The Member States of the European Union are gradually resuming their activities in all areas of society. The Robert Schuman Foundation offers you a summary of the measures taken and the timetable planned by each State. An invaluable resource for understanding ways out of the crisis and regaining a European "spirit".

On 27 May, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen presented a €750 billion plan for the recovery of the European economy affected by the Covid-19 crisis. This massive plan, based on unprecedented debt pooling and financial transfers, which has yet to be approved by the Member States, is an important step in the history of European integration.

From 3 June, Italians will be able to move around the country, borders will reopen and flights with other Schengen countries will resume, with no quarantine obligation on arrival in Italy.

On 28 May the Commission proposed the creation of the EU4Health programme for the next multi-annual budget, as part of the European Recovery Plan presented on 27 May. The Commission proposes to provide this programme with €9.4 billion. It will aim to protect citizens from cross-border health threats, ensure the availability of medicines and health facilities, and strengthen health systems and their staff. It would fund research, the training and exchange of medical staff, the deployment of digital infrastructures and cross-border cooperation.

In France, from 2 June, except in Ile de France, French Guiana and Mayotte, primary and secondary education will resume, cafés and restaurants will reopen, as well as museums, theatres, parks, beaches and amusement parks. Travel will be allowed beyond 100 km. In Belgium, nursery and primary schools will reopen on 2 and 8 June. In Germany, contact restrictions will remain in place until 29 June. In Austria, hotels have reopened, and restrictions on eating and wearing masks will be reviewed on 15 June. In Spain, Andalusia, Castile and Catalonia, bars, restaurants and shops are reopening. In Poland, the football league has resumed and all classes will resume in schools on 1 June. On 6 June, cultural and sports facilities will reopen. In the United Kingdom, crèches, schools and retail shops partially reopened on 1 June and some sports competitions will be able to resume behind closed doors. In Ireland, the next phase of the end of lockdown will begin on 8 June.

On 26 May, the Ministers for European Affairs discussed the various ways of lifting the confinement in their respective States, as well as the challenge of economic recovery, which will have to be supported by the next multiannual financial framework. Ministers also stressed the importance of the forthcoming Conference on the Future of Europe, on which the Council has yet to adopt a common position.

In France, the State is covering 85% of short-time working, except for sectors in difficulty such as tourism. An €8 billion support plan for the automobile industry has been announced. In Germany, the government has presented a €9 billion support plan for the airline Lufthansa. Austria has put in place a €1 billion recovery plan allocated to regional projects. In Spain, the hiring of Spanish seasonal workers in agriculture has been extended until 30 September. In the United Kingdom, the reimbursement scheme for SMEs that have taken over the unemployment benefits of their employees is effective, and £23 million (€25 million) has been made available for Wales. In Poland, companies are benefiting from a further deferral for the payment of taxes until the end of the year.

On 27 May the Commission presented its plan to ensure recovery from the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The €750 billion plan, called Next Generation EU, would be integrated into the €1,100 billion multi-annual financial framework 2021-2027. The money in the plan will be invested in three pillars: investment in support of Member States; support for private investment; and the development and strengthening of European crisis response mechanisms, particularly in the health sector.

On 29 May the Commission proposed a new instrument to support corporate solvency as part of the recovery plan presented on 27 May. It will be allocated a budget of €31 billion and will build on the European Strategic Investment Fund to support European businesses in the sectors most affected by the pandemic. The Commission has proposed to strengthen the InvestEU programme to a total of €15.3 billion and to include a new Strategic Investment Facility, financed by the Recovery Plan to the tune of €15 billion, in particular for businesses promoting green and digital transition.

The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities warned on 28 May about the effects of the coronavirus, which aggravates inequalities and exacerbates vulnerabilities affecting minorities, including Roma and Travellers. In particular, the suspension of classes has created a strong inequality in access to education.

In the debate that followed the presentation of the European Recovery Plan by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 27 May, MEPs welcomed the proposals. They stressed the need for own resources for the Union, called for the plan to focus on the climate and digital transitions, and asked for conditions on the use of the funds. Parliament's budget negotiators insisted on the need not to favour the short term at the expense of the long term and warned that Parliament was ready to reject any proposal that did not meet its standards.

On 29 May, the research ministers discussed the lessons to be learned from the crisis for the research and innovation sector and how this experience can be used to strengthen the European Research Area. They stressed the importance of cooperation and exchange.

On 26 May, the Council endorsed two agreements on border management concluded between Frontex, Montenegro and Serbia. These agreements will allow Frontex to assist the two countries, to conduct joint operations and to deploy teams. The agreement with Montenegro will enter into force on 1 July, while Serbia has yet to finalise the agreement.

On 29 May, the Council appointed two new commanders for the military naval operation Irini to enforce the arms embargo in Libya. Italian Rear Admiral Ettore Socci, former commander of Operation Sophia, will serve until 18 October, and Greek Vice Admiral Theodoros Mikropoulos will succeed him from 19 October to 31 March 2021. They will serve under Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini, the commander of the operation.

On 29 May, the space ministers discussed the economic, environmental and social contributions of space technologies. They discussed the priorities of the German Presidency of the Council, which begins on 1 July, including the adoption of a new space programme and the definition of key principles for the space economy.

On 25 May, the members of the European Economic Area (EEA) Council discussed the functioning of the EEA and the consequences of Covid-19 for the internal market. They reiterated their commitment to continue the energy transition and the fight against pollution, as well as their desire to reduce social disparities and improve working conditions. They also exchanged views with Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier on the discussions between the Union and the United Kingdom.

Foreign Affairs Ministers discussed EU-China relations on 29 May and expressed their concern about the challenge made by Beijing to the autonomy of Hong Kong. They also reiterated their support for the peace process in Afghanistan and extended the sanctions against the Syrian regime and individuals and entities supporting it for one year.

In a letter published on 29 May, the French, German, Spanish and Italian Defence Ministers propose to increase the solidarity and resilience of the European Union and the Member States in the face of crises, to consolidate permanent structured cooperation, to strengthen the industrial and technological base of Europe's defence, to make progress towards a shared analysis of threats, to strengthen Europe's external operational commitment, to improve the coherence of European initiatives, and to develop cooperation with partners.

On 28 May, the Council of Europe's Anti-Torture Committee (CPT) published its Annual Report 2019, marking 30 years of the Committee's work. Prison overcrowding, the detention of migrants, the treatment without consent of psychiatric patients and the detention of minors were identified as major problems. In 2019, the CPT carried out visits to 16 States; Albania and the Czech Republic joined the 10 other States which have given the CPT permission to publish visit reports concerning them.

The President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of the Council of Europe, Xavier Cadoret, recommended on 28 May that the Congress of the Council of Europe call for the suspension of the Latvian territorial reform because local actors have not been sufficiently consulted.

On 27 May the Commission published its bi-annual report on innovation and research in Europe. It points out that European research is responsible for 25% of the world's most quoted scientific publications and 24% of patent applications in the field of climate change. It notes that further efforts are needed to achieve a European Research Area and to support the increasing digitisation of research. It makes 11 recommendations grouped in 3 pillars, which the future Horizon Europe fund should help to achieve: a fair and secure space for humanity, global leadership and economic and societal impact.

On 25 May the Commission published a report on the implementation of the 2019 EU aid volunteers initiative. 374 volunteers were deployed during the year, almost half of them in Africa, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, East Asia, Central Asia and the Balkans.

A museum dedicated to the development of democracy in the United Kingdom, the People's History Museum, is closed but offers many tools and activities for all online.

The Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts reopened its doors on 1 June, with the resumption of 4 exhibitions . At the same time, the museum continues to offer other online resources, such as educational material and virtual exhibitions.

The National Museum in Warsaw offers visitors a collection of paintings, sculptures, prints and other art objects from all over the world from antiquity to the present day, as well as a temporary exhibition from the contemporary art collection of PKO Bank Polski.

The Jacquemart-André Museum in Paris reopened its doors on 26 May and will be showing an exhibition of works by the British painter "Turner, paintings and watercolours" from the Tate Gallery in London until 11 January 2021.