From 23rd May to 26th 2019 more than 300 million Europeans will be called to choose their 705 MEPs for the next five years. As in the previous elections, the Robert Schuman Foundation is offering its audience a website devoted to understanding the election and enabling voters to follow the campaign in the 27 Member States.

Parliament, Commission and Council negotiators agreed on 22nd January on a revised directive which facilitates the availability and re-use of public sector data, notably those used for surveys and polls. All content from the public sector to which access is available according to the present legislation will mainly be freely available for re-use which is an advantage for businesses which want to access new markets. The Parliament and the Council must now formally adopt the new directive, which is due to be implemented with the next two years by the Member States.

On 23rd January the Commission adopted an adequacy decision on Japan, which launches the free-movement of personal data between the two countries and gives rise to the biggest area of safe data flows in the world. This decision completes the equivalent measure on the part of the Japanese adopted on the same day, as well as the economic partnership agreement which enters into force on 1st February. This framework will be re-assessed in two year's time.

On 23rd January the Commission presented two measures to attenuate the impact of a no-deal Brexit on fishing. The first would enable Union's fishermen to receive compensation for the temporary halt to their activities. The second would guarantee British fishermen access to European waters until the end of 2019, on condition that the UK granted the same access to European fishermen. The two proposals are subject to the co-decision procedure; and the Commission recalled that it was working to guarantee their entry into force on 29th March 2019 at the latest.

On 24th January the Commission adopted an implementing act to harmonise the radio frequency necessary for the uniform deployment of 5G in Europe - in line with the European Electronic Communications Code that entered into force in December 2018. The 3.6 GHz has been identified as the main support to 5G, notably used in the development of the autonomous car and connected systems.

The Parliament and the Council came to a provisional agreement on 24th January on a new "work-life balance" directive for parents and carers. The agreement sets a European minimum standard of 10 days of paternity leave for fathers following the birth of their child, to be compensated at the level of sick pay. It strengthens the existing right to 4 months of parental leave, by making 2 months non-transferable between parents and introducing compensation for these 2 months at a level to be determined by the Member States. It also provides for 5 days per worker per year, as a new European entitlement for workers. Last but not least, the new rules strengthen the right for all parents and carers to request flexible working arrangements. The text now has to be adopted by co-legislators.

On 25th January, in view of Brexit, the representatives of the Member States approved the temporary agreement regarding the modification of the assessment rules of organisations that are able to inspect ships, whose task it is to ensure ship safety and prevent pollution at sea. Since the UK is the sponsor of two of them, new rules provide that their assessment immediately after Brexit be undertaken in another country. The text now has to be formally adopted by the Parliament and the Council.

The ministers who met for the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 28th January exchanged views regarding the priorities of the Romanian presidency of the Council, notably cohesion as a common European value. They also discussed the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2021-2027 and the common market organisation (CMO), notably the possible opening of the market to new varieties of wine grapes. The Commission also presented a report on the development of plant proteins in the European Union.

On 24th January the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe declared that it was "seriously concerned" by the rise in tension between Russia and Ukraine in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, which were a threat to European security. The Assembly called on the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to "guarantee free passage" in the zone and to refrain from any further measures "that might intensify conflict and threaten security across the entire region."

On 24th January the Commission published its annual report on the Erasmus+ in 2017. The report shows that the EU invested a total of 2.6 billion €, i.e. an increase of 13% in comparison with 2016. It stresses that there is now greater opening for people from modest backgrounds. In all in 2017, 800,000 people participated in this programme to study, train or volunteer abroad, i.e. 10% more than in 2016, 160,000 of whom undertook professional training and 158,000 took part in socio-educational projects.

No solution regarding Brexit meets a majority support on the part of the British population, only opposition to the agreement to exit the EU negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May is a rallying force, says a report entitled "Brexit and Public Opinion 2019" published on 22nd January. "No option (...) seems to be both widely popular and able to end divisions associated with Brexit," indicates the report.

The publication of euro zone business leaders' confidence indicators on 24th January has led to fears of sharp economic slowing. This level "is increasingly close to stagnation" and "marks extremely low growth in economic activity in the region" said a Markit communication.

On the occasion of the International Day devoted to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, the University of Yale and the Grinnell College published a study of progressive Judaism made for the EU on the memory of the Shoah in Europe. The report notes a rise in revisionism but also a trend in several countries to challenge the past.

350 years after his death, the Netherlands are celebrating the life and legacy of Dutch painter Rembrandt with exhibitions across the country, which will present a range of his works and the wealth from the Dutch Golden Age. From 31st January to 15th September the Mauritshuis Museum in the Hague will be showing 18 paintings from the Rembrandt collection or ones that are attributed to him.

From 1st to 24th February more than 600 jazz concerts will be taking place across all of Denmark, Skagen in the north to Flensborg in the south, from Fanø in the west to Bornholm in the eat, as part of the Vinterjazz International Festival.

From 31st January until 17th February the Rara Opera Festival is presenting major works of opera played according to the spirit of the period by the most illustrious musicians. The festival is co-organised by Capella Cracoviensis, a professional group of musicians specialised in period music played on instruments of the time.

Many paintings from Pablo Picasso's blue and pink periods have been gathered together at the Beyeler Foundation in Basel from 3rd February to 26th May. For the first time in Europe, a wealth of pictures and sculptures by Picasso between 1901 and 1906 will be on show together.

Until 31st March the Royal Academy of Arts of London brings together the American film-maker Bill Viola and Michel-Ange for the very first time. The name of the exhibition, "Life, Death, Rebirth" looks into universal themes on which the two artists worked -several centuries apart.

The BRAFA (Brussels Art Fair) is taking place until 3rd February in Brussels. More than 130 exhibitors from art galleries and merchants will be present with a selection of works, such as ancient painting, ceramics, cartoons and even tribal art. "Art Talks" are running every day with experts from the art world.

Thirty European writers signed an appeal to "save Europe" from the "fire of populism" on 25th January. Against the "Europe of nations and the protection of lost identities" they pitch "civilisation" and the "protection of democracy and its values". In view of the upcoming European elections in May they are calling on European citizens to wake up and to continue building Europe.