The Movement for Freedom (GS), led by Robert Golob, won the Slovenian parliamentary elections on 24 April, with 34.5% of the vote and 41 seats out of 90 in parliament. It beat the Democratic Party (SDS) of outgoing Prime Minister Janez Jansa, which secured only 26.3%.

In his book, Jean-Dominique Giuliani freely addresses his fellow citizens, who must refuse to accept the lies about the European Union while at the same time contributing to its improvement. This book, published by Marie B, is available in paper format on the Foundation's website and in bookshops. You can order it here.

Most of the health measures introduced during the winter have now been lifted in the European Union. Since 16 April, masks are no longer required in shops and cultural venues in Austria, but remain mandatory in transport and hospitals. To find out what the situation is in the Member States, the Foundation offers you a complete map of the measures in place. An indispensable, regularly updated resource.

On 21 April, the Council of Europe set up an advisory group to assist the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Iryna Venediktova, in its investigations into gross human rights violations committed during the war in Ukraine.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, visited Kyiv on 20 April. He denounced Russia's "war crimes" and called for them to be brought to justice on the basis of evidence gathered. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the EU's military and humanitarian support and Ukraine's needs. On 21 April, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen paid a joint visit to Kyiv and also met with Volodymyr Zelensky to underline the support of their countries and the European Union.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Portuguese parliament on 21 April to call for stronger EU sanctions against Russia and additional military assistance in the form of heavy armaments. He participated in a round table organised by the World Bank on 21 April. He called for renewed financial support for Ukraine, which "needs $7 billion a month". He called for Russia to be excluded from all international financial institutions and for a tax on trade and financial exchanges with Russia, the proceeds of which would be used to rebuild the country after the war.

On 22 April, the Commission suggested increasing the EU's 2022 budget to help people fleeing Ukraine and the states most affected by migratory flows. This increase will be used to fund the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Border and Visa Management Instrument, which will allow better border control and care for people on arrival. Thus, €400 million will be mobilised for border and flow management.

On 21 April during a visit to Lviv, Amin Awad reported on the devastation caused by the war in Ukraine. More than 12 million people have been displaced, an average of 136 health facilities and 22 schools are being damaged every day, and the destruction of water systems is depriving 6 million people of regular access. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is travelling to Russia and then to Ukraine on 26 April to meet Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. He will also meet with UN staff on the ground to discuss scaling up humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian population.

The IMF said on 22 April that the war in Ukraine is a "severe blow" to the post-pandemic recovery in Europe. It forecasts growth in 2022 of 3% for the advanced European economies and 2.7% for the emerging economies excluding Ukraine and Russia, i.e. 1% and 1.5% lower than forecast in January. Inflation is expected to reach 5.5% in advanced countries and 9.3% in emerging economies, 2.2% and 3.5% higher than expected. The IMF advocates a monetary policy that balances the fight against inflation with the need to limit output losses. It also calls on Europeans to improve their energy security by developing renewable energy and energy efficiency.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on 22 April the supply of Milan anti-tank missiles and Caesar long-range guns to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden announced on 21 April that he was increasing his strategic assistance to Ukraine by $800 million. Other countries such as Turkey, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, the Baltic States, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan continue to send arms and strategic resources to Ukraine.

On 21 April, the European Union and the United Kingdom expanded the list of individuals subject to sanctions for their links to the Russian invasion of Ukraine or abuses committed on Ukrainian territory. A Ukrainian businessman and Russian Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner mercenary group, are now covered by the EU's restrictive measures, which now apply to 1,093 individuals and 80 entities. In addition, the UK has decided to impose new sanctions on key Russian military leaders and a further 19 individuals and entities in line with EU and G7 sanctions.

On 21 April, the French Ministries of Europe and Foreign Affairs and of Solidarity and Health announced the delivery of emergency medical aid. More than 28 tonnes of medical equipment will be sent at the request of the Ukrainian authorities via Poland. Medicines, oxygen generators, breathing apparatus, these donations were financed with contributions from local authorities and companies. This operation follows another, already in Ukraine, to collect blood.

Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee adopted its position on the creation of a universal charger on 20 April. The proposal aims to reduce e-waste and allow the use of the same charger on all small and medium-sized electronic devices. All such devices will have to be equipped with a USB-C port to facilitate the reuse of old products. MEPs also urge the Commission to propose a strategy on the interoperability of different charging technologies, including wireless charging. This position still needs to be approved by the full Parliament at the May plenary.

The Secretary General of the European External Action Service, Stefano Sannino, met with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on 21-22 April to discuss the EU-US strategic partnership. They condemned Russia's actions and welcomed the joint commitment to fight the war in Ukraine. They expressed concern about Chinese information manipulation and economic coercion. They also discussed their cooperation in the Western Balkans, the Indo-Pacific region and the Sahel.

The government deficit in the fourth quarter of 2021 was stable in the European Union at 3.5% of GDP and down in the euro area at 3.6%, compared with 3.8% in the third quarter, according to data published by Eurostat on 22 April. The decrease can be explained by a higher increase in total revenues compared to total deficits and a higher GDP. Public debt is down to 88.1% of GDP in the European Union and 95.6% of GDP in the euro area.

Annual inflation was 7.8% in the European Union in March and 7.4% in the euro area, according to data released by Eurostat on 21 April. The lowest rates were recorded in Malta (4.5%) and France (5.1%), while Lithuania (15.6%) and Estonia (14.8%) registered the highest rates.

On 25 April, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its latest data on global military spending, which increased by 0.7% in real terms in 2021 to a total of $2,113 billion. This is the seventh year of record spending, but due to strong economic recovery in 2021, military spending as a percentage of GDP fell from 2.3% of GDP in 2020 to 2.2% in 2021. In Europe, 8 NATO member states have managed to spend 2% of GDP on the military. The report also notes that Russia increased its military spending by 2.9% in 2021, to $65.9 billion, as it prepared its invasion of Ukraine.

A study published on 25 April by KU Leuven University and the Eurometaux association highlights the European Union's growing need for raw materials generated by the energy transition, particularly lithium for batteries, nickel and rare earths.

From 28 April to 7 August, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are presenting the exhibition "Painter of Writing" on the artist Christian Dotremont. Organised on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of the Belgian poet and painter, the exhibition comprises 120 works on paper that will immerse the visitor in his striking graphic creation, between painting and writing.

Until 11 September, the Centro Botín in Santander is showing an exhibition on the American artist Ellen Gallagher and her work together with the Dutch artist Edgar Cleijne. Their paintings, works on paper and film installations create a dialogue with the marine world. The exhibition highlights the evolutionary nature of life forms and the preservation of ocean organisms.

Gallery Weekend Berlin is taking place from 29 April to 1 May. 50 art galleries across the German capital are offering exhibitions of international artists that attract collectors from Germany and abroad every year.

Du 28 avril au 1er mai, Bruxelles et Namur accueillent le festival Balkan Trafik. Pendant quatre jours, les musiques balkaniques sont mises à l'honneur à travers de nombreux concerts et les meilleurs musiciens de la région font le déplacement pour représenter leur culture. Cette année l'accent sera mis tout particulièrement sur la musique Gypsy issue de la communauté Rom.

From 28 April to 2 May, the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland is hosting the Féile na Bealtaine Festival. This event, which has been running since 1994, was created to celebrate Celtic culture through the arts. For 5 days, you can enjoy musical parades, concerts, exhibitions, plays and dance performances.

From 27 April to 2 May, the town of Cheltenham is holding its jazz festival, which features internationally renowned musicians as well as the best emerging musicians in the music scene.

Until 28 August, the Cité du Vin de Bordeaux is exploring the place of wine and alcohol in the work of Pablo Picasso, through paintings, drawings, ceramics and films. This exhibition gives a new perspective on the artist's work and celebrates his great creativity.

Cultural events in support of Ukraine continue across Europe. In France, the National Institute of Art History (INHA) is holding a cultural forum for Ukraine on 28 April, and students in Paris are honouring Ukrainian culture with posters. In Germany, on 27 April, the Berlin Philharmonic is hosting the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra; on 5 May, the People's Palace is hosting a reading of works by Ukrainian authors. In Spain, 14 Galician artists are giving a concert on 29 April at the Orense auditorium, and on 8 May, part of the proceeds from the Barcelona marathon will be donated to the Red Cross. The Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra is giving a concert "for the glory of Ukraine" on 30 April; on 9 May, the Teatr Druga Strefa in Warsaw is putting on a show documenting the war in Ukraine. In the UK, on 5 May a special performance of Swan Lake will take place at the Royal Opera in London.