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 the occasion of International Women's Day, the Commission published its 2019 report on gender equality in the EU on 7th March. Some progress has been made but is still inadequate given the great degree of inequality that women still face. Women's wages are still 16% lower on average than those of their male counterparts, their pensions 35.7% lower. Women are still under-represented in parliaments and governments: seven national MPs in 10 and 69.5% of high ranking ministers are men in the EU. In the business world, only 6.3% of CEO positions of major listed businesses are occupied by women.

On 4th March the Commission published a report on the implementation of an action plan on the circular economy originally launched in 2015. The 54 measures provided for have all be achieved and have enabled an acceleration in the transition from a linear to a circular economy in the EU. The plan includes a European strategy regarding plastic. The Commission plans to base itself on this example to improve circularity in other sectors and to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Council and the Parliament came to agreement on 7th March on sustainable finance after having agreed on 25th February on new "low carbon" benchmarks. The agreement aims to oblige financial companies to be more transparent in the way they consider environmental factors in their investment decisions. Companies will now have to explain the procedures used when they consider these factors, how environmental risks may influence the profitability of investments, as well as the sustainability and incidence on the climate of their products and portfolio.

On 7th March the Interior Ministers discussed cooperation with several States of North Africa in terms of migration and assessed the possibility of increasing assistance provided to these States. They discussed the reform of the European asylum regime, without taking any decisions. Ministers also debate the fight to counter the terrorist threat, identified legislative loopholes and issues to address as a priority. They also adopted a decision modifying the civil protection mechanism. Justice Ministers came to an agreement on 8th March on the directive regarding the appointment of legal representatives for the collation of evidence. They debated the US agreement on access to electronic evidence and put forward guidelines to follow.

On 7th March the Council unanimously rejected a draft list put forward by the Commission denoting 23 third countries deemed to be high risk in terms of capital laundering and the financing of terrorism. It deemed that the procedure used by the Commission to establish the list was not sufficiently "transparent and robust". The Commission will now have to put forward a new draft list of third countries whose measures to counter capital laundering and the financing of terrorism are inadequate, thereby causing a threat to the Union's financial system.

On 7th March the Council adopted a decision modifying the EU's civil protection mechanism. The aim is to improve the prevention of risks and to provide greater support to the States affected by catastrophes. The Council notably decided to introduce an additional reserve of resources, rescEU, as well as to tighten European risk prevention requirements. The Commission will have to establish a European civil protection knowledge network.

Finance Ministers of the euro area who met on 11th March discussed Latvia's budget plan and decided that it was in line with the stability and growth pact. They debated Greece, welcomed the progress achieved and if this progress continued they said they would be prepared to implement further debt relief measures. Regarding the euro zone's economic situation, they deemed that the slowing was only temporary. Finally ministers discussed the budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness, notably spending related aspects. From a general point of view this instrument should support structural reform and also public investments.

Negotiators at the Parliament and the Council came to agreement on 11th March over a temporary measures regarding the directive to protect whistle-blowers. The latter will be able to use internal and external reporting channels and will be protected if a lack of adequate response justifies public disclosure. The text explicitly bans retaliation against whistle-blowers as well as against people who come to their aid. The temporary agreement must now be confirmed by the Council and the Parliament.

On 6th March Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire presented a draft bill on the taxation of the major digital companies. The tax involves the digital activities such as targeted on-line advertising or the sale of user data for advertising purposes, to total of 3% of the digital turnover of these businesses in France. Following the refusal of some European countries to tax these businesses B. Le Maire called on the OECD to support this draft bill which is due to bring in 1.7 billion € in 2019.

On 8th March on the occasion of the International Day of Women's Rights, the OECD published a report on the implementation of measures taken by the States towards gender parity. According to the OECD and despite major progress, the male/female wage gap totals 13.6% on average in the member countries. This means evident discrimination in socio-cultural norms which are preventing significant technical and economic progress.

Until 15th March Lille is running the 35th European Film Festival. It screens around 60 short European films for a week.

From 13th to 23rd March Performatik 19 , the Brussels biennale of the performing arts. For the sixth festival the Kaaitheater and 11 partners in the Belgian capital are hosting many artists inspired amongst others by the Bauhaus movement and the theme of mourning associated with "performance". Many artists will be showing their art in the town together with their creative processes.

From 12th March to 30th June, American artist Mark Rothko can be viewed for the first time in Austria at the Kunst Historisches Museum of Vienna. The exhibition helps visitors discover his life's work via things which influenced him, from the Italian Renaissance to Flemish Baroque art.

Until 16th June via the Picasso exhibition "The Late Work", the Barberini Museum is presenting the last works completed by Picasso who innovated until the end of her artistic production. All loans come from the Jacqueline Picasso Museum (1927-1986). Many pieces have never been on show in Germany, some are being presented for the first time to the public.

From 15th to 18th March the 39th Book Fair is taking place in Paris with Europe as the guest of honour. Writers and authors will be discussing the diversity of European literary heritage and the issues at stake in the European elections.