For over one week the Tymoshenko affair has gathered pace. Europe is about to boycott the Euro2012 football competition. The Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation has published an editorial in which he condemns the barbaric methods used by the Ukrainian government, which is infringing the basic principles of the rule of Law and Democracy. He calls on the EU to "punish the Ukrainian leaders by banning them from enterting the EU and by holding them personally responsible for their opponents' fate." It is "the whole of political Europe that must refuse to sit alongside the enemies of freedom."

François Hollande (Socialist Party, PS) was elected president of the French Republic with 51.62% of the vote in the second round of voting on 6th May. He took the lead over this rival outgoing Head of State, Nicolas Sarkozy, (Union for a Popular Movement) who won 48.38% of the vote. Turnout rose to 80.34%

The Robert Schuman Foundation will be putting a special May 9th page on line to celebrate Europe Day. You will be able to read or re-read the declaration delivered by French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, on 9th May 1950 in which the creation of the European Community of Steel and Coal is announced (ECSC). You will also be able to watch the major moments of Robert Schuman's life in picture form. Explanatory sheets will illustrate what we are celebrating on 9th May and recall who the main founders of Europe were. Moreover a calendar will inform you of the main events organised in Europe and elsewhere in the world on this occasion. The Foundation also invites you to order the only book ever written by Robert Schuman: "For Europe", which is available on the Foundation's site in French, English and German. This book is a collection of the main texts Robert Schuman wrote, the very essence of his vision and of his ideas of how to build Europe, which is still topical even today.

On 2nd May the 27 Economy and Finance Ministers looked into the amendments put forward regarding the CRD4 package that involves capital requirements for banks and investment companies. The aim is to transpose rules adopted by the G20 in November 2010 into European legislation and to complete talks on the new regulatory framework of the banking sector, the so-called Basel III that is gradually to be set in place as of 2013. Before sending the subject for consideration by the European Parliament the 27 must define a common position on the future shape of the European banking system, which comprises 8,200 establishments. Ministers decided to look into the subject again on 15th May after having made some technical checks.

On 2nd May the European Commission presented a plan to offer improved use of the internet by children and teenagers. Indeed 75% of children use the internet, a third of whom by means of a mobile phone. The plan put forward by the Commission aims to give children the competence and tools that will enable them to take full advantage of the digitial world in all safety. This plan will apply thanks to a partnership between the Commission and mobile phone operators, phone manufacturers and social network service providers. Cecilia Malmström, a member of the Committee for Internal Affairs insists on the fact that "young people need protection" since they "remain vulnerable to on-line threats."

On 4th May after his meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, offered a four point view of the future European agenda over the next few months and years. He pointed to the progress achieved in terms of the sovereign debt and congratulated Sweden's efforts in this area. He then recalled the importance of the work undertaken by young Europeans for the Union's economy. He ended by re-iterating the need for Europe to enhance its banking system and also for it to establish a precise budgetary plan for 2014-2020.

The east of Scandinavia and the Mediterranean basin will be the worst affected by global warming that will disrupt Europe as of 2021 according to forecasts published on 3rd May by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Temperatures in Europe will be higher by 1.5°c on average in 2012 and 2050 than they were in 1960 and 1990 says the EEA.

Concerned about the fate of Ukrainian opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, Guido Westerwelle, the German Foreign Minister, threatened on 2nd May to prevent the ratification of the EU/Ukraine Association Agreement. In an interview on German television channel ZDF he conditioned the ratification of the text by the respect of the principles of the rule of law in Ukraine. Guido Westerwelle also reminded Kyiv, in an interview in the German daily, Bild, that as a member of the Council of Europe, Ukraine had committed to respecting human rights. Leonid Kojara, Deputy Chair of the Regions Party of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych reacted swiftly and threatened Germany with economic retaliation.

The Austrian Constitutional court announced on 4th May that any legal decision in Austria will now be deemed anti-constitutional if it infringes the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights that entered into force in 2009. The European text will therefore be taken into account in all cases in which the Union's legislation plays a major role, notably in key areas such as immigration, asylum requests and competition. In other areas in which the Union does not legislate the Charter will not apply.

On 3rd May the Bulgarian Parliament adopted the draft law on the confiscation of criminal assets enabling the punishment of unexplained wealth. This legislative initiative that was debated and approved in five plenary sessions was highly recommended by the European Commission. This law bears witness to Bulgaria's will to improve its legal system, notably in terms of corruption and organised crime. This law is due to enter into force in six months time.

A decision setting a quota of women in high ranking civil servants' positions was published on 2nd May in the "Journal Officiel". A result of the law passed on 12th March regarding precarious work in the civil service, the text plans for the gradual introduction of a minimum 40% female quota amongst high ranking civil servants appointed every year as of 2018. Since women are underrepresented in positions of responsbility nearly 5,000 jobs are being created. Progressive sanctions are also being planned for. The decision will enter into force on January 1st 2013.

Janos Ader, the co-founder of the FIDESZ which Prime Minister Viktor Orban belongs to, was elected president of the Hungarian Republic on 2nd May by the Hungarian Parliament. The new president won 262 votes in parliament that comprises 386 seats. Mr Ader was immediately sworn in after the vote. He will take up office on 10th May.

On 30th April the Irish government launched the campaign in support of the "yes" to the referendum on the European budgetary pact that is due to take place on 31st May. Prime Minister Enda Kenny declared that the decision to ratify the treaty "would send out a clear message to the world that Ireland is a country that is open to business and that we have left our worst economic diffculties behind us." Fine Gael, the party which Mr Kenny belongs to and also its coalition partners, Labour, and the main opposition party, Fianna Fail support the European treaty. Sinn Fein, the Socialist Party and a certain number of independents are against it. Ireland is the only country to be holding a referendum on the treaty that was signed on 2nd March. Indeed it is obliged to do this due to its Constitution.

The "cannabis membership card" that aims to reserve access to coffee shops for residents of the Netherlands only was introduced on May 1st in the southern provinces of the country (Zeeland, Brabant-Nord and Limbourg), which border Belgium and Germany, and in 2013 this will be extended to the rest of the country. The 670 Dutch coffee shops are to become "private clubs" comprising a maximum of 2000 members who live in the Netherlands and who are over 18.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski called on Ukraine to modify its penal code on 6th May and to stop imprisoning politicians, such as for example government opponent and former Prime Minister Ms Yulia Tymoshenko. "The penal code has to be changed so that politicians take political responsibility for their decisions and are not sent to prison" declared Mr Komorowski after a summit of the presidents of the Visegrad group that comprises Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. "We would like the cause of the problem to be abolished, ie the law that enables the punishment of a person by a prison sentence for his political decisions in the same way as he/she would be punished for a crime," he added.

On 3rd May Czech MPs adopted an agreement that plans for the transfer of the administrative HQ of the agency responsible for the management of the European satellite navigation system from Brussels to Prague. The GNSS agency will be the first EU regulatory autority to set up its HQ in the Czech Republic. According to the European Industry Commissoner Antonio Tajani this system will enable the provision of "European GPS" services to Union users as of 2014. By 2015 the fleet is due to comprise 26 satellites.

The Romanian Prime Minister designate, Victor Ponta announced on May 1st his government list with 21 portfolio including four delegate ministers. In a bid to "ensure continuity" in the management of European funds, the European Affairs Minister in the outgoing government, Leonard Orban has retained his post. Foreign Affairs were given to Andrei Marga; the Deputy Governor fo the Central Bank, Florin Georgescu will head the Finance Ministry; the Economy portfolio will go to Daniel Chitiou. Justice will be led by Titus Corlatean. The team will have a limited mandate until the general elections planned in November. The vote in Parliament regarding the list and the new government's programme is planned 7th May.

On Thursday 3rd May during local by-elections, the Labour opposition took control of 32 town councils and won more than 800 seats, whilst the Conservatives in office lost 12 councils and more than 400 seats. The only good news for the government, comprising conservatives and liberal-democrats, was the re-election of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. The British Finance Minister Georges Osborne said on May 6th that the government coalition would "learn" from these "difficult results" that had been recorded in the local elections, promising to focus on the economy. "The elections last week led to a difficult result for the govenrment at a difficult time for the country," declared Mr Osborne.

On 7th May Vladimir Putin was sworn in as President of Russia for a third term in office. The ceremony took place in the grand palace of the Kremlin where the new President took oath, his right hand on the Constitution. He offered the post of Prime Minister to outgoing President Dmitri Medvedev.

On 3rd May the EU's delegation in Ukraine announced that no members of the European Commission would travel to the Euro-2012 in protest against the prison conditions of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. This announcement follows the one made by José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission, who, just a few days ago, said that he would not go to the Euro2012. Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister and opponent to the present government, Boris Tarasyuk, called for the "political isolation" of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during the Euro2012 without however boycotting the sporting event. On 4th May France called on the Ukrainian government to respect "its commitments associated with fundamental freedom."

The Council of Europe's Committee against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its annual report on 3rd May. It observes that in many countries there are "worrying trends" such as the rise of intolerance towards immigrants and minorities that are linked to reductions in social budgets and job opportunities. It also notes that "xenophobic discourse is now part of a general attitude" and that discrimination against Roma is growing. It also mentions the over hasty dispatch of migrants and the poor "reception conditions" provided to them. It encourages governments to increase the resources of the institutions which defend human rights, recalling that it is vital to fight racism and intolerance to "build strong societies" and "not to deprive oneself of a source of talent".

The international conference of NATO country Defence Ministers and Russia on missile defence cooperation took place on 3rd May in Moscow. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, notably announced the implementation of a NATO missile defence system. Stressing the USA's commitment to this project the ambassador repeated his request for cooperation with Russia. He put forward a suggestion that was inspired by Russian president Medvedev regarding the creation of two NATO-Russia missile defence centres where officers of both NATO and Russia would work closely together 24/24.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 2nd May the unemployment rate reached 10.9% in the euro zone and 10.2% in the EU in March 2012. This represents nearly 25 million unemployed in the EU, 17 million of whom are in the euro zone. Unemployment ranges from 20% to 25% in Greece and Spain. It lies at 10% in France, 8.2% in the UK and only 5.6% in Germany. Over one year the unemployment rate has dropped in eight Member States and risen in 19. Unemployment has not been as high in fifteen years.

On 3rd May the OECD's International Transport Forum published its 2012 Transport Outlook. According to its analysis the volumes of passengers and merchandise are due to rise across the entire world by 2050, particularly in the OECD countries and in the emerging economies. CO2 emissions are also due to rise but not at the same pace as mobility. To reduce CO2 emissions the Forum is advising on various measures such as a better public transport network, limiting the transport network's capacity in terms of cars and the abolition of free parking. Long term, it encourages the development of alternative energy sources.

As part of the fifth edition of "Monumenta" the Grand Palais has invited a contemporary artist to show his work in the main hall of the museum - totalling 13,500 m2. The exhibition will go on from 10th May to 21st June and the guest artist is Daniel Buren.