The Robert Schuman Foundation has published a press release in which it joins the protest movement in Europe that is rising up against the fate reserved for former Prime Minister and opponent of the present Ukrainian government, Yulia Tymoshenko. The Foundation is challenging the methods used by the Ukrainian government which is infringing the basic principles of the rule of law and democracy.

Just a few days before the second round of the French presidential election and the general elections in Greece, the Robert Schuman Foundation invites you to read the study by Corinne Deloy, who has written a unique overview of a decade of politics in Europe, marked by the domination of the right. The author analyses the right's recovery of power and the keys to its success (restructuring of leadership, pragmatism and approval of new stakes). She explains that this undeniable domination is still fragile because it is threatened by electoral rejection, the appearance of new divisions and the rise of populism. This text, published in the Foundation's "Notes" series is available on the Foundation's site in French only.

The EU Statistics Office (Eurostat) published deficit and debt figures in the EU, the euro zone and amongst the 27 Member States for 2011 on 23rd April. This is the first notification that might be reviewed this autumn. The Robert Schuman Foundation updated its economic data that features on the site www.atlas-permanent.eu which goes together with the "Permanent Atlas of the EU" that was published and co-managed recently by Jean-Dominique Giuliani and Pascale Joannin, the Chairman and General Director of the Foundation respectively. The book is available on the Foundation site. Order it!

On 25th April the President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi pleaded in favour of a "growth pact" for Europe before the Economic Affairs Committee of the European Parliament. He recommends the implementation of structural reform. The issue of growth and the means to overcome the crisis is the focus of the "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2012." This, the 6th edition in French and the third in English, includes an exclusive interview with Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank. Using 67 commtented colour tables and graphs, which are unique in the main, the authors invite readers to learn about the challenges facing the EU. This book is available in French and in English on the Foundation's site.

On 22nd April last the Socialist Party candidate (PS), François Hollande came out ahead in the first round of the French presidential election winning 28.63% of the vote, taking the lead over outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy, (Union for a Popular Movement, UMP), who won 27.18%. The two men will face each other in the second round of the election on 6th May next. According to a poll by TNS Sofres for Itélé published on 27th April, François Hollande is due to win the second round with 55% of the vote, and Nicolas Sarkozy, 45%. The campaign is in full swing in a bid to attract the undecided. The televised debate on 2nd May will be the high point of the campaign.

On 6th May next 7 milliion Serbs are being called to ballot in three elections: the first round of the presidential election, the general elections (renewal of the 250, members of the National Assembly) and a local election. 12 candidates are standing in the presidental eleciton. According to a recent poll by Faktor at the end of April, Tomislav Nikolic (SNS) and the outgoing President, Boris Tadic, (DS) are running neck and neck with 36.1% and 35.7% of the vote. They will probably be facing each other in the second round on 20th May next. As far as the general elections are concerned the Progressive Party (SNS) is credited with 33.5% of the vote, ahead of the Democratic Party (DS) which is due to win 28.3%. The Socialist Party (SPS) is due to come third with 11.8%.

Nine political parties are running in the general elections that are to take place on 6th May in Armenia. These include the five parties that are represented at present in the National Assembly, the only chamber in parliament,: the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK); Prosperous Armenia (BHK), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HHD); Rule of Law (Orinats Erkir, OEK) and Heritage (Z). Four other parties are also running: the Armenian National Congress (HAK) that rallies 18 parties, the Communist Party (HKK), the Democratic Party and the United Armenians. The most recent polls credit the party led by the President of the Republic, Serzh Sarkisian with 37% of the vote. He is to be followed by his government partner, Prosperous Armenia, which is due to win 34% of the vote, the Armenian National Congress, 8.5%. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Rule of Law are due to win 6.7%. Finally Heritage is due to win 5.5%.

The German government maintained its growth forecasts of 0.7% in 2012 and 1.6% in 2013 in figures released on 25th April. According to Economy Minister, Philipp Rösler these positive developments prove the effectiveness of budgetary consolidation and structural reforms. "It is an important message to our partners in Europe," he added. Although IMF forecasts remain slightly below those of the government (+0.6% in 2012 and +1.5% in 2013), the main German economic institutes (IWH, RWI, IFW and IFO) are more optimistic in their spring report published on 19th April (+0.9% this next and +2% next). Philipp Rösler said that he would remain prudent since the debt crisis in the euro zone is not yet over.

On 25th April the British Finance Minister George Osborne confirmed that the UK was officially back in recession after having recorded a contraction in the economy of 0.2% in the first quarter of 2012, after a 0.3% contraction in the fourth quarter in 2011.

According to the latest annual report on the Greek economy published on 24th April the Bank of Greece is forecastig a GDP contraction of more than 5% in 2012. The recession will therefore be worse than previously forecast in March. The first estimates forecast a recession of only 4.5% of the GDP. Moreover the annual unemployment rate is due to rise to 19% in 2012 (against 17.1% in 2011) whilst inflation is due to drop to 1.2%.

On 26th April experts from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and from the International Monetary Fund noted that the country had achieved its 2011 budgetary goals with "a comfortable margin" and that is was on the "right path" to do the same in 2012. They spoke of the progress achieved by Ireland in implementing its growth and employment agenda that was adapted to take on board a worsening economic environment. However "significant challenges" remain. Growth is notably being impeded by weak the economic growth of Ireland's trade partners, weak domestic demand and "difficult funding conditions on the credit markets".

The Hungarian government sent Brussels its austerity plan on 23rd April, notably designed to prevent the freezing of European funds destined for Hungary. "The government sent Brussels its Kalman Szell 2.0 programme, which includes a convergence programme, and the government hopes that after eight years the country can now emerge from the excessive deficit procedure" announced the Economy Ministry. Mid-March the EU Finance Ministers approved the freezing of 495 million € in cohesion funds designed for Hungary because of repeated excessive public deficits. The decision came after a recommendation made by the European Commission. The freezing of funds is due to take effect in January 2013 but the sanction will be lifted "immediately" if Hungary presents corrective measures by 22nd June.

According to data published on 26th April France had 2,884, 500 unemployed at the end of March in the A category (looking for a full time job on an unlimited contract), which represents a rise of 0.6% in comparison with the previous month. This increase concerns both genders, all ages and is also seen amongst other categories of job seekers. Long term unemployment is also on the rise.

According to data published on 27th April by the National Statistics Institute, Spain had 5,639,500 unemployed in the first quarter of 2012. The unemployment rate has now reached 24.44% of the working population, up by 1.59%. As far as the autonomous communities are concerned unemployment is highest in Andalusia at 33.17% and the lowest in the Basque country, at 13.55%.

Dutch MPs came to an agreement on 26th April on an austerity budget for 2013 that should make it possible to bring the Netherlands' public deficit below the 3% mark of the GDP. Both government coalition parties, the Liberals (VVD) led by resigning Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the Christian Democrats (CDA) achieved the support of the centrists of D66, the Ecologists and ChristenUnie. In all 77 of the 150 seats in the lower chamber, five parliamentary groups notably agreed on a VAT increase, a reduction in the budget allocated to healthcare and a cap on the salaries of some civil servants.

The most important ministers in the Belgian government agreed on 27th April on a return to the balance of public finances in 2015. The agreement over the Belgian "stability programme" plans for a public finance deficit (Federal State, social security, regional and local authorities) of 2.8% of the GDP in 2012, 2.15% in 2013, 1.1% in 2014. It also confirms the government's commitment to bringing public finances to balance in 2015.

According to a Commission publication dated 26th April confidence remained stable in April in the EU as a whole, but declined by 1.5 points in the euro zone. The industrial and services situation is of particuar concern. Except for Germanyn the confidence index is below its long term average in all Member States. It remains almost unchanged in France, has increased in the UK and decreased sharply in Spain and Poland.

On 26th April the 27 Agriculture Ministers discussed direct payments to farmers, notably the most vulnerable. They debated specific measures to put forward for small farmers, the youngest and even those who are subject to specific natural constraints. Ministers stressed the economic, social and environmental issues in this type of support. They called on the Commission to review its proposal to guarantee greater administrative simplification. Finally regarding fishieries ministers said that the regionalisation of the Common Fisheries Policy would enable more flexible management. However some of them said that transferable fishing concessions should only be established on a voluntary basis.

On 26th April the 27 Justice and Interior Ministers adopted the new agreement with the USA for the exchange of air passenger data (PNR). This agreement plans for the reciprocity of information as well as the strict protection of personal data; it also strengthens citizens' information and appeal procedures. The agreement is due to enter into force on 1st June 2012. Moreover the Ministers adopted a directive on information rights in criminal proceedings. The aim is to strengthen the "right to be informed of one's rights". Hence during an arrest, those involved will have the right to emergency medical assistance and the right to consult elements of their file.

The IMF published the first conclusions of its assessment programme of the Spanish financial sector (FSAP) on 25th April, which is undertaken every five years. It advises Spain to go further in terms of consolidating its banks but at the same time acknowledges the work that has already been done in this direction. The Spanish banking sector is one of the greatest causes for concern on the markets because it has been weakened since the collapse of the real estate bubble in 2008. The Spanish banks had accumulated 184 billion euros in problem assets at the end of 2011 in their results i.e. 60% of their portfolios said the Bank of Spain on 27th April revealing the weaknesses of this sector.

Spain's GDP contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter in comparison with the last quarter of 2011 when it contracted by 0.3%, which confirms the country's official return to recession according to provisional figures published on 30th April. In a press release the National Statistics Institute (INE) explains that this situation is "the consequence of a more negative contribution by national demand partially compensated for by a positive external demand" (exports and tourism). Spain, which has been deprived of its motor since 2008 i.e. the building industry, at a time when the international crisis also started vascillates between recession and atone growth, whilst the number of unemployed continues to rise.

Angela Merkel and her government ministers may very well not go to Ukraine to attend the Euro2012 football matches that are being organised with Poland from 8th June to 1st July next if opponent Yulia Tymoshenko is not freed in the meantime. The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso did not "intend" to travel to the Ukraine to take part in the events as part of the Euro-2012 given the political situation in the country said his spokesperson on 30th April. Several EU countries said last week that they were concerned about Ms Tymoshenko's situation. Moreover Uli Hoeness, chair of Bayern Munich, one of the biggest football clubs in Europe, called on UEFA chief, Michel Platini to put pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to obtain an improvement in Ms Tymoshenko's situation.

In 2011 hourly labour costs were estimated at 23.1€ on average in the business economy in the EU and at 27.6€ in the euro zone. However this average hides major differences between Member States, since hourly labour costs vary between 3.5€ and 39.3€. According to Eurostat estimates in 2011 the highest hourly labour costs were seen in Belgium (39.3€), Luxembourg (33.7€), the Netherlands (31.1€) as well as in Germany (30.1€) and the lowest were in Bulgaria (3.5€), Romania (4.2€ in 2010), in Lithuania (5.5€) and in Latvia (5.9€).

Inflation slowed slightly in April in the euro zone to 2.6% over one year in comparison with 2.7% the previous month said the European statistics office Eurostat in an initial estimate. It is the 17 consecutive month that inflation has risen above the 2% mark targeted mid-term by the European Central Bank (ECB), whose mission it is to monitor price rises in the euro zone.

The "Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies" has published an analysis of the new Hungarian Constitution, written in 2011 and which entered into force on January 1st 2012. This article looks into the Constitution from a legal point of view, putting it into context in terms of Hungarian political life and the country's recent history. The measures taken by the EU in response to this new Constitution are also discussed. The author finally concludes that this text is clearly based on "conservative" values such as the family, Christianity and the Hungarian nation. However the real danger does not lie so much in an "attack on human rights" but in the desire expressed by one party to "protect its power".

The Bertelsmann Foundation has published the second chapter of its study "Europe in Dialogue 2012" entitled "The Arab Spring: one year after". In the wake of the events that overturned the Arab world last year it notably looks into the analysis of the political developments and the prospects of democratisation in these countries, as well as into the future of Euro-Arab cooperation.

The European Central Bank has published a study on funding access for SME's in the euro zone. Because of a general slowing in the economy these companies are facing a slight contraction in their activities. They have also made slightly more use of bank funds than before. External funding requirements have increased with the decrease in own funds.

The Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti in Venice is hosting the first exhibition devoted to the work undertaken by Pablo Picasso and Ambroise Vollard (1868-1939), an art dealer who brought Cézanne, Gauguin and Matisse to the public's notice. He encouraged Picasso to undertake the most beautiful series of engravings of the 20th century including the Vollard Suite which is on show in Venice as well as four other series: "The Acrobats", the "Unknown Masterpiece" by Honoré de Balzac, Buffon's "Natural History" and Minotauromachy.