From 23rd to 26th May 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 has published a dedicated website providing greater understanding of the election and to follow the campaign in the 27 Member States.

On 12th February the Commission made a proposal aiming to reduce the impact of a no-deal Brexit agreement on transport and rail connectivity between the Union and the UK. The proposal guarantees the validity of safety agreements for a share of the rail infrastructures, notably the Chunnel. These measures are planned for a maximum of three months and will only be applicable if the UK maintains the EU's requirements in terms of security.

On 13th February the Commission adopted a new list of 23 third countries whose measures to counter the laundering of capital and the financing of terrorism are inadequate in terms of protecting the European financial area. Banks and other entities that fall within the field of the Union's rules are obliged to implement enhanced supervision regarding financial operations regarding clients and financial establishments that come from third countries. On 12th February, Parliament and Council came to a temporary agreement enabling more effective, faster cross-border access by police forces and Europol to financial information, enabling the combat to counter the laundering of money and the financing of illegal activities.

As of 16th February new rules entered into force that aim to reduce costs and administrative formalities for citizens living outside of their country of origin. This involves some 17 million EU citizens.

On 12th February MEPs voted in support of the updating of the EU's civil protection mechanism. The legislation also creates a resource reserve "RescEU", comprising fighter planes against forest fires that will intervene when the resources deployed by the Member States are not enough in response to a catastrophe.

MEPs approved the free-trade and investment protection agreements on 13th February between the EU and Singapore. They almost completely do away with customs tariffs between the two sides within the next five years. They will facilitate free-trade in services, the opening of Singaporean public procurement to European businesses, whilst protecting European products of controlled origin or appellation. They include enhanced rights for workers and greater environmental protection. They introduce an independent jurisdictional system to settle disputes between investors and State. They deepen cooperation beyond the economic area alone.

On 13th February the Parliament and Council came to a provisional agreement on the copyright directive, which introduces rules as part of the digital single market. The agreement provides for certain exceptions and limitations, notably regarding online education and the dissemination of cultural heritage. It introduces new practices for the fairer payment for authors whose publications are put online. Dissemination platforms will have to have permission for the publication of copyright protected works which are downloaded by users. The directive also confirms copyright for both authors and artists adequate, proportionate remuneration and with obligations of transparency.

On 13th February at the end of a 23 year mandate Alain Lamassoure (EPP, FR) presented his last report in plenary session on enhanced cooperation. The text, "regarding the implementation of measures in the treaty on enhanced cooperation"was adopted 457 votes in support, 154 against. In a speech that was given a standing ovation by his colleagues, he said he was glad that since his first election that the Parliament had become "a true European Parliament with legislative capacity", in which "listening, dialogue, mutual respect, the quest for compromise, the obsession with the common interest, were more effective than systematic partisan confrontation that typified national politics." The first Vice-President of the Commission Franz Timmermans also paid tribute to "his integrity and his truly European attitude."

On 14th February MEPs adopted the directive on the European filtering framework for foreign investments in the Union. It involves the coordination of monitoring third country investments in strategic sectors and to ensure that they do threaten security or public order. The new regulation protects strategic sectors such as energy or telecommunications. The Council is due to adopt the agreement on 5th March.

On 18th February the European Parliament published a first series of seat forecasts in the next hemicycle based on national surveys undertaken at the beginning of February. The two main groups, the European People's Party (EPP) and the group (Socialists and Democrats - S&D) are due to lose seats, with respectively 183 and 135 seats. The ALDE (Liberals) are due to win 75 and the Greens 45. The nationalist parties are due to win some seats but would not all be able to form a group.

On 14th February the Council and the European Parliament came to a provisional agreement on the regulation establishing a European Labour Authority. This new body aims to help Member States implement the Union's legal acts in areas of worker mobility and the coordination of social security. It will also provide information to workers and employers regarding cross-border mobility. It will also provide support to counter undeclared work and in the settlement of disputes between Member States. It will also bring together under one roof technical and operational missions of several existing Union bodies. The text now has to be formally approved.

On 13th February the Council and Parliament came to a provisional agreement on a modification of the gas directive so that European gas pipelines towards and from third countries will be subject to European law. Exemptions for existing gas pipelines are provided for.

On 13th February the Parliament and the Council came to a provisional agreement regarding new techniques to gauge the protection of fish stocks. They comprise measures to protect the marine ecosystem as well as measures that aim to prevent accessory capture of non-commercial, sensitive species. The agreement provides for the ban on pulse gear as of 1st July 2021, but they allow the Member States to do this immediately. The provisional agreement must now be formally adopted by Parliament and Council.

The Parliament and the Council came to a provision agreement on 14th February regarding measures that aim to end unfair practices on the Single Market. Online marketplaces (online commerce, app shops, search engines, social networks, price comparers) will have to guarantee transparency and loyalty in their contractual relations with businesses (online retail, hotels, restaurants, app developers). They will have to introduce an internal system to process complaints and facilitate the settlement of extrajudicial disputes. The agreement now has to be approved by the Council and the Parliament.

18th February Foreign Affairs Ministers adopted conclusions on the situation in Yemen and climate governance. They reasserted their support to the independence, integrity and territorial sovereignty of Ukraine and stressed the importance of the implementation of reform. Regarding Syria they stressed the need for peaceful transition, before the conference planned for 12th to 14th March. In Venezuela, a technical mission to open the way for a democratic, peaceful end to the crisis will be deployed in Caracas. Ministers also discussed the security situation in Sahel and in the Horn of Africa.

On 14th February Airbus announced the end of production of its A380 carrier in 2021, due to a lack of orders on the part of airlines. The European aircraft producer did however conclude an agreement with the UAE airline for the delivery of 14 additional A380's over the next two years as well as 40 A330-900's and 30 A350-900's.

On 11th February the British Trade Minister Liam Fox and the Swiss Federal Counsellor Guy Parmelin signed a treaty for trade continuity that is due to replace the European treaties and minimise customs duties between the two countries after the British withdrawal from the EU. Trade relations between Switzerland and the UK are important, lying at more than £32.1 billion in 2017. It is especially concerns the British car and metal industries and the Swiss clock and pharmaceutical sectors who will be spared major increases in customs duties.

The Committee of Ministers, representing the Member States of the Council of Europe adopted conclusions on 13th February regarding the manipulation of algorithms. It is concerned about the organisation of individuals into categories which strengthen segregation and discrimination, and the sometimes unfair distribution of benefits that result from this organisation. It is also concerned about the significant effects on citizens' cognitive autonomy and their free-will and more generally their individual rights, democracy and the rule of law. It encourages the Member States to recognise their responsibility and their request to examine the industry. It insisted on the fundamental role of academics and media in the design of research.

According to the most recent data published by Eurostat on 15th February the euro zone in 2018 was in surplus by 17 billion € in the international trade of goods, and the EU had a surplus of 0.7 billion.

From 21st to 24th February the Exhibition and Congress Centre is hosting the Vilnius International Book Fair. Exhibitors and visitors are invited to investigate developments that have taken place in literature.

From 19th February to 26th May the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid is running an exhibition by the artist Balthasar Klossowski de Rola, better known as Balthus. The exhibition is co-organised with the Beyeler Foundation and reviews the artist's work as of 1920.

The Städel Museum in Frankfurt-am-Main is running an exhibition until 26th May providing visitors with a panorama of paintings by Venetian artists of the Renaissance and of Titian in particular.

From 19th February to 25th August the Picasso Museum in Paris is running an exhibition of 120 works by the two innovative personalities in the art world of the 20th century, Alexander Calder and Pablo Picasso. The exhibition illustrates how the two artists explored the issue of the void and defied the movement of the masses.