"2011 was a year in which European resolve to respond to crises has been put to the test once again. The European Union has been faced with a series of challenges that have needed immediate and sustained responses - from addressing the ongoing economic and financial crisis, to responding to the uprisings in north Africa and the Middle East, to leading global negotiations on climate change, international trade and development ... The 2011 General Report gives a detailed overview of the activities of the European Union over the last twelve months." (Quoted from paper)