The Conservative party won the general elections in the UK on 6th May taking 36.1% of the vote and 306 seats in the House of Commons ie +97 in comparison with the last general election on 5th May 2005 but they need 20 more to have the vital absolute majority to govern (326 seats). Labour led by outgoing Prime Minister Gordon Brown came second winning 29% of the vote and 258 seats –91). The Liberal Democrats (LibDems)led by Nick Clegg won 23% of the vote and 57 seats (-5). The other seats in the House of Commons will be divided between several regional parties and the Greens: the Ulster Democratic Party (DUP), 8 seats (-1); the Scottish National Party (SNP), 6 (=) ; Sinn Fein (SF), 5 (=); Plaid Cymru (PC), 3 (+ 1); the Social Democratic Party (SDLP), 3 (=) ; the Alliance Party (APNI), 1 (+ 1) and the Greens (G), 1 (+ 1). Turnout rose to 65.1%. The UK now has a hung parliament. The results therefore open the way to negotiations between the political leaders.

The Commission's spring forecast confirms that economic recovery is ongoing in the EU. After experiencing the worst recession in its history the EU's economy is due to witness growth of 1% in 2010. In comparison with the Commission's autumn forecasts this means an increase of 1/4 of a percentage point due to the external economic climate which is more favourable and which EU countries are taking advantage of. However low internal demand continues to prevent more vigorous recovery. The pace of recovery is due to vary from one Member State to another depending on the specific environment of each and the policies undertaken. Labour market conditions have shown signs of stabilisation with an unemployment rate that is due to peak this year at a lower level than previously forecast, but which nevertheless is almost at 10% across the EU.

On 5th May during an EU-Canada Summit the Presidents of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the Commission, José Manuel Barroso met Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The European and Canadian leaders discussed on-going negotiations on a trade and economic agreement. The EU and Canada are against protectionism: both parties re-iterated their commitment in reaching an ambitious, balanced results as part of the Doha Round. Bilateral cooperation also covers foreign policy, security and defence; discussions started to enhance relations in terms of justice, freedom and security. European and Canadian leaders want to reach agreement on a visa exemption clause for all European citizens travelling to Canada. The summit was also the chance for discussions on the state of the world's economy, nuclear proliferation, climate change and development aid.

The European Commission is pleased that five Member States, (Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Malta and Romania) provided their support on 4th May to the emergency in-car toll number eCall. This system automatically dials a single European emergency number (112) when a car is involved in a serious accident, and it could help save up to 2,500 lives per year in Europe if it is fully implemented. These five Member States signed a protocol agreement relative to the implementation of the eCall system in Europe thereby joining the group of 15 other Member States who have already signed.

The EU-Albania Parliamentary Committee envisaged under the Association and Stabilisation Agreement held its constituent meeting on 3rd and 4th May in Brussels. During this first meeting MEPs and their Albanian counterparts notably addressed the political crisis that resulted from the elections in June 2009 as well as the issue of the liberalisation of visas. The Foreign Affairs Committee at the European Parliament is due to adopt a resolution at the beginning of June with regard to Albania's integration process into the European Union.

On 4th May the 27 European Transport Ministers approved the creation of a crisis unit to coordinate decisions on the closure and re-opening of European air space thereby preventing further chaos as witnessed with the ash cloud from Icelandic volcano Eyjafjöll. They decided to maintain, in the face of another ash-cloud, the measures adopted in April to allow traffic to continue in the less polluted zones. They also decided to speed up the full implementation of the Single European Sky in order to be able to appoint a single network manager by 2012 - this includes a technical chapter, the SESAR programme, although ministers did not want to look into the funding of the programme.

The European Union's Court of Justice indicated on 6th May that airlines have a limited responsibility in the event of luggage loss to a maximum total reimbursement of 1,134.71 euro per passenger. This limit governed by the Montreal international convention covers both moral and material damage. Goods which are the subject of "special declaration of interest in delivery at destination" clause established by the passenger on check-in are not included in this. The Court of Justice looked into the case of a traveller, Axel Walz who took the airline Clickair to court two years ago after the loss of his luggage between Barcelona and Porto.

On 1st and 2nd May German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Felipe Calderon hosted some 45 countries in Bonn during a "climate dialogue" that aimed to restore confidence after the Copenhagen conference. The informal exchange led to progress in international negotiations on the protection of the climate. In addition to agreeing on some major points with regard to the next formal sessions in the UN negotiations the various countries in attendance agreed on real joint projects. The goal of 2° set for global warming was re-iterated. The reduction of CO2 and the establishment an international system to monitor emissions reduction activities will comprise the major chapters that will be pushed to the fore in the next round of negotiations.

On 6th May the Belgian parliament pronounced its dissolution, thereby opening the way to early general elections on 13th June after which the Flemish and the French-speakers will have to negotiate the terms of their cohabitation under the threat of leading the country to collapse. These early general elections are the result of the political crisis started by the resignation of the government on 22nd April after the departure of the Flemish party from the ruling coalition. The Chamber of Deputies approved dissolution on 6th May because there was no possibility of finding a substitute coalition. The Senate did the same. Both Chambers of Parliament now have to be renewed in elections on 13th June.

On 5th May Spanish opposition leader and chair of the Partido Popular, Mariano Rajoy said that he had come to an agreement with Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero to speed up the reform of the banking sector in the country. This agreement will lead to a facilitation in the restructuring of banks and a proposal of reform in the legislation governing Spain's savings banks. Spain is now one of the main countries threatened by the spread of the Greek crisis, because of the extent of its budgetary deficit. The support of the opposition leader is therefore vital for the Socialist Party in power which only holds minority in Parliament.

On 7th May the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen decided in the wake of a government proposition to increase the number of Finnish troops taking part in the ISAF mission (International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan.

During a joint press conference with his Portuguese counterpart, José Socrates, French Prime Minister François Fillon spoke of economic governance and crisis management tools that the EU should set in place. According to Mr Fillon Europe has to be able to "fight against irrational speculation" because "there is no reason today to speculate against Portugal or Spain." A European economic government as well as tools to stimulate growth and to improve governance of the euro area are necessary because they "they are a guarantee of the credibility of our currency."

Italian Economic Development Minister, Claudio Scajola presented his resignation on 4th May. Quoted to have been involved in a corruption scandal with regard to the purchase of an appartment in Rome; he said that he took this decision in order to be able to defend himself declaring that "he knew nothing of this affair."

On 4th May Latvia celebrated the 20th anniversary of its declaration of independence with regard to Moscow, an event which contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. "Freedom is not an automatic achievement in one of our dreams. Freedom demands that we take responsibility of our lives and our country," declared President Valdis Zatlers during a ceremony at the foot of an impressive monument to Freedom in the middle of Riga. He paid tribute to those who took part in the "Singing Revolution".

On 5th May Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his annual speech to the chamber of deputies on the state of the nation. He re-iterated his goal to bring public finance to balance by 2014, to avoid a dramatic scenario as witnessed in Greece. Fiscal consolidation "must be general and not rely on the reduction of public spending only," the Prime Minister declared adding, "A dual path has to be followed: saving as much as possible without however endangering economic recovery and adapting the fiscal system without impeding economic competitiveness and without damaging the basic principles of social equity."

Ten candidates have collated the necessary 100,000 voters' signatures in their support - a vital condition to run in the presidential election the first round of which is planned for 20th June according to the National Electoral Commission. Just six weeks before the vote the polls credit Mr Komorowski, the candidate of the majority in power with more than 45% of the vote against 30% for his main rival Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the conservative opposition.

The Romanian government and the IMF came to an agreement on a public deficit of 6.8% in 2010, higher by nearly one point in comparison with the rate initially planned, declared Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu on 9th May. Economic growth should be "around zero" against a rate that had previously been estimated at 0.8%, added Mr Vladescu after a meeting with IMF representatives.

46 million Britons were called to ballot on 6th May to elect the 650 members of the House of Commons, the lower chamber in the British parliament. The Conservatives, led by David Cameron, came out ahead (306 seats) but did not achieve an absolute majority of 326 seats. Labour, led by outoing Prime Minister Gordon Brown came second with 258 seats. The Liberal Democrats came third with 57 seats but are now in the position of kingmaker since the results have led to a hung parliament. Negotiations to establish a coalition between the Conservatives and the LibDems have now started.

Slovenian voters will decide during a referendum on 6th June whether they approve the agreement signed between their government and that of neighbouring Croatia to settle their border dispute after a decision approved unanimously on 3rd May by the parliament in Ljubljana. This referendum was approved by 78 of the MPs present in Parliament which comprises 90 deputies in all.

The centre-right coalition in power in Sweden presented an electoral programme on 8th May in view of general elections on 19th September - their programme is based on budgetary "responsibility".

Aleksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the most important opposition movement and winner of the Sakharov Prize announced on 3rd May that he would be running in the presidential election in 2011 against the "dicatatorship" of Aleksandr Lukashenko. "I will be a candidate in the next election," he declared during a press conference. "Some are resigned to the dictatorship, but the majority do not want to live under this regime," he continued.

On 5th May the European Commission proposed to complete an agreement with Georgia that aims to facilitate the issue of visas and together with a readmission agreement. Both draft agreements are the result of negotiations between the Union and Georgia. They aim to develop relations with this country by facilitating the movements of its citizens in view of a short stay in the EU whilst fighting simultaneously against the danger of illegal immigration.

On 5th May on the sidelines of the Military Committee Meeting between the Defence Chiefs of Staff Ukraine and Turkey (a NATO country which plays a facilitating role) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with regard to the "air situation data exchange" (ASDE). This agreement aims to prevent conflicts in airspace by two means: reducing the danger of cross border incidents to a minimum and optimizing responses to renegade situations with civil airplanes.

According to figures published on 4th May by Eurostat the EU recorded nearly 261,000 asylum seekers in 2009 ie 520 seekers per million inhabitants. Asylum seekers were mainly citizens from Afghanistan (20,400 ie 8% of all seekers), Russia (20,100 ie 8%), Somalia (19,100 ie 7%), from Iraq (18,700, ie 7%) and from Kosovo in virtue of Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council (14,200 ie 5%). France, Germany and the UK recorded the greatest number of asylum seekers.

Eurobarometer has published a study devoted to the opinion of European citizens with regard to the quality of life in 75 major cities. In this period of economic difficulty, employment and the cost of housing remain the two predominant concerns. Although the answers seem to reveal major disparity, the quality of service in the sectors of transport, health and education is generally graded highly. Of course the quantity of information provided by the survey is useful to urban developers and decision makers but also for citizens who want to know which towns are reputed to be pleasant to live in.

The German foundation Bertelsmann has just published a study on the economic situation of the States of Central and Eastern Europe after the financial crisis ("The Economic Crisis in Central and Eastern Europe"). Author Cornelius Ochmann looks into the outlook of these States in terms of joining the euro area.

La documentation française has published an edition entitled "Europe, Europes" under the guidance of Michel Foucher, geographer and member of the Robert Schuman Foundation's scientific committee. This study shows that the tension that exists between unity and diversity is the very thing which defines Europe. The authors look into this unique regional space which is also the world's leading trading power.

The Pompidou Centre in Metz will open its doors to the pubilc on 12th May with an inaugural exhibition entitled "Chefs-d'oeuvre?" presenting 780 paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, Miro, Léger on display covering an area of 5,000m2. Designed by Japanese Shigeru Ban and Frenchman Jean de Gastines, the Pompidou Centre Metz is being inaugurated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.