The Austrian Society for International Relations and the UN (ÖGAVN) is organising a conference with Joachim Bitterlich, former German diplomat and member of the Robert Schuman's Scientific Committee as a speaker. The conference will focus on the issue "Vital decision - or Europe's lost decade?" It will take place on 2nd April 2014 in Vienna.

Andrej Kiska, millionaire and philanthropist, won the presidential election on 29th March 2014 against Prime Minister Robert Fico - a setback that challenges the strength of the latter's government. Mr Kiska won 59. 38% of the vote according to official results. Mr Fico, head of government between 2006-2010 and since 2012 was credited with only 40.61%. Turnout totalled 50.46%.

According to figures published on 26th March 2014 by the Labour and Employment Ministry unemployment increased again in France in February with +31,500 job seekers ie a rise of 0.9% in comparison with January. This rise is the highest recorded since September 2013. In all France now has nearly 3.35 million unemployed ie a rise of 150,000 in comparison with February 2013.

The European Commission put forward a draft regulation on 24th March 2014 concerning the production and labelling of organic products in the EU. The aim is to make good legal loopholes in this area and to place consumer and producer concerns at the heart of this new regulation. The proposal is based on three main themes: protect consumer confidence, protect producer confidence and facilitate access to the organic sector for farmers, the aim being to ensure that organic agriculture stays in line with its initial goals.

The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy and American President Barack Obama met in Brussels on 26th March for an EU/USA Summit. They reiterated their support to the transition government in Ukraine highlighting the illegal nature of the action taken by Russia. In terms of growth and employment they set goals to reach by the G20 meeting in November 2014. Moreover they reasserted their commitment to the conclusion of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. They also reiterated the importance of coming to agreement during the Paris Conference on the Climate in October. Finally they recalled the importance of the respect of both real and virtual private life and decided to step up their cooperation in terms of foreign policy.

An internet access provider can be ordered to prevent client access to an internet site which damages copyright decided the European Court of Justice on 27th March 2014. If the provider "allows its clients to access protected objects made available to the public on the internet by a third party" then the access provider can be deemed to be an "intermediary" whose services are used to damage copyright indicated the Court of justice in its decision. As a result the provider can be asked to prevent access to the internet site which damages copyright says the Court.

58 world leaders met in the Hague on 24th and 25th March 2014 on the occasion of the Nuclear Security Summit. Although Ukraine has overturned the agenda leaders adopted measures notably linked to terrorism. Agreements focus on the reduction of the quantity of dangerous nuclear matter in the world in order to prevent terrorists from building a nuclear weapon with highly enriched uranium and/or plutonium - but they also focus on the security of radioactive matter and on the exchange of information and better international cooperation.

On 27th March 2014 German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble insisted in an interview with the German daily Handelsblatt on the need to think about changing the EU's treaties after the European Elections in May and to strengthen the functioning of the euro zone. "After the European elections debate over changing the treaties will again be up for debate," he said. On 28th March in an article published in the Financial Times with his British counterpart George Osborne, Wolfgang Schäuble stressed that whilst the "euro zone continues to integrate it is important for countries outside of the zone not find themselves at a disadvantage in the EU." "The future reforms of the EU and the changes to the treaties must include framework governance reform in order to place euro zone integration on sound legal foundations and to guarantee fairness for the EU's countries which are part of the single market but which do not use the single currency," explained the two ministers.

On 25th March 2014 the 12 judges comprising the Spanish constitutional court deemed unanimously that the referendum which Catalonia intends to organise on the region's independence is illegal. This decision was taken after several speeches by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during which he said that he was absolutely certain of the illegality of this referendum.

The new Estonian government took office on 26th March 2014 after approval by Parliament 55 votes in support against 36. Led by 34 year old Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, - who took over from Andrus Ansip who resigned, the government comprises the Reform Party and the Social Democratic Party. There are 14 members five of whom are women.

The Senate renewed its confidence in Matteo Renzi's government on 26th March - the latter had decided to force through a draft bill preparing for the abolition of some Italian provinces. The project which plans for a revision of the roles and competences of the provinces in view of their abolition presented by Graziano Delrio - Matteo Renzi's righthand man was adopted by the Senate 160 votes in support 133 against, and will now have to be brought before the chamber of deputies.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite called on 29th March 2014 for the government to double the national defence budget over the next five years in order to reach the goals set by NATO in a context of tension that has followed the absorption of Crimea by neighbouring Russia. Vilnius spends 0.8% of its GDP on defence at present that is well below the 2% target set by NATO of which Lithuania has been a member since 2004. "In five years we can reach the goal of 2% for defence," deemed Ms Grybauskaite during a speech in parliament.

On 24th March 2014 the new Czech government announced that it had approved accession to the European budgetary pact signed in 2012. "The government has decided to launch the ratification process in view of joining the budgetary pact," declared Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. The Czech Republic has therefore broken away from the eurosceptic policy of the former government led by Prime Minister Petr Necas and former President Vaclav Klaus. Parliament will assess the issue in the spring. Its adoption requires a qualified majority of 120 of the 200 MPs.

A report presented to the House of Lords on 24th March 2014 calls for more place to be given to national parliaments in the EU. It suggests going further in terms of the Lisbon Treaty which aims to enable national parliaments to influence the drafting of EU law. It also suggests the strengthening of the "Yellow Card" procedure to include the monitoring of proportionality and to create a "Green Card" procedure to enable national parliament to put forward or amend European laws. The report recommends better inclusion of national parliaments in the management of the Economic and Monetary Union. The European Issue featuring the speech by the Leader of the National Assembly Claude Bartolone during a seminar organised by the Robert Schuman Foundation on the Union's policy last October is notably quoted in the report.

The Chinese President, Xi Jinping met French President François Hollande during his visit from 25th to 28th March 2014. The two leaders celebrated the fifty years of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Contracts to a total of 18 billion euro including the order of 70 Airbuses were signed. After his visit to France Mr Jinping travelled to Germany. Discussions between the Chinese president and Angela Merkel mainly focused on economic cooperation between the two countries. The German President welcomed the reform programme set out by the Chinese president to counter corruption, in support of justice and for the development of rule of law in China. The Chinese President then travelled to Belgium on 30th March 2014 where he met with the leaders of the European institutions on 31st March. In a joint declaration the Chinese President and Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council insisted on the need to strengthen the global Strategic Partnership concluded between the EU and China in 2003. Both hope that Sino-European work will gather speed to counter piracy in the Indian Ocean. Regarding international affairs both sides agreed on the "importance of multilateralism and on the central role played by the UN in international affairs.

On 25th March 2014 American President Barack Obama held a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The latter recalled the Netherlands attachment to the conclusion of the TTIP agreement and Barack Obama repeated his support for this also. On 27th March 2014 the American President travelled to Italy. He first met Pope Francis at the Vatican. They discussed international issues in which the USA is involved - like Ukraine, Syria and Israel. The American President then met Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Italian head of State Matteo Renzi. Barack Obama encouraged the reforms introduced by Matteo Renzi and referred to their common values and ideals.

On Ukraine's request the IMF dispatched an expert mission from 4th to 25th March 2014 to set up an aid plan in view of rebuilding the country's economy. Experts were able to assess Ukraine's macro-economic requirements and introduced an aid plan over two years to counterbalance the public deficit that is forecast to be over 10% of the GDP in 2014. In exchange for an in-depth structural reform plan Ukraine is due to receive 18 billion dollars from the IMF. Ukraine will increase gas sales prices to the population by 50% as of May 1st. This measure is being demanded by the IMF if aid is to be granted to Kiev. The Ukrainian Parliament finally approved the austerity measures demanded by the IMF on 27th March 2014 on second reading, 246 votes in support.

On 28th March 2014 the North Atlantic Alliance Council appointed Jens Stoltenberg, former Norwegian Prime Minister as Secretary General of NATO and President of the North Atlantic Council - taking over from Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Jens Stoltenberg will take office on October 1st 2014 after Mr Rasmussen's mandate comes to an end after five years and two months as the Alliance's head.

The euro zone's annual inflation rate was estimated at 0.5% in March 2014, down in comparison with February when it lay at 0.7% according to a rapid estimate on 31st March 2014 by Eurostat.

On 24th March 2014 Eurobarometer published a study on undeclared work in Europe. It emerges that one European in 10 admits to having purchased goods or services involving the use of undeclared work over the last year and 4% of those interviewed admit that they have received revenues from undeclared work. Moreover one person in 30 (3%) was paid in part in cash by an employer (envelope wages).

The Senate's European Affairs Committee published an information report on 26th February 2014 written under the management of Senator Pierre Bernard-Reymond entitled "L'Union européenne: du crépuscule au nouvel élan" which reassesses Europe in the light of the lessons learned from the economic crisis. Structured in five parts (two-tiered Europe, strengthening Europe's economic capability, reforming the European institutions, strengthening the acquis and improving communication on Europe and encouraging Europe's rapprochement with its citizens), this report puts forward 24 proposals for the refounding and strengthening of Europe.

Hardly known in France Danish 19th century painting is being hosted by the MuMA in Le Havre thanks to the generosity of a passionate collector who has put together a set of over 200 paintings from this school in just a few years. The collection on show that brings together most of the artists of that time takes us to a world that is lit up by the Northern skies, where, men - sailors, fishermen or towns people live in harmony with nature. The exhibition is open until 14th May.