In an editorial published on his site Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation believes that the repeated use of force in Europe recalls dangerous historic precedents which require firm response and direct, resolute negotiation between Europeans.

On its site devoted to the European elections the Robert Schuman Foundation has updated its interactive map with the list of political parties that are running in the 28 Member States and has also put on line the list of European political parties notably with the leader appointed per party for the Commission as well as the link towards the party's manifesto.

The general elections will take place on 6th April in Hungary according to a new voting method. The Hungarians will be appointing 199 MPs (386 at present) in a mixed vote. 106 MPs will be elected on a single list within constituencies and 93 by a proportional vote. Seven parties are represented in parliament at present: FIDESZ-MPP of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, 226 MPs ; Socialist Party (MSZP), 48 seats; Jobbik, far right 43 MPs ; Christian Democrats (KDNP) 37 MPs; DK, centre left, 10 seats ; PM (ecologist left) 8 MPs; LMP (liberal ecologists), 7 seats. According to the most recent poll by Nezöpont 37% are due to vote for FIDESZ, 18% for the opposition and 12% for Jobbik.

In its report on macro-economic imbalances published on 5th March 2014 the European Commission assessed the situation of 17 Member States. Notably it decided to place France under greater supervision after again indicating its lack of competitiveness and its high level of debt. According to the European executive France is suffering a number of macro-economic imbalances which have not been adequately corrected and now require this type of monitoring. These will also be implemented in Spain and Ireland, two countries which have just emerged from their financial bail out. Only Croatia, Slovenia and Italy have a similar level of debt in terms of competitiveness and are in a worse situation than France. These three countries are facing major imbalances deemed excessive and require greater supervision.

On March 4th the OECD published the annual inflation figures of its Member States and indicated that inflation had risen slightly to 1.7% between January 2013 and January 2014, in comparison with 1.6% between December 2012 and December 2013. The OECD believes that this increase is due to a rise in energy prices, which rose by 2.1% in January in comparison with 1.7% in December 2013. For its part annual inflation on food prices slowed year on year to 1.4% in January in comparison with 1.5% in December 2013. Apart from these sectors annual inflation was stable at 1.6% in January 2014 in the OECD zone.

As a guest at the Global Forum on Spain in Bilbao on 3rd March 2014 Christine Lagarde, Director General of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) welcomed the progress made by Spain and Europe in emerging from the crisis but she warned the countries of Europe and Spain emphasising that the crisis was not over yet and that it was going to leave its mark for many years to come. To stabilise and strengthen the end of the crisis Christine Lagarde stressed that it was necessary to "strengthen the structure of Monetary Union," to "support demand via monetary and fiscal policies" and to work towards a reform of the labour market. Regarding Spain she stressed that the country should continue its reform of the labour market and the reduction of the public debt.

Latvia will join the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) on 13th March next thereby becoming the 18th member of the rescue fund. According to a press release published on 3rd March by ESM Latvia can ask for financial aid if the country is encountering financial difficulties on the market and if this aid is deemed necessary to protect the euro zone's financial stability. Moreover, as a member state Latvia must subscribe to the ESM's capital, which provides support to debt securities issued by EMS in order to finance loans and other forms of financial aid.

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton communicated details to the European Parliament and the Council in view of the introduction of a European maritime strategy. These details pinpoint the interests of security at stake in the maritime sector as well as the existing dangers and puts forward a structure for a European maritime strategy focusing on four main points: optimising, at both a European and national level, the use of maritime capabilities which the 28 Member States have at their disposal, promoting effective, credible cooperation internationally in the maritime sector, promoting the optimisation of costs via improved cooperation between Member States and improving existing solidarity between Member States in endeavours make safe the maritime area.

The European Commission adopted a recommendation on 7th March 2014 inviting Member States to improve transparency regarding levels of pay between men and women. In its report the Commission deems that the difference in pay ie the average difference in hourly pay between men and women across the entire economy is stagnating at around 16.4% in the EU. Equal pay is vital, and the Commission is recommending that Member States improve transparency via a series of measures that notably offer employees the possibility of being able to ask about salary rates within a company. It is therefore inviting Member States to draft a report for the Commission by the end of 2015 on measures they have taken to implement these recommendations.

On 4th March 2014 the 28 EU Energy Ministers debated prices and costs of energy in Europe and an action plan in view of 2030 on energy and climate policies. They recalled the importance of making safe the energy market in terms of supplies whilst maintaining reasonable prices and called on businesses to reduce their energy consumption. They also discussed the means to make the European energy market more competitive internationally.

The 28 European Interior and Justice Ministers who met on 3rd and 4th March 2014 reviewed migration, the Task Force for the Mediterranean, the regulation of the European Agency, Europol, data protection and the introduction of a European public prosecutor and legal measures concerning children involved in criminal proceedings. They encouraged those involved to continue their work on monitoring migratory flows and noted the Commission's information concerning these areas. They stressed the need to reform the European Police College (CEPOL) in line with the Lisbon Treaty. In the area of data protection ministers supported the Commission's proposals. As for the European public prosecutor, differences emerged over the competences that he/she would be given and debate focused on the boundaries of his/her action.

On 3rd March 2014 the Council of the European Union adopted a decision allowing EU Member States to ratify the UN's Arms Trade Treaty. Since this treaty covers the EU's exclusive competences and because it cannot be part of this treaty its Member States had to have the EU's authorisation to ratify it. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the Security Policy, Catherine Ashton believes that this decision will enable the strengthening of this treaty and provide it with greater profile in the international arena.

The 28 European Environment Ministers met on 3rd March 2014 indicating that a debate (as suggested by the European Commission) on a general framework for 2030 should be organised to clarify matters with investors and businesses regarding energy and climate policies over the years to come. They also decided to re-open discussions over the legislative proposal on the possibility of Member States being able to restrict or ban GMO's within their territories. Finally they debated the annual analysis of growth focusing on the priorities of the "green economy", national reform programmes in view of the European Council on 20th and 21st March next.

The 28 Employment, Social Affairs, Healthcare and Consumer Protection Ministers met on 10th March 2014. They adopted a framework for the quality of traineeships in the EU and have asked the States to focus the Europe 2020 strategy on employment and poverty reduction issues. A preliminary agreement on the reform of the tripartite social summit for growth and employment was signed. Ministers validated the Fund for Aid to the most deprived which will allocate 3.5 billion euro in food aid. They also validated the mobilisation of the European Adjustment Fund for Globalisation for Spain and a plan to reduce CO2 emissions in new cars.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton travelled to Iran on 8th and 9th March 2014 to meet Iranian leaders as part of the implementation of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme of November 2013. She met Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Apart from issues linked to the Iranian nuclear question Ms Ashton and Mr Zarif addressed issues related to the situation in Syria, the future of Afghanistan and more particularly drug trafficking as well as the respect of human rights. She is cautious about the chances of reaching an overall agreement maintaining that negotiations were difficult and "not guaranteed" to succeed.

The number of foreigners living in Germany reached a record level last year, according to figures published on 7th March 2014,observing a 6% rise over one year. At the end of 2013 7.6 million foreigners were living in Germany - out of 80.5 million inhabitants - according to figures published by the Federal Office for Statistics (Destatis). It is the highest number ever recorded since the launch of this register in 1967. Germany has experienced an unprecedented inflow of asylum seekers from Serbia with 18,001 requests, up by over 40% in comparison with 2012. Macedonia and Bosnia also feature amongst the six main countries of origin.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron inaugurated the CeBIT (IT fair) on 10th March 2014 in Hannover. The UK is guest of honour this year's fair the theme of which is datability, data management and digital economy. The fair is running until 14th March.

18 OSCE member countries are taking part in a military observers' mission in Ukraine: this involves Canada, Denmark, UK, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Germany, Estonia, Ireland and USA. However the 40 OSCE observers who have come to Ukraine on the request of the new Ukrainian government, had to turn back, after being prevented from entering Crimea by armed men.

On 5th March the European Commission presented an aid plan to a total of at least "11 billion euros" in support of Ukraine. Quite precisely 1.6 billion will take the shape of loans, 1.4 billion will comprise donations, 600 million of which will be paid over the next two years, 3 billion will come from the European Investment Bank (EIB). In addition to this the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced that it was ready to invest at least 5 billion euro in Ukraine until 2020 to support reform to this country in crisis. Finally the Commission will turn out 250 million euro from the Neighbourhood Policy fund in order to raise 3.5 billion in loans. Moreover the Council decided to launch sanctions against 18 members of V. Yanukovych's regime comprising a freezing of their assets and the conditions that allow these people to recover them.

Ukraine's European neighbours said they were "dismayed" by the role Russia has played in the crisis which in their opinion is a reminder of how the Soviet Union put down their own protests during the Cold War. "The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia are aghast at witnessing a military intervention in 21st century Europe which resembles their own experiences in 1956, 1968 and 1981," wrote the heads of government of these four countries in a press release on 4th March 2014. Czech Bohuslav Sobotka, Hungarian Viktor Orban, Pole Donald Tusk and Slovakian Robert Fico expressed their thoughts under the aegis of the Visegrad Group which links the four EU countries over energy and security issues, as well as within a partnership with countries in the East like Ukraine and Russia.

On 16th March the inhabitants of Crimea will be voting in a referendum in response to two questions: do they want Crimea to integrate the Federation of Russia or do they prefer a return to the Constitution of 1992 which granted them greater autonomy within Ukraine? It should be noted that the entire international community condemns this referendum.

On 7th March, the day before Women's Day, Eurostat published a study deeming notably that in 2012 40% of young women were graduates of higher education in comparison with only 32% of men in the EU. Moreover the share of women that had left education and training prematurely (10.9%) was lower than men (14.4%).

The German "Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik" (SWP) and the German Marshall Fund of the USA have published a paper which reflects the results of a joint project entitled "Elements of a German foreign and security policy for a changing world". The text looks into the four main aspects of Germany's new international responsibilities: "Germany and the international order", "Germany and Europe", "Germany's Strategic Relations", and "Germany and International Security."

The Städel Museum in Frankfurt is running the first retrospective of German Expressionist Emil Nolde's work (1867-1956) to be organised in Germany in 25 years; it offers a wide range of landscapes of Northern Germany, scenes from Berlin and the Bible. The exhibition which is on until 15th June 2014 comprises 12 parts and 140 canvasses, water colours and prints, a chronological presentation of the painter's work with a more in depth view of his early work as well as later creations which have not been seen very much to date.

A new exhibition at the British Museum in London aims to look at the Vikings' image afresh - the Scandinavians, whose names means "pirate" in old Norse. By exploring their ships, their arms, their art, words and even their skeletons, "Vikings: Life and Legends" aims to show how the energy and ideas of these peoples led to major change worldwide. Maritime navigation is the focus of the exhibition. The key piece is the biggest Viking ship ever found. The exhibition is running until 22nd June 2014.

The Santa-Cruz Museum in Toledo will be running an exhibition from 15th March to 14th June 2014 on the artist El Greco. The exhibition will extend across the whole town taking place in various venues associated with the painter. The aim is to set the "Greek of Toledo" in his era by highlighting influences and relations with artists of his time. The first years before his arrival in Toledo and his Cretan, Venetian, and Roman influences will be covered. A specific place will be given to El Greco's portraits which are a major part of his art.