The Foundation for Political Innovation, in partnership with the Robert Schuman Foundation, has published the 13th edition of the European Opinion with Lignes de Repères under the management of Dominique Reynié. This edition notably includes articles by Jürgen Habermas and Jean-Dominique Giuliani. The book is available in French only on the Foundation's internet site.

A report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Board that was published on 3rd April asks the government to make further savings to ensure that the deficit goal of 8.6% of the GDP set for 2012 is reached. According to this report, given that growth prospects have worsened since the 2012 budget was announced, there is uncertainty about whether the government can fufil its commitment without having to take "additional discretionary measures". The govenment reacted to this publication saying that the data on which the report was based was not sufficiently up-to-date but it did re-iterate its commitment to achieving the goal of an 8.6% public deficit in 2012.

On 3rd April the European Commission adopted the 19th update of the airlines that for security reasons are banned from using or have restricted use of EU airspace. Conviasa, a Venezuelan airline was added to the list because of unsolved security problems. This new list will replace the one established in November 2011.

On 5th April Switzerland and Germany signed a complementary protocol to their tax agreement signed in September 2011. The text is due to be put to the Swiss parliament and is due to enter into force in 2013. The content of the agreement remains unchanged according to the two parties; it guarantees taxation on German assets placed in Switzerland. The fiscal agreement is due to come before the Bundesrat (the Chamber of the Länder in which a majority of SPD and Greens sit) who have already said they are against it.

On 2nd April Hungarian President Pal Schmitt announced his resignation to Parliament. The previous week the scandal whereby he plagiarised his doctorate thesis in 1992 led to the withdrawal of his diploma by the Semmelweiss University of Budapest. The opposition demanded the resignation of the head of State. Refusing to quit office at first he then admitted that he had not been honest. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktory Orban announced that the new president would be appointed on 16th April next.

The Romanian Environment Minister, Laszlo Borbely resigned on 5th April, the day after the request to lift his immunity by the anti-corruption court (DNA), announced Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu. The latter said that he would take over Mr Borbely's post immediately.

Slovakian President Ivan Gasparovic officially appointed Robert Fico (SMER-SD) as Prime Minister on 4th April. For the first time since Slovakia's independence in 1993 the government has been formed with one party only. With 83 seats out of the 150 members of the Slovakian Parliament, the government comprises 14 ministers including one woman and three non-aligned experts. He is to deliver his programme to Parliament in order to win its confidence within 30 days.

On 3rd April, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 1992-1995 war, British Foreign Minister, William Hague and German, Guido Westerwelle asked Bosnia-Herzegovina to make "decisive steps" towards the EU. Aware that the government has to make an effort, notably with regard to the Constitution that has been deemed discriminatory by the European Court of Human Rights, the two ministers said that Bosnia-Herzegovina might ask for the status of candidate country by the end of 2012.

Serb President Boris Tadic announced on 4th April that he was resigning thereby putting an end to his mandate 9 months aead of the officially planned date. He took advantage of the occasion to announce an early presidential election that will take place at the same time as the general elections on 6th May next, as well as his decision to stand again. Several people have already said that they will run.

Former Ukrainian Environment Minister in Yulia Timoshenko's government, Gueorgui Filipchuk was sentenced to three years in prison for abuse of power on 6th April - a judgement that has been denounced by the opposition as "a continuation of political repression." He is the third former minister to be convicted after Ms Timoshenko, former Prime Minister who is serving a seven year prison sentence and former Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko, who was sentenced to four years in prison.

On 4th April the OECD published figures on public development aid for 2011. It is down by 2.7% in comparison with 2010 ie total aid of 133.5 billion $. This total represents 0.31% of the GDP. The crisis brought the continuous rise, ongoing since 1997, to an end. The USA is still the primary donor with 30.7 billion, ahead of Germany (more than 10 billion euros) and the UK. The EU provides 54% of aid on the part of developed countries.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 4th April for February 2012 the volume of retail trade sales is declining. It dropped by 0.1% in the euro zone and by 0.9% in the EU. According to an analysis per sector "food, drink and tobacco" increased by 0.4% in the Union whilst the non-food sector has declined by 0.3%. According to an analysis per Member State, Slovenia (-0.5%) and Poland (-2.7%) recorded the greatest decreases whilst Malta (+4.7%) and Luxembourg (+2.2%) recorded the highest increases.

The Economic Council (Det okonomiske rad) has published a report on the Danish environment policy 2000-2010. According to the Council during this period progress was made in terms of air pollution but the results of the policies undertaken were disappointing in terms of the protection of biodiversity and water quality. This body is also sceptical about the investment strategy in green energies launched by Denmark. Amongst the main recommendations put forward there are greater efforts to be made in support of developing the CO2 quota market, on placing higher taxes on profits made by oil extraction companies in the North Sea and in terms of measures taken to protect biodiversity.

An essay entitled "On the edge: Britain and Europe", by Brendan Donnelly and Hugh Dykes has just been published. The two authors look into the debate over European issues in the UK and particularly the attitudes towards these subjects adopted by those, ie media and politicians, who are in a position to influence opinion. They say that this debate has been deformed by various ideas that have little to do with the EU and call for a change in the "tactics" and "rhetoric" used by British politicians.

An exhibition is being held at the Louvre until 25th June 2012 - it is devoted to the "Virgin and Child with Saint Anne" a masterpiece by Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci that is not so well known. Visitors will be able to admire a series of objects and documents associated with the history of this work, such as sketches, preparatory drawings and landscape studies.

The Armenians will be renewing their Parliament on May 6th. The National Assembly (Azgayin Zhghov) comprises 131 members elected for five years. 90 MPs are elected by a majority vote within one national constituency and the 41 others according to a list and by proportional representation in 41 constituencies. Each party has to win 5% of the vote to be represented in the National Assembly (7% of the vote for coalitions). The lists must include a minimum of 15% of women. Candidates must be aged at least 25. Nine political parties are facing each other on 6th May: the five parties represented in the National Assembly: the Republican Party (HHK), Prosperous Armenia (BHK), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HHD), Rule of Law (Orinats Erkir, OEK), and Heritage (Z), as well as the Armenian National Congress (HAK), the Communist Party (HKK), the Democratic Party and the United Armenians.