After the EU-Turkey summit on 7th March Europeans and Turks agreed that Turkey will take back refugees who arrive in Greece via its territory in exchange for financial aid. Cengiz Aktar, political expert, journalist and Turkish writer believes that the EU is giving up its values in the face of an unscrupulous regime.

On 10th March the OECD published an economic study of Greece which highlights that poverty is now affecting one third of the population.

On 9th March Hungarian Minister Sandor Pinter declared the establishment of the state of emergency due to mass migration.

On 7th March the Council of Europe launched an appeal to guarantee improvements in the protection of migrant women and children's rights in Europe.

According to Frontex in the fourth quarter of 2015 the number of illegal border crossings in Europe totalled 978,300, i.e. the highest number recorded since 2007.

Croatian Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic said on 10th March that it was important that "illegal migrants no longer take the Balkan route".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that only a common solution found by the 28 EU Member States will enable a solution to the challenge set by the migratory wave.

On 9th March the Commission reminded the Member States of their fiscal obligations regarding the Stability and Growth Pact under the European Semester. This reminder notably targeted Spain, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Italy and Romania. However Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Italy and Portugal have excessive imbalances.

On 9th March the Commission suggested lifting visa obligations regarding Georgian citizens who want to travel to the Schengen Area.

On 8th March the 28 Finance Ministers approved a draft directive to enable the automatic exchange of information regarding corporate tax. They supported the strengthening of a code of conduct in the fight to counter unfair tax competition.

On 10th and 11th March the 28 Home Affairs and Justice Ministers discussed the migratory situation and the fight to counter terrorism.

On 14th March the 28 Foreign Affairs Ministers conditioned the development of the European position toward Russia according to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. In the meantime the European Neighbourhood Policy will be stepped up. They discussed various of cooperation possibilities with Iran. Finally they decided to suspend all direct financing to the government of Burundi whilst maintaining humanitarian assistance.

On 14th March the Council and the Commission announced the immediate implementation of additional measures targeting farmers. At the same time the agriculture ministers adopted conclusions on strengthening support to timber -producing countries (FLEGT plan) and on the improvement of the management and implementation of fisheries agreements with third countries.

On 11th March Cuba and the EU signed a political dialogue agreement in Havana, which includes the difficult issue of Human Rights and which also officialises the normalisation of their relations.

The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe stated on 11th that the fact that the Russian Constitutional Court can now declare international decisions invalid, including decisions by the European Court of Human Rights is incompatible with Russia's international legal obligations.

On 8th March the Council of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published its 2015 recommendation on gender equality in public life.

On 10th March the European Centra Bank published its economic forecasts for the euro zone covering the period 2016-2018.

The Prado Museum in Madrid is running an exhibition until 12th June 2016 on Georges de la Tour, a mid-17th century Lorraine painter. The show covers his career via his works which were forgotten until the 20th century.

The Albertina in Vienna is running an exhibition to the Russian avant-garde painters of the 20th century. Kandinsky, Chagall and Malevich feature amongst the 130 pieces of work on show.

From 19th to 28th March 2016 the town of Baden-Baden in Germany is hosting the fourth Easter Festival with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Berlin. Major operas, notably 'Tristan and Isolde' and many concerts form the heart of the programme.

The 2016 Easter Festival in Salzburg will take place from 19th to 28th March paying tribute to the opera "Otello" by Giuseppe Verdi, as well as the influence William Shakespeare has held over the world of music.