Former spokesperson for the ecologist party (1997-2008), Alexander Van der Bellen (Die Grüne - DG) finally won the 2nd round of the presidential election in Austria on 23rd May after a tense 24 h wait. He won 50.3% of the vote against 49.7% for Norbert Hofer (FPÖ). He will take office on 8th July next.

On 17th May Europol and Interpol published a joint report on the migrant trafficking networks whose "turnover" is estimated at 5 to 6 billion $ in 2015 which places this activity as one of the most profitable organised crimes in Europe.

A report by the Tent Foundation and the Open Political Economy Network (OPEN) published on 18th May reveals that the wealthy countries of the EU who are hosting refugees can draw huge economic benefit from them.

On 18th May the European Commission published its country specific recommendations as part of the European Semester. It recommends that the Council should end the excessive deficit procedure against Cyprus, Ireland and Slovenia and recommends that Spain and Portugal make a long term adjustment to their excessive deficit in 2016 and 2017.

On 20th May the 28 Justice and Home Affairs Ministers studied proposals made by the Commission regarding the liberalisation of visas; they discussed the migratory situation and the implementation of the EU/Turkey agreement. They also addressed the issue of the European Border Guard.

On 23rd May the European Foreign Affairs Ministers repeated that they wanted to stabilise the regions of Syria and Iraq but also to step up their action to counter terrorism. Concerning migration they stressed the need for joint action and prolonged the operation Sophia in the Mediterranean against human trafficking for a further year. Finally they met their Eastern Partnership counterparts and said they were pleased with the progress that had been accomplished.

From 16th to 18th May the Polish President Andrzej Duda visited Italy where he spoke with the leaders of Italy of the refugee and security issues in view of the NATO summit in July next in Warsaw.

Leaving the EU would cause years of "recession" in the UK warned the British Finance Minister George Osborne on 23rd May as he presented a study by the British Treasury.

On 19th May the event "European Projects Fairs" that promotes European action at local level was launched in three Ukrainian towns. It marks the start of the "Association4U" project that will run until January 2019.

On 23rd May Eurobarometer published a study on electronic communication and the single digital market.

According to Eurostat on 20th May, the EU and the euro zone recorded a current account surplus in March of respectively 17.6 and 27.3 billion euro. Moreover agricultural exports rose to 11.3 billion euro.

On 19th May the European Commission published a report on the application of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights in 2015.

According to the network Seattle to Brussels on 19th May a group of five European countries, including France, is proposing the establishment of a jurisdiction of European exception for businesses that want to challenge State decisions.

France Stratégie published a study on the quadruple crisis that Europe is now experiencing: euro crisis, refugee crisis, breakdown in economic and social integration, existential crisis.

The Photomonth Festival is taking place in Krakow until 12th June.

The Arena Museo Opera of Verona is hosting an exhibition on Maria Callas until 18th September. It is the first of its kind to be devoted to the Greek opera singer.

On 27th and 28th May the Summerburst Festival is taking place in Göteborg, a Scandinavian contemporary music event. On 10th and 11th June the same event will take place in Stockholm.

On 28th and 29th May the festival "the World in a Village" Festival will take place in the Kaisaniemi Park and at the station. It will offer free shows from the world over as well as intercultural meetings.

Until 18th June the spectacular sculptures by Huang Yong Ping will be on show at the Grand Palais during the Monumenta exhibition.

The MIMA Museum of Brussels is hosting "City Lights" until 28th August. This exhibition brings together several artists and gives a multi-dimensional image to the 2.0 culture.