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Having problems in reading this e-mail? Click here Tuesday 11th July 2017 issue 768 The Letter in PDF format The Foundation on and The foundation application available on Appstore and Google Play Coalition democracy in Europe Author: Alexis Fourmont On the continent the formation of a coalition often precedes that of the government. In this regard electoral systems are significant. This paper analyses the various coalition systems within the European Union's Member States. Read more Foundation : Defence - France/Europe - Schuman Report Migration : Council/Italy - Mediterranean - HCR - Commission/Italy Commission : Competition - Mariya Gabriel Council : Meeting /Eurogroup Parliament : Budget/2018 - Taxation - EU/Cuba - Fight/Terrorism Diplomacy : EU/Japan - G20 Court of Justice : Pilots - SNCM European Agencies : Space - Airbus - Customs Germany : Banks - Programme/CDU- CSU - China Spain : Catalonia France : Macron/Congress - Opel/PSA - Policy/Government Greece : ESM/Assistance Poland : USA - Summit/3 seas UK : Ulster Bosnia-Herzegovina : Future/EU Ukraine : Reform OECD : Taxation Studies/Reports : EU/Law - R&D Eurostat : Trade - Tourism Culture : Fiesta/Pamplona - Festival/Dubrovnik - Festival/Jarocin - Benicassim/Festival - Festival/La Rochelle Agenda | Other issues | Contact Foundation : European Defence is now finally possible Jean-Dominique Giuliani, the Foundation's Chairman, published an article in Le Figaro on 10th July on European Defence following the decision taken by the European heads of State and government on 23rd June to step up defence cooperation and to adopt the European Commission's proposals to help finance military equipment... Read more "Pour quelques étoiles de plus... Quelle politique européenne pour la France ?" The Chairman of the Foundation, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, has published "Pour quelques étoiles de plus... Quelle politique européenne pour la France ?" This is an enlightening read at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron has recalled his deep commitment to Europe... Read more Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2017 The "Schuman Report on the Europe, State of the Union, 2017" published by Lignes de Repères in both French and English offers many interesting articles regarding current affairs in Europe. Order your copy online now!.. Read more Migration : The 28 Home Affairs Ministers commit to helping Italy The Home Affairs Ministers who met in Tallinn committed on 6th July to "taking urgent steps" to assist Italy which is overwhelmed by the constant arrivals of migrants on its shores. This situation is "a source of great concern for all Member States," declared Estonia in a press release... Read more More than 100,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean since January More than 100,000 migrants and refugees have arrived since January in Europe crossing the Mediterranean announced the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on 4th July. 2,247 have drowned or been reported missing. Around 85,000 went to Italy, 9,300 to Greece and 6,500 to Spain. Italy is threatening to close its ports to boats rescuing migrants if there is no balanced, strong support in terms of responsibility between the countries of Europe... Read more Other link Rise in refugee and migrant flows crossing from Libya According to an UNHCR study on 3rd July, Libya is by far the most privileged crossing point for refugees and migrants hoping to join Europe, and this in spite of the insecurity that reigns there. Italy alone cannot continue to absorb tens of thousands of migrants who are arriving on its shores, warns the UN which is demanding the introduction of a system to share out the burden... Read more Other link Migratory "action plan" to help Italy On 4th July the European Commission put forward an "action plan" in support of Italy which is overwhelmed by the constant arrivals of migrants on its shores as they cross over from Libya. The plan notably provides for further funding to help the Italian and Libyan authorities control the situation... Read more Other link Commission : Three companies suspected of infringing merger procedure rules On 6th July via the intermediary of its Competition Commissioner Margreth Vestager the European Commission accused the German group, Merck, American General Electric and the Japanese giant Canon of having infringed Europe's rules in terms of merger procedures... Read more Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for the Economy and Digital Society On 4th July MEPs approved the appointment of Mariya Gabriel 517 votes in support, 77 against and 89 abstentions as Commissioner for the Economy and Digital Society. A hearing was organised on 20th June last... Read more Other link Council : Eurogroup Meeting On 10th July the members of the Eurogroup met to discuss the deepening of Economic and Monetary Union. They discussed insolvency, the Italian banking sector, the hierarchy of creditors in the euro zone, the protection of private investors, the correct assessment of assets and transparency. All of this progress is vital to complete banking union... Read more Other link Parliament : Resolution on the budget 2018 On 5th July MEPs adopted a resolution on the EU's 2018 budget including principles to follow during the budgetary negotiations with the Council. The resolution was adopted 445 votes in support, 144 against and 80 abstentions... Read more Greater tax transparency for multinationals On 4th July MEPs adopted the draft directive obliging businesses whose turnover is above 750 million € to publish yearly "country by country" tax and accounting data of their business... Read more Other link European Parliament's greenlight to the first EU-Cuba cooperation agreement MEPs gave their greenlight 567 votes in support, 65 against and 31 abstentions on 5th July to the entry into force of the very first "political and cooperation dialogue" agreement between the EU and Cuba... Read more Other link New committee on the fight to counter terrorism On 6th July MEPs approved (527 votes in support, 73 against and 36 abstentions) the establishment of a new special committee for a duration of 12 months in order to remedy the practical and legislative shortfalls in the fight to counter terrorism.. Read more Diplomacy : EU/Japan Summit: Economic and Strategic Partnership Agreements On 6th July the European and Japanese leaders concluded a political agreement in principle in two areas: the economic partnership agreement and the strategic partnership agreement... Read more Other link G20 Summit Hamburg On 7th and 8th July the leaders of the G20 met in Hamburg. A final declaration was adopted as well as an action plan to counter terrorism... Read more Other link | Other link Court of Justice : Legal age limit for airline pilots According to a decision delivered by the European Court of Justice on 5th July the age limit of 65 years laid down in EU law for pilots of commercial aircraft transporting passengers, cargo or mail is valid. It is justified by the goal of ensuring civil aviation safety in Europe... Read more Illegal State aid received from France by SNCM According to a decision delivered by the EU's General Court, the provision of capital and privatisation measures adopted by France in support of the Société Nationale Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) constitute illegal State aid that is incompatible with the internal market... Read more European Agencies : Spaceship for the first European mission to Mercury unveiled On 6th July the European and Japanese Space Agencies (ESA & JAXA) unveiled their spaceship that is due to start a 7 year trip next year to Mercury. The first European mission of its kind comprises the BepiColombo ship that is equipped with two modules that will separate to orbit around the smallest and least explored planet in our solar system... Read more Airbus: record sale of 140 planes to China The Chairman of Airbus announced during a press conference on 5th July in Berlin that the European plane manufacturer had signed a "framework agreement" with a Chinese company "CAS" (China Aviation Supplies Holding Company) for the sale of 140 planes to a total value of 22.8 billion $... Read more 122 tons of illegal or counterfeit pesticides seized by the European customs services On 6th July the European customs services seized 122 tonnes of illegal pesticides as they searched ships and airplanes entering Europe during a vast operation called "Silver Axe II" over 10 days, undertaken in 16 European countries. In this operation the customs services, Europol officers and the European anti-fraud office, OLAF worked together... Read more Germany : The Sumitomo Mitsui Bank sets up in Frankfurt in view of Brexit The third Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group announced on 3rd July the creation of a branch in Frankfurt in preparation for the UK's exit of the EU in 2019... Read more CDU-CSU electoral programme - Germany On 3rd July the CDU and the CSU published their electoral programme 2017-2021, committing themselves to full employment by 2025, to an increase of 15,000 work posts in the police force and the launch of a "Marshall plan for Africa". They say they are prepared to work with the French government to strengthen the euro zone progressively but are against the pooling of the debt... Read more Other link Visit by the Chinese President Xi Jinping in Germany On 5th July Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He declared that "Sino-German relations are now about to experience a new start which has to succeed.".. Read more Spain : Catalonia unveils its "self-rule referendum bill" On 4th July the Catalan government unveiled the proposal for a "referendum bill" which will be submitted to the regional Parliament for a vote within the next few weeks - the Spanish State is still refusing to acknowledge this vote... Read more Other link France : Emmanuel Macron's speech to Congress On 3rd July French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to MPs and Senators in Versailles. He announced several measures and also repeated that "more than ever before we need Europe.".