In view of the upcoming European elections, the Robert Schuman Foundation has published a new updated version of the "Permanent Atlas of the European Union" which offers readers a full overview of the European Union, the euro zone, of each of the Member States and its overseas territories. This book brings each reader the most recent, most objective political and statistical information in real time. It is available in paper and digital version from the Foundation's site or in bookshops.

On 19th March the Polish Institute in Bratislava is hosting a debate on relations between France and the Visegrad group in the area of foreign policy in which Eric Maurice, the manager of the Foundation's Brussels office is taking part.

On 15th March the Commission published a report on the progress achieved in the creation of a single capital market. The project aims to facilitate cross-border investments, notably those that are respectful of the environment, as well as strengthening the international role of the euro. The Commission adopted a series of non-legislative acts provided for in the 2015 action plan on the SCM, as well as in the 2017 midterm survey. As for the thirteen legislative proposals presented by the Commission, an agreement was found for ten of them and three were definitively adopted. Some agreements were also found on two of three Commission legislative proposals on sustainable finance.

In a report on foreign direct investments published on 13th March, the Commission notes a continuous increase in the foreign ownership of businesses in sectors such as refineries, pharmaceuticals and electronics. It also notes an increase in investments from the emerging economies including China. It deems that this development confirms the need for the recently adpted investment screening mechanism.

On 12th March MEPs approved the creation of a new database (ECRIS-TCN) regarding past convictions of citizens from third countries, which will complement the European criminal record information system (ECRIS) that is already being used to exchange information on past convictions of EU citizens. This new tool will help prosecutors, judges and police in their fight to counter crime and terrorism.

Slovakian Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, who was invited as a guest to speak on the future of the Union on 12th March indicated to MEPs that the EU cannot close itself in on a status quo. It needs wider debate regarding strategy and its hopes for 2050. "It should be united, prosperous and safe, relevant at world level, honest with its citizens and look to the future," he insisted. "It is clear that isolationism, protectionism and nationalism are not the answers. Our answer must not be fragmentation in small national States with limited resources but greater unity of the Union as a world player."

On 14th March the Parliament adopted a regulation to reduce the risks linked to non-performing bank loans. The text provides for the introduction of a minimal coverage of losses. Banks will have to reserve sums of money to cover losses caused by these loans, particularly in the absence of any real-estate guarantee.

MEPs adopted a European regulation on cybersecurity on 12th March which creates the first European certification measure in terms of cybersecurity and aims to guarantee the conformity of products and services sold in the Union. They also adopted a resolution calling for European action against threats linked to the technological presence of China in Europe. MPs fear that 5G equipment have been given embedded backdoors allowing unauthorised access by Chinese manufacturers to personal data in the EU. They are asking the Commission and the Member States to provide guidelines on the fight to counter cyber threats.

As part of the EU budget 2021-2027, the European Parliament and the Council came to a temporary agreement on 13th March on the LIFE programme for the environment and action for the climate. The temporary agreement now has to be approved formally by Parliament and the Council. The amount of the budget will be decided during final negotiations under the multiannual financial programme.

On 13th March the Council confirmed the draft regulation on the EU's space programme for 2021-2027 that has come after negotiations with Parliament. The project provides amongst other things, for the simplification of the legal framework of the Union's space policy, the establishment of governance rules and an adequate budget to continue and improve the programme.

Labour and Social Affairs Ministers who met in Brussels on 15th March debated improvements to the labour market and the social security systems in the Union. They adopted the Joint Employment Report established by the Commission as well as conclusions on this report and on the Annual Growth Survey. They also came to a part agreement over the European Adjustment Fund to Globalisation.

Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers debated the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy post 2020 on 18th March. They assessed three draft regulations as part of this reform and suggested making several modifications. They then exchanged views on the Union's strategy for the bioeconomy, small scale fisheries, the meat market and the possibility of patenting methods to improve plants.

On 19th March the Council adopted new rules to prevent the abusive use of personal data by European political parties during the European elections. Political foundations and parties which breach the personal data protection rules could be sanctioned to a total of 5% of their annual budget and will no longer be able to have financing from the European budget the following year.

On 15th March in response to an escalation observed in the Kerch Strait and in the Azov Sea, the Council added 8 Russian executives to the list of people targeted by restrictive measures due to action that threaten or damage the territorial integrity, sovereignty and the independence of Ukraine. In all 170 people and 44 entities are the focus of restrictive measures comprising a ban on entering the EU and a freezing of their assets. The Council also asked for the liberation of all of the Ukrainian sailors being held prisoner, the restitution of the ships that have been seized and the free passage for all ships sailing through the Kerch Strait.

From 12th to 14th March the European Union, together with the UN organised the third conference in Brussels on the future of Syria and the region, which brings together 57 States and around 20 international organisations, including Syrian NGOs. Participants notably decided to release aid to a total of 6.2 billion euro for 2019 both for Syria and for the neighbouring countries which have hosted several million Syrian refugees. In a common declaration, the co-chairs re-asserted their wish to see Syrian political transition to take place within a framework approved by the international community.

On 15th March the EU-Turkey Association Council held its 54th meeting in Brussels, the first since the lifting of the state of emergency in Turkey last year. The Union repeated the importance of its relations with Turkey which is a candidate country and a key partner in areas such as migration, counter-terrorism, energy, the economy and trade. The Union did however repeat its fears regarding regression in terms of fundamental rights and the rule of law, as well as the deterioration in the independence and functioning of the Turkish legal system. Finally it said it wanted Turkey to reform its legal system in line with the EU's standards and those of the Council of Europe.

On 18th March on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, the EU's High Representative, Federica Mogherini and the Foreign Ministers of the EU recalled that the Union refused to acknowledge this violation of international law and that they supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Ministers discussed relations with China, calling for a deepening in cooperation in areas of multilateralism, the fight to counter climate change, non-proliferation and the upkeep of peace. They then hosted Chinese Minister Wang Yi. They also spoke of relations with Moldova and the situation in Yemen.

On 13th March in an article entitled "Prepared for Brexit" in the daily newspaper "El Pais", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for greater European integration after Brexit. He mentioned his government's will to maintain links with the UK after its departure from the EU, notably to retain British citizens' rights living in Spain and those of Spanish citizens living in the UK. He also recalled the issues at stake in the European elections in May.

The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, made a trip to Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya from 11th to 14th March. Given China's increasing influence in Eastern Africa he insisted on issues of regional stabilisation, economy, education and military cooperation.

On 13th March British Finance Minister Philip Hammond presented a budget that has been restricted by the threat of a no-deal Brexit which is shaking the business world. Given the extended uncertainty linked to Brexit and a less profitable world economy the OBR (Office for Budgetary Responsibility) has reduced its growth forecast for 2019 to 1.2% against 1.6% - whilst maintaining that of 2020 at 1.4%. Amongst the new measures that have been announced £100 additional million will be granted to the police force to help counter knife attacks that are rife in the country and a guarantee fund of £3 billion to support the construction of affordable housing.

In 2018 580,800 first time asylum seekers asked for international protection in the Member States of the Union, a figure that is down by 11% in comparison with 2017. The number of first time asylum seekers in 2018 is comparable to the level recorded in 2014 prior to the peaks of 2015 and 2016. Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis still form 30% of the total number of first time asylum seekers.

According to a study published by Eurostat on 15th March the annual inflation rate of the euro zone lay at 1.5% in February 2019. This figure is up in comparison with January 2019, when the rate lay at 1.4%. In the EU inflation totalled 1.6% in February 2019, up in comparison with January (1.5%). The lowest annual rates were recorded in Ireland (0.7%), Greece, Croatia and Cyrpis (0.8%). The highest however were noted in Romania (4%), Hungary (3.2%) and in Latvia (2.8%).

From 21st to 31st March the international jazz festival is taking place in Aberdeen, Scotland. Around 100 artists have been invited to perform on stage and will be hosting workshops.

Until 22nd July the Jacquemart-André Museum is paying tribute Danish Vilhelm Hammershøi. Around forty pieces of work, qualified of mysterious and poetic, are on show for the first time in Paris in twenty years.

The LaM, the museum of modern art in Villeneuve d'Ascq near Lille is running an exhibition until 11th June "Giacometti, a modern adventure", an exhibition that has brought together 150 works by the Swiss artist.