On 1 February, the Foundation organised a video conference with the High Representative, Josep Borrell, in partnership with the Institut Catholique de Paris, to discuss the major issues facing the European Union on the international stage. The replay of the conference is now available, together with the article on the High Representative's blog.

While the progression of the virus remains unclear, States are extending health measures, but some are beginning to ease restrictions. Museums are reopening in Italy, schools and shops in Austria, and hairdressing salons in Austria and Belgium. Member States agreed on 1 February to restrict non-essential travel within the EU. The Foundation provides you with an overview of the health measures in place and travel conditions across Europe. An indispensable, regularly updated resource for you to understand the situation.

On 7 February, the Belarusian opposition organised the Day of Solidarity with Belarus to mark the six months of contestation against the result of the rigged presidential election held on 9 August 2020. The Union reiterated its support for the Belarusian people and its demand for new transparent elections. To follow this crisis, the Foundation provides you with a chronology of events and links to European responses and initiatives.

On 3 February, the Commission presented a €4 billion European plan to fight cancer, structured around four areas of action: prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment and improving quality of life. Special attention is given to children to ensure that they all have access to early and optimal detection and treatment.

On 4 February, the Commission launched infringement proceedings against 24 Member States for failure to transpose the new rules of the European electronic communications code. The code modernises the regulatory framework, strengthens consumer rights and ensures high standards for communication services. So far, only Hungary, Greece and Finland have met the deadline for transposing the Code into national law.

On 3 February, Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic and UK Minister of State Michael Gove discussed the implementation of customs controls in Northern Ireland, after the Commission announced the withdrawal of EU staff responsible for controls in Northern Irish ports due to security threats. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an open border in Ireland and to the implementation of the protocol maintaining Northern Ireland in the European internal market. The European Union rejected the UK's request to extend the exemption from checks on goods arriving in Northern Ireland.

In recommendations adopted on 1 February, the Council calls on Member States to restrict all non-essential travel and to impose quarantine and negative testing on travellers.

Meeting by videoconference on 3 February, the Ministers for Science and Research discussed the development of scientific careers and the promotion of qualified human resources, particularly within the framework of the European Research Area and the new Horizon Europe programme, presented the day before.

On 5 February, for a period of six months, the Council renewed the list of persons, groups and entities suspected of terrorism who are subject to restrictive measures. The 14 individuals and 21 entities concerned are subject to a freezing of their funds and all EU operators are banned from making economic resources available to them.

Visiting Moscow on 5 February, EU High Representative Josep Borrell deplored, in the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, that relations with Russia faced "fundamental differences" and a "lack of trust". He reiterated the demands for the release of the opponent Alexei Navalny, and called for "joint work" on digital issues, climate, research and the fight against Covid-19. He condemned the expulsion, announced during his visit, of three German, Polish and Swedish diplomats accused of taking part in a demonstration in support of Alexei Navalny.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell, together with France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, welcomed the agreement reached on 5 February by the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum on the inauguration of an interim government with a view to holding national elections on 24 December 2021. Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, aged 61, reputed to be close to Turkey and having worked for the Gaddafi government from 2007 to 2011, was appointed Prime Minister.

In an op-ed published on the Project Syndicate website, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the Presidents of the Commission and the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, together with the UN Secretary-General and the President of Senegal, call for increased international cooperation to overcome the pandemic and the resulting crisis.

On 8 February, Germany, Poland and Sweden simultaneously decided to expel Russian diplomats posted on their territory, in response to the expulsion of 3 of their diplomats by Russia on 5 February. The three countries reject the accusation that their diplomats participated in an illegal demonstration in support of Alexei Navalny and recall that they were legally carrying out their mission.

In a report published on 8 February, the IMF notes that the Polish economy is one of the least affected by the pandemic in the Union, with a drop in GDP of 3.4% in 2020, which should be followed by a recovery of 2.7% in 2021. The report finds that the Polish government has responded quickly and effectively to the crisis, but that supervision needs to be stepped up over the banking sector, whose revenues have fallen. The IMF is encouraging Poland to increase public investment, particularly in the energy and digital sector in line with the European recovery plan.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Union's GDP fell by 0.5% and that of the euro zone by 0.7% compared to the previous quarter, Eurostat announced on 2 February. This represents a 5.1% and 4.8% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. According to estimates, GDP fell over the whole of 2020 by 6.4% in the Union and 6.8% in the eurozone.

The Museum of the Imperial Forums in Rome is showing the exhibition "Napoleon and the Myth of Rome" until 30 May, on the occasion of the bicentenary of his death, which retraces the emperor's relationship with the ancient world and Rome.

Many Polish museums reopened on 2 February, including the National Museum in Warsaw, the National Museum in Krakow and the Wawel Castle in Krakow, the National Museum in Wroclaw, and the World War II Museum in Gdansk.

From 15 to 20 February, the Davos Festival is organising the week of singing 2.1 online. This event provides an opportunity for young artists to come and work on their voice and learn singing alongside professionals, including remotely, via tutorials prepared by members of the Orion Vokal 4 ensemble. Each day starts with a short Zoom concert by all the participants followed by vocal training.

Until 28 February, the German National Theatre in Weimar is presenting Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, directed by Juliane Kann. It is being filmed from several angles.

The Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid has launched "Rethinking Guernica", an interactive digital resource that offers multiple paths through the immense body of research that has been carried out on painting. This month, the museum has announced the enhancement of its resources, with the addition of more than 200 documents, as well as two new sections: "Oral History" and "(Im) Possible Counter-Archives".

Anima, the Brussels International Animated Film Festival, is taking place online from 12 to 21 February. Exclusive feature films, short films, event sessions and meetings with directors as well as meetings for professionals are on the programme of this 40th edition.

The 2021 edition of the Venice Carnival is going online, live and streaming on social networks, from 11th to 16th February. Shows are broadcast daily from Palazzo Vendramin Calergi. Virtual rooms of the Carnival, as well as videos on its history and traditions are offered.

Raphael's Cartoons, one of the greatest treasures of the Renaissance, can now be viewed via a new online service from the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum in London.