In view of the upcoming European elections the Robert Schuman Foundation has published a new version of the "Permanent Atlas of the European Union" which offers readers a full panorama of the Union, the euro zone, each of its Member States and its overseas territories. This work provides the most up to date, objective political and statistical information. It is available in paper and digital version from the Foundation's site and from bookshop

On 18th February the European Commission launched an outreach campaign designed for the Union's businesses, notably SMEs in the area of customs and indirect taxation, like VAT. This campaign aims to prepare them for a no-deal Brexit. It invites them to assess their technical and human capacities, to plan to get various registrations and authorisations for customs purposes to facilitate their business activities, and to contact their national authorities.

During a congress in Madrid on 22nd and 23rd February the European Socialist Party adopted its manifesto for the European elections in May. This programme focuses on 7 commitments, including a freer, more democratic Europe, a plan for young people, greater gender equality and a sustainable Europe. The lead candidate of the party in the elections, Dutchman Frans Timmermans, is the present First Vice-President of the European Commission.

On 19th February the Council and Parliament came to a temporary agreement setting, for the very first time, binding goals to reduce CO2 emissions on heavy goods vehicles. New lorries and buses will have to reduce their CO2 emissions by 15% by 2025 and by 30% by 2030 in comparison with their 2019 levels. The agreement strengthens the incentives for zero and low emission vehicles (ZLEV), in the HGV sector. It now has to be approved by co-legislators. It will complete the regulation adopted in 2018 regarding the monitoring and declaration of HGV CO2 emissions.

On 21st February the European Union announced the extension of the EUCAP Sahel Mali mission until 14th January 2021. The latter has been allocated an additional budget of 67 million €. The mission is responsible for helping the Malian authorities implement the reform of the security sector established by the government. It provides training and strategic advice. It also trains the domestic security services. The mission was launched on 15th April 2014.

On 19th February the European Banking Authority (EBA) launched a formal inquiry into the Danish Danske Bank, whose Estonian branch is involved in a money laundering scandal. The investigation aims to discover if the bank's Danish and Estonian financial authorities undertook the necessary inspections and whether they applied the necessary sanctions against the Estonian branch of the bank and whether exchanges of information regarding the potential risks were adequate. The investigation follows a request by the European Commission in September last, regarding the possible breaches and non-implementation of the Union's law by these two authorities.

On 19th February in Berlin, the French and German Ministers, Bruno Le Maire and Peter Altmaier, signed a Franco-German manifesto for a 21st century European industrial strategy. They call for more ambitious projects with clear goals for 2030. They identify three pillars around which the European Commission should focus its action: investing massively in innovation, adapting the Union's regulatory framework and introducing effective measures to protect the European Union.

On 22nd February the Irish government published a series of draft bills regarding healthcare, citizens' rights, education, industry and the electricity market in the face of a possible no-deal exit by the UK from the EU. The legislation will be debated in the lower house, the Dail on 8th March, then in the upper house the Seanad on 15th March. It will be ratified in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

On 20th February the Latvian government announced its decision to implement significant reform in its financial sector, particular regarding the fight to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism. It asked the Finance, Justice and Interior Ministers to draft a legislative package for 26th March at the latest. On 23rd August last MONEYVAL, the panel of experts from the Council of Europe on the evaluation on measures to counter capital laundering and the financing of terrorism asked Latvia to act in this direction.

The European Commission, by way of its spokesperson, Margaritis Schinas, as well as the Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, criticised the emergency decrees adopted without consultation on 19th February by the Romanian government. They deem that these rise a weakening of the role of the prosecutor's office and will strengthen the political control of the judicial system. One of the decrees defines the framework in which Romania will choose its candidates for the European Prosecutor's Office, whilst another modifies the appointment rules regarding investigating magistrates. Demonstrations were held on Sunday 24th February, mainly in the capital. Moreover the Romanian government is accusing the European Commissioners Frans Timmermans and Vera Jourova of having falsified to its disadvantage the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report on progress and improvement made to the rule of law in the country. It is planning to take this issue to court.

In a report on disinformation and fake news published on 18th February the British parliament's digital, culture, media and sport committee qualified Facebook as a "digital gangster" to having "intentionally breached the laws governing data confidentiality and anti-competition laws. Insisting on threats which weigh on democracy, notably in view of the referendum on Brexit in June 2016, the committee made several recommendations especially the establishment of a "binding deontological code", the legal accountability of high tech businesses, as well as reform of the law governing electoral communications and rules regarding foreign interference in British elections.

Georgian President Salomé Zourabishvili visted France and Germany. In Paris she initiated talks with Emmanuel Macron regarding real economic, trade, cultural and security projects. In Berlin Ms Zourabishvili discussed with Chancellor Merkel about German-Georgian relations as well as the situation in the Caucasus.

According to initial results published by the electoral committee no party won an absolute majority in the general elections in Moldova, which took place on 24th February. The Socialist Party of pro-Russian president Igor Dodon came out ahead with 31.4% of the vote, then came the ACUM Alliance, presented as being pro-European, with 26% of the vote. The Democratic Party in office came third with 24% of the vote. If the parties do not succeed in forming a government within the next 45 days, further elections will be convened.

According to Eurostat data the euro zone's annual inflation rate lay at 1.4% in January 2019, in contrast to 1.5% in December 2018; that of the EU lay at 1.5% in January 2019, against 1.6% in December. The lowest rates were noted in Greece (0.5%), in Croatia and Portugal (0.6%). The highest levels were recorded in Romania (3.2%) and Latvia (2.9%).

From 27th February to 3rd March one of the biggest artistic and cultural events in Spain ARCO, the international fair for contemporary art in Madrid is taking place in the exhibition park IFEMA (Feria de Madrid).