In a speech delivered on 2nd April 2014 Christine Lagarde, IMF Director General deemed that the economy had stabilised overall but that new obstacles were now emerging. In her opinion the world's economy is turning the page on the great recession but if policies are not more ambitious the world might fall into a phase of low growth mid-term.

On 1st April 2014 the 18 Euro zone Finance Ministers said they were pleased with the results of the fourth adjustment programme mission for Greece. They believe that the necessary factors are in place to launch further procedures with the aim of approving the next aid plain totalling 8.3 billion euro - of which 6.3 billion will be available at the end of April. Members of the Eurogroup also addressed the situation in Portugal and the possibility of completing aid of 1.2 billion euro on 24th April. The draft budget for Luxembourg was declared to be in line with the stability pact and ministers were happy that a compromise had been found with the European Parliament on banking union which still has to be approved during the plenary session in April.

France's public deficit totalled 4.3% of the GDP in 2013, ie more than the goal of 4.1% planned for by the government according to the first results of national public administration accounts published on 31st March 2014 by INSEE. The 2014 budget plans to bring the deficit down to 3.6% by the end of the year and to 2.8% at the end of 2015 - a trajectory that was already qualified uncertain by the Court of Auditors in January. The public debt totalled 1,925.3 million euro at the end of 2013 ie 93.5% of the GDP - which is slightly over the 93.4% mark noted by the government. In 2012 INSEE revised these figures upwards - the public deficit rose from 4.8% to 4.9% and the from 90.2% to 90.6% of the GDP.

The executive of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) met in Athens on 2nd April 2014 and approved the payment of 150 million euro to Cyprus after the positive assessment of the third quarterly evaluation of the macro-economic adjustment programme. The payment will bring the total amount of financial aid given to Cyprus by the ESM to 4.75 billion euro. On 31st March the Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who was visiting Nicosia said he was confident in the rapid recovery of the Cypriot economy one year after the European rescue plan that forced the island to make drastic savings.

On 1st April 2014 the European Commisison put forward proposals to shorten and simplify procedures significantly for people who want to travel to the EU for short stays.They will be less costly and there will be less red tape whilst a high level of security will be maintained. Easier access to the Schengen area for legal travellers will make visits to friends and family as well as business travel easier. It will stimulate economic activity and the creation of jobs for example in the area of tourism and in those associated to this, such as the restaurant business and transport.

In a communication adopted on 4th April 2014 the Commission unveiled a strategy that aims to improve European healthcare systems given the problems and tension that they are facing. It highlights initiatives that the EU can develop and use to help Member States guarantee citizens the quality healthcare they are hoping for. It will privilege methods and tools that will improve efficacy, accessibility and the ability to adapt healthcare systems, in line with reform recommendations addressed to Member States as part of the European Semester. Member States are also being encouraged to use European financing tools like the Structural Funds to complete the reforms advocated in these recommendations.

In line with the new measures adopted on 3rd April 2014 by MEPs, the "interchange" commissions set by banks on retailers will be capped. Some measures aiming to make on-line payments safer, to reduct costs and to extend users' choice were also approved on 3rd April 2014.

On 3rd April 2014, via its vote in support of the draft regulation presented by the Commission that aims to make Europe "a connected continent" (single telecommunications market), MEPs decided to bring roaming fees to an end by Christmas 2015. The report suggests granting more consumer rights and to promote a better quality telecommunications offer. Moreover MEPs also adopted measures that aim to prevent Internet service providers from blocking or slowing their competitors' internet services.

In a recommendation adopted on 2nd April 2014 MEPs stressed that the EU should define a strategy for the European radio and tv network as part of its external policy in order to promote the freedom of expression, pluralism of the media and to strengthen democracy and human rights.

On 1st April 2014 the Council launched the European military operation in Central African Republic in line with the greenlight given by the UN's Security Council in its resolution 2134. On 2nd April a special meeting on the situation in CAR took place on the sidelines of the EU/Africa Summit. This meeting led to support being given to the Central African transition authorities in their work towards peace, security and dialogue. It also highlighted the joint commitment on the part of the EU and Africa to respond in a coordinated manner to this crisis and to help together towards bringing sustainable stability to the country.

On the occasion of the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping on 31st March 2014 Brussels and Beijing insisted on the need to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - concluded between the EU and China in 2003 - which now covers issues involving foreign policy, security, as well as global stakes such as climate change and international economic governance. The declaration lays out the points on which the two sides have agreed to deepen cooperation and stress the joint effort needed to counter piracy in the Indian Ocean. The EU and China are pleased with the increase in naval escorts in the World Food Programme which transports food aid to Somalia. Regarding international matters both Chinese and Europeans agreed on the "importance of multilateralism and the central role played by the UN in international affairs."

On 5th April 2014 an informal meeting of 28 Foreign Ministers took place in Athens together with Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative. The Ukrainian crisis was on the agenda; ministers also addressed the elections in Afghanistan, the freedom of expression in Turkey and the peace process in the Middle East.

On 2nd April 2014 the German Council of Ministers adopted a draft bill introducing a minimum gross hourly salary of 8.50 €. This minimum salary will enter into force on 1st January 2015 but a transition period is planned for sectors that are still governed by a wage agreement. It will be implemented in all sectors as of 2017 except in the case of the under 18's, trainees and long term unemployed who will not be included in this rule for the first six months of their employment.

"Greece's recent economic results prove that the path followed was the right one" in order to bring the country out of its financial rut said the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble in an interview given to the Greek daily Kathimerini on 6th April 2014. He maintained that "there was no simple solution". "Unemployment in Greece was not the result of the European policy (...) "it can already be seen that public finances have improved as planned for in the programme" and that "consolidation is occurring faster and much better than expected." Four years after being excluded Greece is about to make its return to the financial markets. It is forecasting low growth (0.6%) in 2014.

Cypriot President Nicols Anastasiades appointed Christoforos Fokaides as Defence Minister on 3rd April after the death of his predecessor, Tasos Mitsopoulos on 22nd March. Member of the DISY party in office, Christoforos Fokaides, aged 40, is a professor of political science at the European University of Cyprus.

Just as the French government underwent a reshuffle on 2nd April 2014 leading to the reorganisation of the departments in Bercy in line with the German model, two Finance Economy Ministers, Michel Sapin and Arnaud Montebourg travelled to Berlin on 7th April 2014 to meet their German counterparts Wolfgang Schäuble and Sigmar Gabriel. During their press conference W. Schäuble declared that Germany needed a "strong France". For his part the French Finance Minister M.Sapin added that France was "on the right path". Mr Sapin - comparing himself to Mr Schäuble promised to "continue the reorganisation of public finances". Mr Schäuble stressed his attachment to sustainable growth.

The Italian government adopted a draft law on 31st March 2014 which brings radical reform to the Senate. It would like to turn the Senate into a "German" assembly thereby bring perfect bicameralism to an end. The constitutional draft law which ratifies the end of the "perfect bicameralism and the reduction of the number of MPs" abolishes the Senate in its present shape as promised by Matteo Renzi as he took office on 17th February. Until now every draft bill had to pass before the Chamber of Deputies and before the Senate until it was finally adopted. Once this law has been adopted (there will have to be exchange between the two chambers and a 2/3 majority adoption), only MPs will approve the law with the Senate assuming a purely consultative role. This project "adopted unanimously" "is a major turning point for Italian politics" said the Prime Minister.

A report published on 2nd April 2014 by the British Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) concluded that 92% of industrialists in the sector want the UK to stay in the EU. The attractiveness of the single market gives to the UK, the integrated level of production chains in Europe, the Union's weight in international negotiations, reduced costs created by the introduction of European norms, R&D financing and the free movement of workers are all factors quoted to be important for British competitiveness.

On 7th April 2014 Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk accused Russia of implementing a "plan to dismember Ukraine" via incidents in the east of the country. These incidents are part of a "plan to destabilise the situation so that a foreign army can pass the border and invade Ukrainian territory, which we shall not allow," he maintained. On April 1st the Ukrainian Parliament approved the organisation of joint military manoeuvres with NATO countries and the EU. It also approved the disarmament of paramilitary groups which took part in the pro-European demonstrations and which still control the centre of Kiev. On 3rd April the prosecutor general, the interior minister and the head of the Ukrainian security service also presented the first conclusions of the investigation into the killings that took place on Maidan during the uprising which finally led to the fall of President Viktor Yanukovych.

In the face of visible, worrying signs of climate change across the world the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon again insisted on 3rd April 2014 in Brussels on the need for a major collective effort to counter this phenomenon before it is too late and stressed the decisive role to be played by Europe in this area. "My aim is to make Member States understand, both the private sector and the man on the street, that climate change is an obstacle to the safety, prosperity and development of humanity long term," declared the Secretary General.

The OECD published a report on 1st April 2014 entitled "Public Governance Review of Spain: From Administrative Reform to Continuous Improvement" in which it indicates that the reform of the Spanish public sector is on the right path. This reform should lead to a strengthening and effectiveness of the country's institutions whilst proposals aim to improve transparency and eradicate corruption thereby helping significantly in re-establishing public confidence.

2014 is the year when the European institutions will be voted anew. On this occasion Bernard Bonno, curator of the Maison de l'Europe in Rennes and Haute-Bretagne aims to show in his book "L'Europe en héritage" his view of the EU which he believes comprises the greatest adventure the continent has experienced since the end of the second world war. The book is prefaced by Jacques Barrot, Member of the Constitutional Council and a Member of the Foundation's Board.

The report by the group of experts which assesses the possibility of pooling the debt via the joint emission of eurobonds was published on 31st March 2014. The report does not make any recommendations but concludes that eurobonds would stabilise States' borrowing markets, improve monetary policy transmission and promote financial integration stability. The report also points to some risks and highlights the need to assess and undertake prior reform. On April 1st several experts including Graham Bishop, a British expert were auditioned by the European Parliament's ECON Committee.

You have until 17th August 2014 to see the exhibition "Paris, 1900, City of Entertainment" which invites the public to relive the French capital's "années folles" when it hosted the Universal Exhibition at the beginning of the 20th century. Never before had the town shone in the eyes of the world as it did then as a city of luxury and fine living. More than 600 works - paintings - artwork, costumes, posters, photographs, films, furniture, jewellery, sculptures ... will take you back to the Paris of the Belle Epoque.

The biggest exhibition ever devoted to Ai Weiwei is running until 7th July 2014 at the Martin Gropius-Bau in Berlin. Three years after his spectacular arrest, Ai Weiwei, who spent 81 days in prison, is still waiting to pick up his passport which was confiscated by the Chinese authorities. In his exhibition entitled "Evidence" the artist shows objects which document his life and artistic work like evidence in a trial. He has rebuilt a life-like copy of the cell in which he was imprisoned.

After three years of work the Vincent van Gogh Foundation opened its doors in Arles where the painter lived from 1888 to 1889. The exhibition entitled "Van Gogh Live!" is on until 31st August 2014. This first exhibition focuses on the idea of "colours of the north, colours of the south", retraces the development of the artist's palette from dark tones to the colours of Provence. Work by other Van Gogh contemporaries or those who influenced him are also on show: Courbet, Pissaro, Monet and Monticelli are part of the exhibition for example.

On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the death of El Greco the Prado Museum in Madrid is showing the library of Greek artist, El Greco until 29th June. This comprises 130 books. The exhibition comprises five parts each matching a time that influenced El Greco's paintings. The first part focuses on Ancient Greece and shows how the painter was influenced by the cultural heritage of his native country. The second part entitled "Metamorphosis in Italy" covers the artist's time in Italy and the effect this had on his way of painting. The third part is devoted to the "scientific" approach adopted by El Greco. He thought he could depict the invisible or the impossible. The fourth part is devoted to El Greco's architectural work and the fifth focuses on issues linked to depicting religion.