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| Tuesday 11th July 2023 | issue 1031 |
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| The foundation application available on Appstore and Google Play |
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| Space Fordism and Europe |
| Authors: Olivier Bomsel, Alice Dagicour | | Although Ariane 5 has just successfully completed its final launch, Europe's space industry appears to be lagging behind. It needs to build a new industrial strategy and reform the sector's institutions to meet the challenges posed by the Americans and the Chinese.
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| Agenda | Other issues | Contact |
| Front page! :
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| The European Union, NATO and Europe's Security
The complementarity between NATO, which is holding its summit in Vilnius on 11 and 12 July, and the European Union has never been more evident than since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, writes Jean-Dominique Giuliani... Read more |
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| Foundation :
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| Publication of the Schuman Report, the State of the Union 2023
Europe has changed... This is what is shown by the "Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2023", as it analyses the profound changes that have taken place in Europe, accelerated by the shock of the war in Ukraine. This 17th edition, published by Marie B., includes 19 contributions by high-level personalities, including one by Pierre Vimont on "A new European security architecture". It also includes 30 original maps and a full set of annotated statistics. The book is available in paper and digital versions in French, and in digital format in English. Order your copy now!.. Read more |
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| Diplomacy :
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| Signing of the free trade agreement with New Zealand
On 9 July, the European Union and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement that is expected to boost their bilateral trade by 30% over the next decade. To come into force, the agreement must be approved by the European and New Zealand Parliaments. New Zealand will also participate in Horizon Europe, the European research and innovation programme... Read more |
| Other link | Other link |
| Commission :
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| Rules on the application of the RGPD
On 4 July, the Commission presented a regulation to improve the application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through better cooperation between national authorities in disputes involving several Member States... Read more |
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| Proposal regarding new genomic techniques
On 5 July, the Commission proposed a package of measures for the sustainable use of essential natural resources and to strengthen the resilience of the EU's agricultural and food sectors. It wants to enable "safe use of technical advances in new genomic techniques" to make crops more resistant to climate change and reduce the use of pesticides... Read more |
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| New rules regarding the management of textile waste
On 5 July, the Commission presented new rules on the circular economy and the textile sector. The aim is to make producers responsible for the entire life cycle of textile products, and to encourage more sustainable management of their waste... Read more |
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| Council :
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| EMPACT crime-fighting initiatives
On 3 July, the Council published the results for 2022 of actions to combat crime under EMPACT, the European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats, which ensures an integrated approach to internal security. Across the 15 crime areas defined by the platform, law enforcement and judicial actions have led to 9,922 arrests, including 3,646 people smugglers, more than €180 million seized and 62 tonnes of drugs seized... Read more |
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| European Agencies :
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| Final launch of the Ariane-5 rocket
On 5 July, the European Ariane-5 rocket was launched for the 117th and final time from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. It successfully placed two satellites into orbit: the Syracue 4B defence satellite and a German technology demonstration satellite, Heinrich Hertz. It is due to be succeeded by the Ariane-6 rocket in 2024... Read more |
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| Around a million asylum requests in 2022
On 4 July, the European Union Asylum Agency published its annual report on asylum in European countries. In 2022, around 1 million asylum applications were registered in the European Union, the highest number since 2016. In addition, 4 million Ukrainians have fled the Russian invasion and are benefiting from a special temporary protection status... Read more |
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| Report on glyphosate
In a study submitted to the European Commission on 6 July, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that glyphosate, a controversial weedkiller, does not present a "critical area of concern" that would prevent the renewal of its authorisation in the European Union. The EFSA explains that it has not "identified any critical areas of concern for glyphosate in humans, animals and the environment", but does note "a high long-term risk in mammals" for half of the proposed uses of this weedkiller... Read more |
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| Court of Justice :
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| Data protection ruling
The Court of Justice ruled on 4 July that national competition authorities have the ability to take into account breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as part of their market abuse investigations. This ruling stems from a 2019 case in which the German competition authority investigated the activities of Meta, Facebook's parent company, observing that privacy breaches should be treated as an abuse of a dominant position... Read more |
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| Catalan independence leaders have their immunity lifted
On 5 July, the Court of Justice rejected the appeal by the three Catalan pro-independence MEPs, Carles Puidgemont, Clara Ponsati and Toni Comin, concerning the lifting of their immunity by the European Parliament in 2021. This sanction was imposed following their involvement in Catalonia's failed secession attempt in 2017... Read more |
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| Court of Auditors :
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| Report on the circular economy
On 3 July, the European Court of Auditors published a report on the circular economy which deplores the fact that "the measures and the mobilisation of several billion euros have had only a limited impact on the transition of the EU-27". The report considers that the stated objective of doubling the proportion of recycled materials by 2030 is "particularly ambitious"... Read more |
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| ECB :
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| Consultation on new bank note themes
On 10 July, the European Central Bank officially launched a process to select new, less abstract designs for banknotes. Europeans are invited to indicate their preferences between the pre-selected themes in a public survey open until 31 August... Read more |
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| European Patents Office :
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| European Inventors' Prize
On 4 July, the European Patent Office (EPO) awarded the "European Inventors of the Year" prize to a group of Finnish, French and Irish researchers. In the "industry" category, the award went to Finnish and Czech chemists who have developed a sustainable aviation fuel. In the research category, a French team was singled out for its invention of a solid hydrogen storage system. In the "SME" category, two Irish physicists were honoured for the development of a composite material to reduce noise, with possible applications in the space and automotive industries... Read more |
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| Germany :
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| 2024 budget: the government wants to reduce public spending
On 5 July, the German government adopted Germany's federal budget for 2024 and the financial programming for the period up to 2027. The budget should total €445.7 billion in revenue and expenditure, almost €31 billion less than for the current year. Germany is thus within the regulatory limit of the debt brake rule... Read more |
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| Spain :
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| Visit by the Commission
On 3 July, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, hosted the College of Commissioners in Madrid to mark the start of the Spanish Presidency of the Council and to recall the challenges facing Europe and the changes needed to meet them... Read more |
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| Greece :
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| Vote of confidence for the new government
On 9 July, the Greek Parliament voted 158 to 142 in favour of the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (New Democracy), which was formed following the legislative elections of 25 June... Read more |
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| Latvia :
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| Edgars Rinkēvičs sworn in and affirms his support for Ukraine
The new Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics was sworn in before Parliament on 8 July. The 49-year-old former foreign minister was elected president at the end of May. In his inaugural speech, he promised to work for a strong, modern, fair and secure Latvia, and to support Ukraine... Read more |
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| The Netherlands :
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| Fall of the government and new elections
On 8 July, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte tendered the resignation of his coalition government following the failure of discussions on migration policy. Early general elections are due to be held in the autumn... Read more |
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| Ukraine :
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| Agreement on aid for ammunition production
On 7 July, the Council and Parliament reached agreement on the regulation establishing the action in support of ammunition production (ASAP). A total of €500 million will be made available in the form of loans and financial assistance to companies, in order to increase the production of shells and missiles in the European Union... Read more |
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| International centre to prosecute Russian aggression opens
The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) began operations in The Hague on 3 July. This centre is responsible for investigating the Russian crime of aggression with a view to preparing future trials, and will work in collaboration with the Commission and Eurojust... Read more |
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| Visit to Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Sofia on 6 July to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the energy sector. He then travelled to Prague, where President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala assured him of their country's support for Ukraine's membership of the European Union and NATO. On 7 July, in Bratislava, he met President Zuzana Caputova and discussed cooperation on defence and foreign policy. Finally, he travelled to Istanbul to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders discussed Ukraine's membership of NATO and military and industrial cooperation... Read more |
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| NATO :
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| Extension of Jens Stoltenberg's term of office
On 4 July, NATO countries announced the extension of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's term of office for a further year, until 1 October 2024. This decision will be ratified by the Alliance heads of state and government at the Vilnius summit on 11 and 12 July... Read more |
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| Eurobarometer :
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| Roaming charges survey
On 3 July, the Commission published the results of a Eurobarometer survey on roaming charges. Over 81% of EU residents who have travelled in the last two years have been able to call, text and use mobile data at no extra cost... Read more |
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| Studies/Reports :
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| 2023 Strategic Outlook Report
On 6 July, the Commission presented its annual Strategic Outlook 2023. It analyses how to put sustainability and human well-being at the heart of Europe's open strategic autonomy... Read more |
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| Annual report on the rule of law
On 5 July, the Commission published its annual report on the state of the rule of law in the European Union. It welcomes the fact that the Member States have fully or partially implemented 65% of its recommendations from the previous year. It notes, however, that progress still needs to be made on the independence of judges and the media, and on the fight against corruption, particularly in Hungary and Poland... Read more |
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| Culture :
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| Iannis Xenakis Exhibition at the Museum for Contemporary Art Athens
The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens, in collaboration with the Philharmonie de Paris, is organising an exhibition entitled "Iannis Xenakis: sonic odyssey" until 7 January 2024, which aims to highlight the creative genius of this avant-garde Greek musician... Read more |
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| The Festival of Avignon
The 77th Festival d'Avignon will be running until 25 July. The programme includes 44 shows, as well as film screenings and exhibitions... Read more |
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| Chamber Music Festival Kuhmo
The 53rd Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival is being held in Finland until 22 July. The theme is "Roots and Wings". With 4 to 5 concerts a day, spectators can discover both traditional and new chamber works. In addition to the concerts, there are also instrument demonstrations, meetings with artists and composers, and exhibitions... Read more |
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| Cool Jazz Festival in Cascais
A benchmark in the world of pop, soul and jazz, the Cool Jazz festival is taking place in Cascais, Portugal, until 29 July, with a host of celebrities on the bill... Read more |
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| Summer Festival in Dubrovnik
The 74th Dubrovnik Summer Festival will be running until 25 August. Numerous concerts, dance and theatrical performances are scheduled in the heart of the old town... Read more |
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| Jazz in Juan
The 62nd edition of the Jazz de Juan-les-Pins festival will be running until 21 July. The festival will be accompanied by a series of jazz exhibitions... Read more |
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| Pärnu Music Festival
The Pärnu Music Festival, one of Estonia's most renowned international classical music events, will run until 21 July. As well as 10 concerts, the festival also includes the Järvi Academy and master classes for young musicians and conductors... Read more |
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| Rococo Exhibition in Silesia, Wroclaw
Until 14 January 2024, the National Museum in Wroclaw is presenting an exhibition entitled "Rococo Madness! The Fascination of Rococo in Silesia". This exhibition shows the stylistic changes that took place in Silesia in the second half of the 18th century, followed by a renewed fascination with these trends in the late 19th and early 20th centuries... Read more |
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| Isa Genzken Exhibition in Berlin
Until 27 November, the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin is paying tribute to the German artist Isa Genzken on the occasion of her 75th birthday. The 75 sculptures on show represent the various creative phases the artist has experienced since the 1970s... Read more |
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| 30th Verbier Festival
The 30th edition of the Verbier Festival, an international classical music event held in the Swiss Alps mountain resort, will run until 30 July... Read more |
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| Michael Rakowitz Exhibition in Gateshead
Until 26 May 2024, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead is hosting an exhibition by Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz. Organised as part of a programme to honour the memory of the conflicts of the 20th century, the exhibition is conceived as a hanging garden populated by Rakowitz's sculptures inspired by Babylonian art. The installation represents the archaeological cultural heritage looted or destroyed in Iraq and Syria since the invasion of Iraq in 2003... Read more |
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| Yayoi Kusama at the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao
Until 8 October, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is holding an exhibition entitled "Yayoi Kusama: from 1945 to the present day". The exhibition showcases the Japanese artist's rich and complex work. The exhibition is devoted in particular to her existential questions, which truly guide her paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations... Read more |
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Agenda :
| | 10-13 July Strasbourg
Plenary Session of the European Parliament
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| | 11 July 2023 Valladolid
Informal Meeting of Energy Ministers
Vilnius
NATO Summit
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| | 13 July 2023 Brussels
EU-Japan Summit Eurogroup Meeting
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| | 14 July 2023 Brussels
Economic and Financial Affairs Council
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| The Letter's Editorial Team : |
| Stefanie Buzmaniuk, Helen Levy ;
Basile Desvignes, Romain Maillot, Lina Nathan, Sixtine Hartog
Editors-in-chief: Eric Maurice
Publishing Director: Pascale Joannin
N° ISSN : 2729-6482
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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