Source: World Economic Forum, Executive Opinion Survey 2017-2018

[1 = extremely low; 7 = extremely high]

Authors: Dr Nicolai von Ondarza is Head of the EU/Europe Division at SWP, Felix Schenuit is Research Assistant of the EU/Europe Division at SWP.

• Un seuil de pauvreté à 1026 euros par mois: Selon l'Insee, le seuil de pauvreté monétaire en France s'élevait à 1026 euros par mois en 2016. Ce chiffre correspond à 60% du niveau de vie médian de la population. Le niveau de vie médian - qui sépare la population française en deux parts égales - était de 1710 euros par mois en 2016.

• 8,8 millions de pauvres: La France comptait 8,8 millions de pauvres en 2016, selon l'Insee. En d'autres termes, 8,8 millions de personnes vivaient sous le seuil de pauvreté monétaire.

UK banks and other financial companies have shifted at least $1 trillion worth of assets out of the country and into the European Union because of Brexit. Many banks have set up new offices elsewhere in the European Union to safeguard their regional operations after Brexit, which means they also have to move substantial assets there to satisfy EU regulators. Other firms are moving assets to protect clients against market volatility and sudden changes in regulation.

Governments and policymakers at large cannot overcome the challenges of poverty and social exclusion without addressing the issues of inequalities within the country, whether economic or social inequalities. The European Union has struggled with inequalities in the distribution of income over the years. Income inequality is measured by Gini coefficient and shows how evenly incomes are distributed among the population of a given country. It highlights the gap between different individuals or households’ disposable income.

Recent political events sweeping democratic strongholds around the world reflect a deep loss of faith in government. Citizens perceive their institutions to be captured by elites who are disconnected from the needs of their constituents or complicit in schemes that benefit the powerful at the expense of ordinary citizens. Restoring trust in institutions is arguably one of the most pressing challenges for democracies in the 21st century.

Members of Parliament (MPs) will vote on the UK's Brexit deal in the week beginning 14 January 2019. Nobody knows if MPs will approve it or not.ervative Party

MPs will be voting either to give their support to or reject two things which make up Mrs May's deal:

Source: Transparency International

Belgium

Belgian Federal Election: The 2019 Belgian federal election will take place on 26 May as the 2019 European Parliament elections. In the election, all 150 members of the Chamber of Representatives will be elected in eleven multi-member constituencies.

To regain public trust, the European Parliament, the European Commission and Member State governments need to prioritise the following key issues on the agenda for the coming debates for the European Parliament elections, the new Commission and the Future of Europe.