22nd May 2017 Brussels
General Affairs Council (Article 50)
Brussels
Eurogroup
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| | | 22May |
| 22nd and 23rd May 2017 Brussels
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council
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| The Letter is also available in: |
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| The Letter's Editorial Team : |
| Charles de Marcilly, Helen Levy ;
Laurent Boulay, Hanna Létang, Béatrice Manole,
Elise Mathevon, Lorène Weber.
Editor-in-chief: Charles de Marcilly
Publishing Director: Pascale Joannin
Contact/Suggestions info@robert-schuman.eu |
| The Robert Schuman Foundation, created in 1991 and acknowledged by State decree in 1992, is the main French research centre on Europe. It develops research on the European Union and its policies and promotes the content of these in France, Europe and abroad. It encourages, enriches and stimulates European debate thanks to its research, publications and the organisation of conferences. The Foundation is presided over by Mr. Jean-Dominique Giuliani. |
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