Pension systems are regularly the subject of debate in the Member States and discussions at European level because of their weight on budgets and the demographic evolution of Europe. While each country has its own system, the Foundation offers a comparative table to better understand the situation in each country and the issues involved.

Europe has changed ... this is what the "Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2023" shows, as it analyses the profound changes that have occurred in Europe, accelerated by the shock of the war in Ukraine. This 17th (14th in English) edition published by Marie B. includes 19 contributions from prominent figures, 30 original maps and a complete set of commented statistics. The book is available in digital format. Order your copy now!

On 15 April, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria announced that they were suspending imports of agricultural products, including cereals, from Ukraine, which they accused of destabilising their markets. On 18 April, Ukraine and Poland reached an agreement to allow the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products. On 19 April, the Commission proposed a number of measures, including agricultural financial support to affected farmers, exceptional product safeguards and measures to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain exports through solidarity corridors. These measures are conditional on the lifting by the Member States concerned of their unilateral measures.

On 19 and 20 April, the International Summit of Cities and Regions took place in Kyiv. The event brought together representatives of Ukraine, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the governments of each Member State and partner states to discuss the reconstruction of Ukraine. In a joint declaration, they confirmed their wish to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine and defined the guiding principles of this initiative. 11 agreements were signed between Ukrainian regions, cities and communities and foreign partners.

On 20 April, Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, was in Ukraine to sign an agreement on behalf of the European Union granting Ukraine membership of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU's solidarity framework for helping states that are unable to cope with a disaster. As part of this, the EU has announced an additional €55 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to prepare for the coming winter.

The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud-Basso, visited Kyiv on 21 April to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterate the institution's support for Ukraine. The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Ukraine with an investment commitment of €3 billion in 2022-2023. In an article for the Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2023, which the Foundation has just published, Odile Renaud-Basso recalls that the first priority of these investments is to ensure access to essential public services for Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries.

On 21 April, Olena Zelenska met with European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Suica, Swedish Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall and European Parliament Vice-President Ewa Kopacz, Coordinator for Children's Rights. They discussed the establishment of an office that will coordinate the reform of the education system for orphans and children without parental care, which should be funded by the EBRD. On the same day, the Ukrainian Commissioner for Children's Rights, Daria Herasymchuk, met with the delegation from the European Commission, the European Parliament and Sweden to discuss the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

On 18 April, the Commission presented its reform of the EU framework for bank crisis management and deposit insurance, which should allow authorities to organise the exit of a failing bank from the market through new tools.

On 18 April, MEPs adopted five texts as part of the objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. These include the reform of the emissions trading scheme, including for aviation, the creation of a new mechanism to combat carbon leakage (MACF, carbon adjustment mechanism at borders) and a Social Climate Fund.

On 19 April, MEPs adopted a regulation on deforestation that obliges companies to sell their products in the EU only if they declare that they do not come from deforested land and have not caused forest degradation. They will also have to check that these products respect the legislation of the country of production, including human rights. The regulation now has to be approved by the Council.

On 20 April, MEPs adopted a negotiating mandate for the new regulation on the screening of foreign nationals, the regulation on asylum and migration management, the regulation on crisis situations and the revision of the directive on long-term residents. Agreement must now be reached with the Council on these texts.

On 20 April, MEPs adopted the Regulation on crypto-asset markets (MiCA) enabling the tracing of crypto-asset transactions, combating market manipulation, preventing money laundering and the financing of criminal activities. The regulation must now be formally adopted by the Council.

The environment ministers met informally on 18-19 April in Stockholm. They discussed the challenges of achieving the green transition, the role of business and its actions for biodiversity and competitiveness.

Following the extremely rapid deterioration of the security situation in Sudan on 23 April, several European states announced that they were coordinating evacuation operations for their diplomatic personnel and nationals. France is also contributing to the evacuation of nationals of European and allied countries, as well as European diplomatic personnel.

On 20 April, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, announced the appointment of 40 Heads of Delegation and one Chargé d'Affaires of the European Union.

On 21 April, Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye's remarks on the French channel LCI, which included questioning the "sovereign status" of the former USSR territories, led to strong protests. While Lu Shaye will have to explain himself to the French Foreign Ministry, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have also decided to summon the Chinese ambassadors.

On 23 April, a presidential decree announced the dissolution of the Vouli, the Greek parliament. This dissolution, which launches the election campaign, comes one month before the parliamentary elections on 21 May. The mandate of the Greek Parliament expires on 7 July.

On 20 April, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, met with the Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen. They discussed the summit of heads of state and government to be held in Reykjavik on 16 and 17 May. She also met with Minister of Justice Alma Zadic to discuss the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights and she also attended meetings at the OSCE.

Until 31 May, the Linen Hall in Belfast is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, signed on 10 April 1998 to end 30 years of deadly conflict in Northern Ireland. Thousands of artefacts, cartoons, badges, posters and other objects document the preparation and the consequences of the peace agreement in Northern Ireland.

Until 27 August, the Petit Palais in Paris is hosting an exhibition devoted to the greatest French actress of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Sarah Bernhardt. The exhibition retraces the life and career of the actress and seeks to highlight her activity as a painter, writer and sculptor. More than 400 pieces are on display, including some of her stage costumes, photographs, posters and sculptures.

Until 14 January 2024, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm is holding an exhibition devoted to several women artists who emerged in the 1980s. The exhibition brings together various works by these artists, including photographs, plastic creations and paintings.

Until 26 November, the Punta della Dogana art museum in Venice presents an exhibition focusing on the themes of the icon and the status of the image. The exhibition proposes a reflection on the place of the image in rituals, on its capacity to transcend and its polysemic character. The exhibition brings together a selection of emblematic works from the Pinault Collection and places certain artists such as David Hammons and Agnes Martin and Danh Vo and Rudolf Stingel in dialogue.

Until 7 May, the Galeria Kordegarda in Warsaw is presenting an exhibition on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. One of the most important items in the exhibition is the Stroop report. The exhibition also presents drawings, photographs and posters that bear witness to the event.

Until 31 December, the Musée de la Romanité in Nîmes is presenting an exhibition built around the figure of Olivier Laric, exploring the link between Antiquity and the contemporary world. The exhibition aims to show that the museum's archaeological collections continue to inspire creators and that they can occupy a new place in a world marked by the digital revolution and the use of the Internet.

The 19th Berlin Gallery Weekend will take place from 28 to 30 April. 55 Berlin galleries are taking part in this event, which is spread over more than 50 locations and brings together almost 80 international artists.

Until 21 July, the exhibition 'Baroque in Florence' at Bozar Brussels brings together a collection of 17th-century Florentine artists. Some of the works on display are being shown for the first time in Belgium.

An exhibition dedicated to the work of the Baroque artist Francisco de Herrera is being held at the Prado National Museum in Madrid until 30 July. The museum has gathered a number of his paintings for the occasion, some of which have even been recently restored by the museum staff. The exhibition also aims to highlight the artist's Italian period, during which he further developed his painting technique.

Until 7 May, the Latin music festival "La Linea" is taking place in several London cafés and clubs. The event is an opportunity to showcase young artists and the diversity of the Latin music scene.