On 15th March Slovakians are being called to ballot in the first round of the presidential election. 14 people are running including Robert Fico the present Prime Minister (Direction-Social Democracy, SMER-SDY). The most recent poll by Median for the TV/radio station RTVS credits Robert Fico with 38.8% of the vote in the first round, followed by Andrej Kiska 18.6%, Milan Knazko 12.9%, Radoslav Prochazka 9.9%, Pavol Hrusovsky 5.7%, Helena Mezenska 5.6%, Gyula Bardos 2.6%, Viliam Fischer 2.1% and Jan Carnogursky 1.8%. The other four candidates (Milan Melnik, Jozef Behyl, Jozef Simko and Jan Jurista) are due to win less than 1% of the vote. If none of the candidates wins more than 50% in the vote on 15th March a second round will take place on 29th March. The president is elected for five years. The present President Ivan Gasparovic has undertaken two mandates already and cannot stand again.

In its new annual economic report adopted at the Council of Ministers on 12th February 2014 the German government indicated that it was now counting on GDP growth of 1.8% in 2014 against 1.7% announced last autumn and indicated that for the first time there was a growth forecast of 2% for 2015. A growth level like this would mark a clear increase after two years of rather weak growth with 0.4% in 2013 and 0.7% in 2012. Moreover according to Destatis on 14th February Germany's economic growth was slightly more dynamic than planned in the fourth quarter of 2013 lying at 0.4% thanks to a rise in exports and investments. For the whole of 2013 GDP growth of Europe's leading economy was confirmed at 0.4%.

Following the revelations of the internet surveillance programmes the European Commission is proposing a reform of the management and use of the internet. In its communication dated 12th February 2014 it promotes more transparent governance which fosters responsibility and integration. Amongst its proposals the Commission suggests the strengthening of the world forum of internet governance, to introduce a world internet policy observatory which will promote the transparency of the policies linked to the internet and undertake an assessment of conflict between national laws and jurisdictions.

On 11th February 2014, 18 votes in support, 4 against and 1 abstention, MEPs in the Constitutional Affairs Committee at the European Parliament adopted a report encouraging the heads of State and government in the Union to respect the vote of the citizens in the European elections regarding the appointment of the President of the Commission.

On 11th February 28 European Affairs Ministers discussed the European Council on 20th and 21st March. They did not reach a qualified majority for or against the proposal made by the European Commission enabling the marketing of genetically modified corn 1507 (GMO). Moreover the ministers analysed the results of the Swiss immigration referendum and they said that the introduction of quotas against European citizens was contrary the principle of free movement approved in the bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland. Finally they approved the appointment of Ms Sabine Lautenschläger as Vice-President of the ECB's Supervisory Board.

On 12th February 2014 the Serb and Kosovar Prime Ministers Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci met the EU's High Representative Catherine Ashton in the context of normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina. They discussed issues pertaining to justice included in the agreement signed in April 2013. Discussions are coming to an end and may be finalised during their next meeting.

On 12th February 2014 during the conference celebrating the 20th anniversary of the European monetary institution the President of the ECB Mario Draghi declared that Banking Union would help to stabilise financial integration of the euro zone since the risks of financial fragmentation would be reduced. He explained that financial integration was necessary for a more effective monetary union. Banking Union will create better quality financial integration and the supervisory mechanism will enable the attenuation of destabilising effects.

Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on 15th February 2014 that Germany wanted to step up cooperation with France in the area of defence, particularly in Africa, just as the 19th Franco-German Council of Ministers will be taking place on 19th February. "I have agreed with French President François Hollande that we would like to take advantage of this council to speak of new joint projects (...) notably in the area of security, particularly in Africa," she stressed. "Greater convergence is possible" notably in terms of military cooperation in Mali and Central Africa added the Chancellor. The German army is taking part in an EU training mission in Mali. Berlin decided at the beginning of the month to increase its contingent in Mali from 180 to 250 soldiers. The Bundeswehr will also provide a medical Airbus in Central Africa.

On 11th February 2014 the Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the representative of the northern part of the island, Dervis Eroglu maintained in a joint communication, that they wanted to reach settlement "as quickly as possible" for the reunification of the island. This press release summarises the negotiations for a reunification made necessary by the prospect of using the island's gas deposits and the difficult situation of the Cypriot economy. The settlement will comprise "a two-community - two zone federation" in which Cyprus "will be a legal unified entity from an international point of view with single sovereignty." The EU welcomed this historic meeting and said it was ready, together with the UN, to support the key goals that should lead to a final solution in terms of reunifying the island.

French President François Hollande travelled to the USA from 10th to 13th February on a state visit during which time he met American President Barack Obama. During their press conference the two presidents recalled the strong friendship between their countries and the entente which typified Franco-American relations. They addressed international issues and highlighted the negotiations ongoing between the EU and the US for the introduction of a free trade agreement (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)). François Hollande travelled to San Francisco where he met some French entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley as well as the leaders of the main digital companies.

Hungary and China announced on 14th February 2014 that they intended to strengthen their bilateral relations in the areas of finance, telecommunications and infrastructures. This communication comes just as Hungary and China signed an agreement on 13th February, which makes Hungary the hub of Chinese tourism in central and eastern Europe.

On 14th February 2014 the President of the Italian Council Enrico Letta met the president of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano to present his resignation. Mr Letta's decision came after the vote on 13th February by the national executive of his party, the Democratic Party which demanded a change in government. This motion put forward by the party's leader, Matteo Renzi was approved 136 votes in support out of 150 voters. The Italian President accepted Mr Letta's decision and started consultations with the political groups to appoint a new government. On 17th February 2014 Mr Napolitano met the head of the Democratic Party, Mr Renzi to ask him to form a new executive.

On 12th February 2014 the King of Spain, Juan Carlos 1er, Presidents, Giorgio Napolitano of Italy and Anibal Cavaco Silva of Portugal met in Lisbon during the 9th COTEC conference - a network of entrepreneurs from three countries devoted to reindustrialisation. In a joint declaration they advocated a "more ambitious and more effective" industrial policy. They stressed the importance of industry as a factor of economic growth and the creation of jobs. The European Commissioner Antonio Tajani said that the economy and industry must remain the focus of the European political agenda, especially during a time when "positive economic signs were appearing across the entire continent, particularly in Portugal, Spain and Italy."

The Anglican Synod, which met in Westminster from 10th to 12th February 2014, voted on 11th February 2014 in support of amendments to its canonical law aiming to step up procedures to enable the ordination of women bishops, 304 votes in support, 33 against and 45 abstentions. The first appointments might come during 2014.

On 16th February 2014 a large demonstration took place in Independence Square in Kiev. The amnesty for Ukrainian demonstrators entered into force on 17th February announced the high court, after the evacuation of the townhall of Kiev and other public buildings in the provinces. This decision was appreciated by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton who highlighted, in a press release, the amount of work necessary to find a solution to the political crisis. On 14th February Yulia Tymoshenko called for union amongst the demonstrators and the political opposition in order to push President Yanukovych to resign. On 17th February the Ukrainian opponents V Klychko and A Yatsenyuk met German Chancellor A Merkel in Berlin together with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Chair of the CDU group at the Bundestag, Andreas Schockenhoff. The development in the political crisis in Ukraine was the focus of discussion. Mssrs Klychko and Yatsenyuk asked Germany to set sanctions on the Ukrainian President Yanukovych and his entourage. In their opinion to settle the crisis it is necessary to have financial aid, to introduce a system to liberalise the visa system for Ukrainians and finally to offer the prospect of accession to the EU. These changes have to go together with the reform of the State's institutions and a return to the constitution of 2004.

After the Nordic Council on 11th and 12th February 2014 in Reykjavik the Foreign Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden published a joint declaration in which they commit to strengthening their cooperation in terms of foreign and security policy. Moreover they debated the end of the crisis, climate change, sustainable development, Arctic issues, operations undertaken by international organisations and finally the security of information systems. They stressed that they want to create a secure international area.

The Swiss Federal Council decided on 12th February 2014 on a calendar for the implementation of immigration reform following the referendum on 9th February. The Council asked the Federal Police, Foreign Affairs, Economy, Training and Research Departments to set out a draft reform by the end of June in order to present a draft bill by the end of the year. The Department for Foreign Affairs is responsible for staying in contact with the EU's institutions and its 28 Member States for the follow-up on bilateral negotiations.

Growth increased in the 4th quarter with a GDP rise of 0.3% in the euro zone and 0.4% in the EU, said Eurostat on 14th February. Over 2013 as a whole the euro zone's GDP contracted by 0.4% whilst that of the EU grew by 0.1%.

Tourism is one of the European economy's high points and the trend is due to continue in 2014. As shown by the Eurobarometer survey published on 13th February 2014 internal demand in the tourist sector was the engine for economic growth in 2013 since many more people chose to spend their holidays away from their home country but nevertheless within the EU. In 2013 38% of Europeans spent their holidays in another Member State ie+5 points more in comparison with 2012, 42% in their own country, -5 points less than in 2012. The five most popular tourist destinations in the EU have been the same since 2012: Spain (15%), France (11%), Italy (10%), Germany (7%), Austria (6%). Moreover tourists feel safe and are satisfied in Europe.

On 13th February 2014 the European Commission published a report saying that the European apps sector might represent 63 billion euro by 2018 and nearly 4.8 million jobs. The study says that European game apps creators were on the cutting edge; that the market was growing and that job opportunities were rising; that the lack of qualified personnel had to be rectified and finally that 4G had to be developed more in Europe. The Robert Schuman Foundation updated its smartphone and tablet app. You can download and access free European news.

The Bucerius Kunst Forum in Hamburg is running an exhibition until 11th May 2014 devoted to the work of one of the most influential painters of the 20th century, Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). The exhibition highlights for the very first time the importance of colour in the artist's work. The 50 paintings on show follow the trajectory, the works painted in different grades of colour at the beginning of Mondrian's career, to the squares of primary colour after 1921. Mondrian's work was not a revolution but a slow development. His aim was to transcend painting and to bring it down to the essential. His abstractions were not a mathematical game with shapes but the expression of his quest for a new universal harmony. The exhibition brings together paintings from famous collections belonging to several European museums.