979,910 Estonians are being convened to vote on March 1st next to renew the 101 members of the Riigikogu. MPs are elected every four years by a proportional vote within 12 multi-name constituencies. Four political parties are represented in Parliament at present: the Reform party (ER), of Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, the Centre Party (K), the Pro-Patria Union-Res Publica (IRL) and the Social Democratic Party (SDE). According to a poll by TNS EMOR for the daily Postimees, the Reform Party is due to come out ahead in the general elections on March 1st. With 23% of the vote it is due to pull ahead of the Centre Party with 22%. The Social Democratic Party is due to win 20%, Pro-Patria Union-Res Publica 14%, the New Free Party of Estonia 9% and the People's Conservative Party (EKRE) 9%.

An agreement was found on 20th February regarding the extension of the assistance plan to Greece. The Greek and German Finance Ministers Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Schäuble came to agreement on a joint text that was approved by the euro zone finance ministers. This initial six month extension will in fact last four months, the time taken to come to a new agreement. Jeroen Dijsselboem, President of the Eurogroup announced that the negotiations had been "intense" because the "aim of this meeting had been to re-establish confidence between us." He said he was satisfied that "the work we did this week has paid off". Greece now has to indicate which reforms it will introduce. A first list was presented to the Eurogroup on 23rd February which the finance ministers now have to approve.

During its meeting on 18th February the European Commission launched a consultation on the creation of a Capital Markets Union and debated vital action to take to counter tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning. After this public consultation the Commission will adopt an action plan this summer that should lead to the introduction of a single capital market by 2019. In order to stimulate growth the European Commission now wants to strengthen the role of the markets in the financing of businesses since SMEs must be able to "raise funding as easily as big companies," being able to seek capital in any Member State.

On 18th and 19th February the 28 European Defence Ministers agreed on the need to bring the European Council together over defence in June to discuss the strategic and security issues as well as the European response to provide to these challenges. They concluded that recent events on the EU's southern borders to a backdrop of hybrid war are a joint challenge to the EU. On 18th February NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg demanded that Russia withdraw its forces from the East of Ukraine and bring its support to the separatists to an end.

On 20th February the Council approved the final compromise text on "the omnibus regulation" (the landing obligation of fishing captures). The progressive elimination of waste in all EU fisheries thanks to the introduction of a landing obligation is one of the reformed common fisheries policy's main goals. An annual report on the implementation of this regulation will also be prepared by the Commission on the basis of available information communicated by the Member States and by the consultative councils. Moreover a pragmatic solution to stock fish on board trawlers will be introduced. The text will be presented to Parliament and then approved by the Council.

During a private visit to Rome on 21st February German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Discussions focused on the preparation of the next G7 summit that will take place in Bavaria on 7th and 8th June 2015. Angela Merkel and Pope Francis also addressed the issue of the fight to counter poverty, women's rights and the challenges to public health, religious freedom in the world as well as the situation in Ukraine. As part of the G7 Angela Merkel recalled that the German Presidency wanted to highlight several themes including the protection of the environment, healthcare, and the strengthening of the role played by women.

On 19th February French President François Hollande travelled to the airbase at Istres and gave a speech on nuclear weapons. Given the tragic events of the last months he insisted on the fact that nuclear dissuasion remained a means of defence: "nuclear dissuasion aims to protect our country from any aggression on the part of state against its vital interest, wherever it may come from and whatever shape it may take. I might add that France believes that the nuclear arm is not designed to gain any kind of advantage in a conflict. Because of the devastating effects of nuclear arms it has no place in an offensive strategy, it is only designed as a defence strategy." He then reviewed the nuclear arms programme and announced modernisation measures.

During a by-election on 22nd February Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lost the 2/3 super-majority that he had enjoyed since 2010. Indeed this depended on one seat only. But the candidate supported by the opposition in the constituency of Veszprem (West) was elected with 43% of the vote against 34% for the candidate of the party in office, FIDESZ. This defeat in a usually conservative stronghold is seen as a yellow card for the government.

According to its most recent study devoted to Italy the OECD believes that reform, if it is completed, should lead to an additional 6% in GDP growth in 10 years. Amongst the projects that would enable progress is the improvement of the structure of Parliament and also the distribution of responsibilities between the central and regional administrations which would facilitate the effectiveness of the legislative process and prevent delays in the implementation of measures. An effective application of the December 2014 bill on employment should enable the return of growth. The model work contract that has been advocated as a part of this, says the OECD, will be implemented and applied via greater flexibility in terms of working hours, the improvement of parental leave and affordable, high quality childcare services. Finally a great deal of work remains to improve the economic effectiveness of public spending, increase transparency and step up the fight to counter corruption. However the future bill on taxation could also help bring improvements to these areas.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced on 20th February that the British shipbuilding industry would be boosted with the signature of a contract between the Defence Ministry and BAE Systems to a total value of £859 million. Some 1700 jobs will be maintained thanks to the investments made in the building of Type 26 warships, the new generation of Royal Navy frigates and 600 jobs will be saved in Scotland the site of the construction of the 26 Type. "This is a major investment for our shipbuilding industry. Investing in warships guarantees the upkeep of our country's security, both domestic and foreign," indicated David Cameron.

On 19th February French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussing the incessant breaks in the ceasefire that was supposed to enter into force on 15th February. The four leaders agreed to implement the entire package of measures quite rigorously as agreed on 12th February in Minsk: ceasefire along the entire front line without exception; continued withdrawal of heavy arms to complete this within the timetable agreed; monitoring and follow-up by the OSCE of these measures by guaranteeing free access and security to observers and the acceleration of the process to free prisoners.

The Ukrainian authorities and the separatist rebels are said to have come to agreement on 22nd February on the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the buffer zone. This withdrawal had been planned for in the Minsk II agreements, negotiated on 12th February between the French, German, Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Since the entry into force of the ceasefire on 15th February fighting has continued, particularly around the town of Debaltseve, and the final application of the truce seems to be in danger. The signature of this agreement on heavy weapons might revive the peace process. However a terrorist attack took place in Kharkiv on 22nd February during a commemoration of the events that took place a year ago in the Maïdan. The situation is confused in the region around Mariupol. Moreover the Ukrainian army announced on 23rd February that a withdrawal of heavy arms from the buffer zone is impossible for the time being. In these conditions the agreement signed on 22nd February has little chance of surviving. In Brussels the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk announced that he was consulting the European States again on the steps that they should take.

Just a year ago former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich fled in the face of popular pressure and after ordering that demonstrators should be shot. Ukraine celebrated the first anniversary of the brutally repressed demonstrations in Maïdan deemed to be the first stage in Ukraine's new transition. Several European leaders were present in Kyiv for a "walk of dignity" with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, including the President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the German, Polish, Lithuanian, Slovakian, Georgian and Moldovan Presidents.

Whilst the Agricultural Fair took place this weekend in Paris, Eurostat published the 2014 edition of its agricultural, forestry and fisheries statistics on 20th February. This publication is subdivided into seven chapters comprising facts and figures on agricultural accounts, prices, products, the environment, forestry and fisheries. Since 2014 was declared as the International Year of Family Farming by the UN the publication highlights family farming in the EU and analyses the development of farms over a five to ten year period.

The "Centre d'études stratégiques de la Marine" has published the 7th edition of its marine studies devoted to the EU under the guidance of Rear-Admiral Thierry Rousseau. The authors, including Chairman of the Foundation Jean-Dominique Giuliani, have looked into what drives European integration along in terms of maritime policy. Apart from the common fisheries policy the Union is often drawn to the sea due to catastrophes and accidents (oil slicks, massive illegal immigration etc...). The authors see that at the moment there is an opportunity for change. The basis for integrated maritime policies has been set and interests are converging - only common ambition is missing.

The newly published "Goodbye Poutine" (Gingko éditions) is not just a slogan copying the "Get lost!" of the Arab Spring or Maidan in 2013 and 2014. Under the guidance of Hélène Blanc, many opinions provided by the best observers of the EU, Russia and Ukraine analyse one of most serious crises suffered by Europe. Their insight is useful for our joint future. Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, who signed the book's preface is one of the 30 authors.

The Museum of Modern Art in Zürich (Kunsthaus) is running an exhibition until 10th May 2015 entitled "Monet, Gauguin, Van Gogh ... Japanese Inspiration", devoted to a fascinating chapter in French art of the second half of the 19th century. More than 350 pieces of work from the world over have been brought under the same roof, highlighting the image that Europeans had of Japan at that time. Emphasis is placed on the period 1860-1910 which matches the beginnings and peak of the popularity of Japanese art in France. Apart from the paintings there is also a representative selection of prints by Japanese artists like Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro which partly come from the artists' collections of that period.

The Belvedere Palace in Vienna is running an exhibition until 21st June 2015 entitled "The Vienna Congress 1814-1815, Europe in Vienna." Via the use of art organisers want to relate one of the most important events in European history. Two hundred years ago Vienna became the political, cultural and social centre of Europe. All of the major European powers convened to agree on the way to re-organise the continent, which had lost its stability during the Napoleonic wars. Many pictures and famous sculptures highlight both the political and social aspects of this event.

The Kunsthalle of Hamburg is running a unique exhibition until 16th August 2015 that reveals the collection of art historian Hedy Hahnloser and Arthur-Bühler, a Swiss couple who, between 1906 and 1936, put together an impressive number of post-Impressionist masterpieces at the Villa Flora in Winterthur. After being introduced to leading artistic circles in Paris by Swiss painter Félix Vallotton (1865-1925) in the first years of the 20th century the couple soon made friends with Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuillard, Henri Manguin and later Henri Matisse. The exhibition presents a selection of over 200 works by 18 artists notably Paul Cézanne, Vincent Van Gogh, Auguste Renoir and Edouard Manet. This collection of world renown is on show for the first time in Germany.