Fondation Robert Schuman

Our activities in December 2024

■ Editorials :

2024: an erratic year

22/12/2024

In an unstable, erratic world, Europe is being tossed about and battered, and the challenges are many. For Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Europe must adapt to ensure and guarantee its prosperity, to remain the cultural and political beacon to which its nations aspire, and to draw on the strength of enthusiasm needed to build a future as bright as its past.

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In the media

2024 : an erratic year

28/12/2024

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Trump, Europe, Ukraine and Russia

15/12/2024

For Europeans, the challenge of peace in Ukraine is also an American one. Will Europeans ever understand that our American allies also have their own interests, which do not always coincide with those of Europe? For Jean-Dominique Giuliani, the return of Donald Trump should encourage Europeans to take more control of their own destiny. Peace in Ukraine must go beyond a possible American-Russian agreement, it must be achieved for and by Europe.

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People are still dying for Europe

01/12/2024

While often disenchanted Europeans are still squabbling over domestic political issues, in their immediate neighbourhood there is once again a vibrant and dramatic call for help. On the borders of the European Union, people are risking their lives to gain access. For Jean-Dominique Giuliani, the events underway in Georgia are proof of the determination of populations for whom Europe represents a goal and a future. An aspiration shared by both Georgians and Ukrainians.

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■ Publications :

The Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2024

25,00€ - paper format

Shop | The Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union is available on the Robert Schuman Foundation website. It contains detailed maps as well as analyses by eminent researchers and leading political figures such as Emmanuel Macron, Roberta Metsola and Ursula von der Leyen. As such, it is an excellent reference work for furthering your knowledge of the European Union.

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■ Schuman papers :

The role of local communities in European policies

23/12/2024

While the news usually focuses on the - sometimes tense - relations between ‘Brussels’ and the national capitals, the day-to-day life of local authorities is linked to European integration. In this study, Fairouz Hondema-Mokrane reviews the trilateral relations between local authorities, Member States and the European Union regarding the management of cohesion funds.

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The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, a Socialist from the South

16/12/2024

The former Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, took over the Presidency of the European Council on 1 December. Unlike his three Belgian and Polish predecessors, António Costa comes from the south of the continent. He is also the first Socialist to hold the post, after two EPPs and one Liberal. This political choice is explained by the desire to represent the European majority (EPP, S&D, Renew) which already existed in 2019. This study by David Fajolles and Elise Bernard paints a portrait of the new President and looks back at his past political achievements in an attempt to outline the contours of his forthcoming term of office.

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A path to controlled immigration

09/12/2024

Europe must change its immigration policy completely. It must move from being a "fortress Europe" to a Europe that organises its immigration so that it is conducive to its economic development. This study by Joël Dine looks at the migration challenges facing the European Union and suggests ways of curbing illegal immigration and training people to meet Europe's needs.

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A review of the von der Leyen Commission I (2019-2024)

02/12/2024

As the new European Commission takes office, this study by Elise Bernard looks back at the key events of the previous term. The von der Leyen I Commission, which its President had wanted to be ‘geopolitical’, was marked by a succession of major crises that have shaped European policies over the last five years.

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■ European elections monitor :

The outgoing President of the Republic, Zoran Milanovic, could retain his post in Croatia

16/12/2024

Croatians are invited to elect their President of the Republic. The 1st round of the presidential election will be held on 29 December and the 2nd on 12 January. Zoran Milanovic, the outgoing president and candidate to succeed him, is up against seven other candidates, including Dragan Primorac. Opinion polls suggest that he will win the second round.

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Cancellation of the presidential election in Romania

06/12/2024

On 6 December, Romania's Constitutional Court invalidated the results of the first round of the presidential election and cancelled the second round of voting, which had been scheduled for 8 December and was to have pitted the far-right, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu against the liberal Elena Lasconi.

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In the media

The Social Democratic Party came out on top in Romania's parliamentary elections, but far-right forces made a breakthrough

02/12/2024

The Social Democratic Party (PSD), led by outgoing Prime Minister Ion-Marcel Ciolacu, came out ahead in the 1 December parliamentary elections in Romania, with 21.97% of the vote in the Chamber of Deputies (Camera deputatilor) and 22.31% in the Senate (Senatul)". It was ahead of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), which won 18% of the vote in the lower house and 18.29% in the upper house. The National Liberal Party (PNL) won 13.20% of the vote in the Chamber of Deputies and 14.29% in the Senate. "Save Romania" (USR) won 12.4% in the lower house and 11.25% in the Senate. Negotiations to form the future government could be long and difficult.

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The outgoing coalition is expected to be re-elected in Ireland

02/12/2024

Fianna Fail (FF) (Soldiers of Destiny), led by Micheal Martin, came out ahead in Ireland's general election on 29 November, with 21.9% of the vote (first preference). It was ahead of Fine Gael (FG) (Clan of Gaels), the party of the Taoiseach (name of the Prime Minister in Ireland) Simon Harris, which secured 20.8% of the vote." These results differ from the opinion polls which had given Simon Harris' party the lead in the elections. But the outgoing coalition could be renewed with the addition of another party.

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■ Events :

Brussels’ World Simulation

10/12/2024

Juliette Bachschmidt, research assistant at the Robert Schuman Foundation, represented the Foundation at the 7th Brussels' World Simulation organised by the Institute of Political Studies in Aix-en-Provence.

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Jacques Barrot, a Christian Democrat from one century to the next (1937-2014)

06/12/2024

Jacques Barrot died on 3 December 2014, after a long career in local, national and European politics spanning fifty years. Ten years on, the aim of this study day was to examine the three key moments in his political life, through his local and departmental roots in Haute-Loire, his national commitment as an MP, committee and parliamentary group chairman, minister and member of the Council, and his European action within the Commission (3rd round table).

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In the media

Ten years after his death, the legacy of Jacques Barrot

03/12/2024

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Europe's new political and international challenges

05/12/2024

The association « Femmes débat et société » Poitou-Charentes invited Pascale Joannin, Managing Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation, to talk of the challenges facing Europe as the new European institutions take office following their renewal.

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Debating Europe in the feminine plural

08/12/2024

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New Commission, a fighting Commission?

05/12/2024

Invited by the European University Centre in Nancy, Elise Bernard, Head of Research at the Foundation, explains the challenges facing the new Commission.

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The European Data Market

On 28th November the Centre for European Studies and the International Comparative European Law Team at the University of Lyon III organised a conference on the European data market. Pascale Joannin concluded the proceedings on the future of the European data market.

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■ Sites :

The Schuman Network of ideas in Europe

Initiated by the Robert Schuman Foundation in November 2023, the Schuman Network comprises 21 think-tanks from 13 European countries. With 148 studies shared since its creation, this initiative enriches debate and stimulates ideas about Europe. The Schuman Network encourages exchanges between researchers specialising in European issues and facilitates the sharing of studies.

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Everything you need to know about the new European Parliament

The European Parliament has created two new parliamentary committees, illustrating the changes taking place in this European institution. The Robert Schuman Foundation has set up a website to help you better understand the role of the Parliament, its composition and news.

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Summary table of pension systems in Europe

The Foundation offers a summary table of all the different pension systems in the 27 Member States of the European Union, updated regularly.

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European recovery plans: figures and priorities

In response to the economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, to limit the risk of disparities within the single market and to implement the dual climate and digital transition, the European Union established a €672.5 billion recovery fund, known as the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The Foundation's interactive map provides a country-by-country summary of the plans, including amounts, timetables and priorities.

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■ The foundation in the media :

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