EurActiv.fr together with the Robert Schuman Foundation is organising a debate with Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Financial Services on 17th March at Sciences Po. It is obligatory to enrol.

In the fourth quarter of 2009 the GDP decreased by 0.3% in comparison with the previous quarter and by 3% in comparison with the same period in 2008 according to data published by the National Statistics Institute (Istat) on 10th March.

The European Commission put forward a legislative measure on 9th March to help citizens exercise their right to a fair trial in Europe when they do not understand the language spoken during the procedure. This measure aims to establish common standards in penal affairs (right to information, legal assistance, the protection of vulnerable suspects and the right communicate with family, employers and consular authorities) to provide greater protection to European citizens in terms of their rights. More and more Europeans travel, study and work in another Member State and are therefore more likely to be involved in legal procedures. Moreover a common base of standards would encourage legal cooperation as part of the European arrest warrant.

On 10th March MEPs adopted 462 votes in favour, 140 against a resolution on the EU strategy for 2020 which should in their opinion focus on reducing unemployment, better coordination of economic policies, the finalisation of the internal market and enhance economic governance including realistic, quantifiable goals and restrictive rules. MEPs believe that the community funding must be subordinate to results and correspond to the strategy's goals. To face the problem of unemployment, notably that of young people the EU must implement an ambitious social agenda to include the fight against poverty, the reduction of school drop-out rates, life-long apprenticeship and the fight against discrimination.

On 8th March the 27 European Employment and Healthcare Ministers voted on the action to take to eradicate violence against women in the Union (notably a common toll-free telephone number - this would provide information and assistance to victims). They adopted a directive to enhance the protection of independent workers "to eliminate impediments to female entrepreneurs" and for "assisting spouses". They decided to extend the length of parental leave from three to four months for each parent with at least one month that cannot be transferred, so that fathers are encouraged to take the leave in question. In the domain of employment Ministers gave the greenlight to a micro funding programme to support small companies and help the unemployed to create their own businesses. This aid comprises a total package of 100 million euros.

Operators with installations located close to a polluted area may be deemed to be liable for the pollution said the European Court of Justice on 9th March thereby confirming the polluter-pays principle. The Court believes that the national authorities have the right to do this - if they have "plausible evidence" to "presume the existence of a causal link between the operators and the pollution observed". The Court was consulted by an Italian court after several companies from the petrol and petro-chemical industries in the region of Priolo Gargallo (Sicily) challenged sentences they had received for having polluted the Augusta roadstead.

During a meeting in Luxembourg on 9th March with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, German Chancellor Angela Merkel provided her support to the idea of creating a European Monetary Fund (EMF) which will enable Europe to respond in the future in the event of difficulties of payment on the part of a euro area country. This idea was launched by German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble and found support with the European Commission. Angela Merkel believes that the partners in the euro area now share the joint responsiblity of ensuring new stability for the single currency. The Greek affair highlighted the difficulty the euro area experienced in finding answers when one of its members, heavily in debt, is facing a confidence crisis. Paradoxically the EU can help the countries which are not members of the euro area but it does not have the appropriate tools if the crisis affects one of the Eurogroup members because of a "no bail-out" clause.

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme was in Macedonia on 8th March to meet his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski. They notably discussed the issue of asylum seekers. "My country does not give political asylum to economic refugees," declared Yves Leterme. On 9th March in Kosovo the Belgian Prime Minister indicated that the stability and integration of the Balkans will not be complete without the accession of Kosovo to the EU. He recalled that Belgium was one of the first countries to acknowledge Kosovo's independence and invited the States that still had not done so to acknowledge Kosovo.

In his report "Denmark 2020: Knowledge - Growth - Prosperity - Welfare" Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen puts forward an ambitious recovery plan notably aiming to make Denmark one of the ten richest countries in the world by 2020. This report notably establishes ten economic and social goals, which will mean development in society (life expectancy; education, gender equality, integration etc...) but also major financial effort to balance Danish finance and to rise to EU demands.

The Spanish Industry, Tourism and Trade Minister, Miguel Sebastian presented the first strategic plan to promote industrial property on 9th March (Plan Pi)established by Spain. The plan is an integral part of the Strategy for a Sustainable Economy and intends to make industrial property a means to innovation, competitiveness and growth for the future of the Spanish economy. Hence the Spanish government would like to reduce the gap that separates Spain form technologically more advanced countries such as Japan, the USA, Germany, Korea and China.

French Prime Minister François Fillon travelled to Berlin on 10th March. After giving a conference to the students of the Humboldt University he held a conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He guaranteed that Paris did not "have a different opinion" from Germany with regard to the measures to implement in order to help Greece. He said that the two countries were convinced of the "need for solidarity in the euro area." Angela Merkel re-iterated her support in principle of a European Monetary Fund (EMF) to help euro area countries which were suffering financial problems, whilst saying that this would "require a review of the European treaties".

20% of European students are due be able to study abroad every year as from 2020 said the Hungarian Education Minister Istvan Hiller on 11th March as he inaugurated a conference that rallied 46 European Higher Education Ministers in Budapest. According to estimates 3% of European students study in a foreign university every year in the countries involved (47 with the entry of Kazakhstan) in the procedure to create a European area of higher education launched ten years ago in Bologna. With regard to Hungary Istvan Hiller wants to raise the level from 2% to 10%.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen welcomed the historic vote by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 9th March with regard the devolution of policing and justice powers. In his opinion it was an historic day showing that democratic institutions are working and that political determination on the part of the population to live in peace and prosperity has to be respected - and it will be. This was also a vote of confidence on the future of Northern Ireland. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also welcomed this vote that sends out a strong message which indicates that "democracy and tolerance prevail". This vote follows in the wake of the Hillsborough Castle agreements signed on 5th February when it was decided that the government of Northern Ireland would take over power with regard to justice and the police forces as from 12th April.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini met the Deputy Prime Minister of Macedonia Vasko Naumovski on 11th March. He reiterated his promise to support the rapid launch of membership negotiations for Macedonia to the EU. With regard to this he expressed his hope that the issue of the country's name would be settled rapidly.

Lithuania celebrated the 20th anniversary of its independence on 11th March after having been annexed to the Soviet Union for 45 years. This 20th anniversary was lauded by many foreign Heads of State, notably the French, Russian and German Presidents as well as the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso who pointed to the extraordinary progress that Lithuania had achieved over the last 20 years.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk travelled to Azerbaijan on 10th and 12th March - he also went to Georgia and Armenia. His visit to Azerbaijan was in part devoted to energy issues including the European gas pipeline project, Nabucco. In Tbilissi, after meeting Georgian President Mikhail Saakachvili, Donald Tusk took part in a seminar on regional and European policy. In Erevan he spoke with Armenian President Serge Sarkissian. A Polish-Armenian Economic cooperation agreement was signed on this occasion.

The Romanian government decided that the country's second nuclear power station will be built in Transylvania but its exact position will depend on the technology selected announced the Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu on 13th March.

On 10th March British Foreign Minister, David Miliband gave a speech on Afghanistan at the Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT). He notably recalled that Afghanistan comprised the main threat at present to the transatlantic alliance and that the border regions with Pakistan and Afghanistan represented the main threat to Britain's domestic security. Whilst more troops have been sent to Afghanistan the Afghan government must now continue its integration into the political arena. Total, sustainable policy regulation is necessary to enhance the country's democratisation and to legitimise the Afghan government.

Slovenian President Danilo Türk travelled to Finland as part of a State visit from 8th to 10th March. He met his Finnish counterpart, Tarja Halonen notably to discuss relations between the EU and the Western Balkans. The two president noted their excellent relations and decided to enhance economic relations between the two countries.

On 11th March the Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament adopted a motion which acknowledges the 1915 genocide perpetrated by Turkey against the Armenians, Assyrians, Syriacs, Chaldeans and the Pontiac Greeks", who happened to be the Christian minorities living in Ottoman territories at the time. In spite of this democratic vote the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt qualified it as "regrettable" on 13th March. However the massacres and deportations of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire have been acknowledged as genocide by Paris, Ottawa, the European Parliament and the American Chamber of Representatives.

Armenia may withdraw its signature from the normalisation protocols for bilateral relations signed in October 2009 with Turkey if Ankara uses the procedure for "other ends" warns Armenian President Serge Sarkissian in an interview in the French daily, the Figaro. "It is my greatest wish to establish normal relations but recent declarations by Turkey lead me to believe that they will not ratify the protocols in the near future," said the Head of State.

Ivica Dacic, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Serbia announced on 11th March the readmission of 900 Serb immigrants mostly of Rom or Albanian origin who had requested political asylum in Belgium and Sweden. The number of asylum seekers increased rapidly after the procedure to free the visa system for entry into the EU between the EU, Macedonia and Serbia. All Serbs who are found illegally on Union soil must be sent back to Serbia said Mr Dacic in line with the readmission treaty that entered into force on 1st January 2008 between Serbia and the EU. In 2009 there were 2,191 requests for readmission, in comparison with 478 recorded in the first two months of 2010. According to Mr Dacic most of the readmission fees will be paid by the States who make the request.

The Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich succeeded on 11th March in forming a parliamentary coalition. This was made possible by the adoption of a controversial law on the initiative of the head of State which significantly simplifies the procedure in the creation of a parliamentary coalition. The new coalition includes 235 MPs from the Regions Party, the communists and the Litvine Bloc as well as MPs who sit as independents. The Stability and Reform coalition suggested the appointment of Mykola Azarov as Prime Minister. Unsurprisingly the Parliament validated this appointment and that of the government by 242 votes (226 were required). Former head of the taxation services and former Finance Minister Mykola Azarov succeeds Yulia Tymoshenko. The other positioins were attributed in the main to influential members of the Regions Party. Serguey Tigipko, who came third in the first round of the presidential election was appointed Deputy Prime Minister responsible for economy.

According to data published by Eurostat on 11th March the EU's current account recorded a deficit of 27 billion euros during the fourth quarter of 2009 in comparison with a deficit of 27.7 billion in the third quarter and 59.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008. Over the same period the balance of services revealed a surplus of 14.1 billion euros in comparison with a surplus of 21.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008 and 16.7 billion in the third quarter 2009.

According to a Eurobarometer survey on "The Behaviour of Europeans with regard to Tourism" published on 9th March 80% of Europeans plan to go on holiday in 2010 (67% in 2009). Favourite destinations are Spain (10.4%), France (9.9%) and Italy (9.2%).

The German Society for Foreign Policy (DGAP) has published a study by Claire Demesmay and Andreas Marchetti entitled "Frankreich ist Frankreich ist Europa. Franzözische Europa-Politik zwischen Pragmatismus und Tradition" (France's European Policy: between Pragmatism and Tradition). The French policy is marked by a concentration on decision-making power in terms of foreign policy which lies in the hands of the president and by a new pragmatic impetus which remains mainly intergovernmental in essence and which tries to enhance France's role as leader in Europe.

Pantheon Assas publishing has released a book under the guidance of Baptiste Chatré and Stéphane Delory entitled "Conflits et sécurité dans l'espace mer Noire: L'Union Européenne, les riverains et les autres" with a preface by Serge Sur. Since the fall of the USSR the Black Sea area has become a zone of conflict between the major powers. This work attempts to highlight the complexity of the intereactions which typify this region by analysing the sources of tension and conflict which are developing there but also the mechanisms which might regulate them.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration the European-France Movement and the Young Europeans-France under the patronage of the representation of the European Commission in France is launching a competition "Invent tomorrow's Schuman Declaration". This initiative addresses European high school pupils who have been invited to write a speech as Robert Schuman did to provide a new impetus to European construction.

On 10th March Radio France Internationale (RFI) and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) launched the first "audio-archives" of the European Gulag based on 120 eye-witness reports by survivors that were collated by European researchers in thirteen countries (Germany, Estonia, France, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Czech Republic and Ukraine). Nearly one million Europeans were deported to the Gulag, Soviet Labour Camps, or they were dispatched to isolated villages in Siberia and Central Asia. 250 hours of audio-recordings have been archived in 11 languages. The most striking of these will be broadcast during three special programmes on RFI on Sunday 14th, 21st and 28th March in "La Marche du Monde". All of the reports will be the focus of an audio-book that will be published by the end of the year.