The Foundation is organising a seminar on the data economy on 1 June in partnership with Alphalex Consult and IDFRights. The event will take place in Brussels and will be broadcast online. The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, will speak, and the debates will be chaired by former journalist and MEP, Jean-Marie Cavada.

The Foundation and the Providus Centre for Public Policy are organising a debate on 2 June in Riga on the sense of belonging to Europe, the changing meaning of the term 'European' and the geographical, historical and emotional boundaries of Europe. The conference, which will also be broadcast online, is being held in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

On 24 May, the Council adopted the regulation allowing trade liberalisation with Ukraine to support the Ukrainian economy weakened by the Russian invasion. Duties on all Ukrainian imports are suspended for one year.

On 25 May, the Commission proposed to add the breach of EU sanctions to the EU's list of criminal offences. The measure, which would apply in particular to Russians subject to sanctions, concerns the concealment of assets or the import and export of goods covered by trade bans. The Commission proposes to seize the assets of persons and entities that violate the sanctions measures.

The Advisory Committee of the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities deplored on 23 May that "the Russian authorities have used the issue of minority rights as a pretext for this invasion". It fears that the attack will reinforce mistrust between people identifying themselves as ethnically Russian and the majority population in Ukraine. Although excluded from the Council of Europe, Russia remains bound by obligation to this Framework Convention as it is open to non-member states.

On 25 May, the Council adopted new rules allowing Eurojust to store, analyse and retain evidence on major international crimes (war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity). The new rules will allow evidence of international crimes to be centralised "in a secure place", which Eurojust can then share with the relevant national and international judicial authorities.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Kiev on 26 May. She expressed her country's support for Ukraine's EU accession process. During her visit to Irpin and Bucha, she experienced the scale of the devastation and atrocities committed during the Russian invasion.

In its financial stability review published on 25 May, the European Central Bank (ECB) notes that the conditions for ensuring financial stability in the euro area have "deteriorated". It notes several reasons for this deterioration, including the rise in energy prices due to the war in Ukraine, the high volatility of financial products and the confrontation of economic actors with rising interest rates. The ECB stresses the important role of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the destabilisation of the euro area and European financial markets, which has accentuated pre-existing vulnerabilities.

On 28 May, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine that would preserve the sovereignty and integrity of Ukrainian territory. They called for the release of 2,500 Azovstal defenders in Mariupol, and insisted on the need to lift the blockade of Odessa to allow the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea and avoid a global food crisis.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 26 May and then with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 27 May to discuss how to allow grain and fertiliser exports out of Ukraine and avoid a global food crisis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) on 26 May. He asked Latvian MPs to commit to the sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia and to reach agreement among Europeans on the embargo on Russian oil. He said it was important to prepare a seventh package of EU sanctions now. The President asked for European support in bringing to justice Russian soldiers who had committed violence against Ukrainian civilians.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said on 23 May that the number of people forced to flee wars, violence and human rights abuses has passed the 100 million mark for the first time ever. This figure includes refugees, asylum seekers and 53.2 million internally displaced people. In addition, Ukraine acceded on 27 May to the UN Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, in order to mitigate the consequences of Russian bombing on its industrial facilities.

Meeting in an extraordinary European Council, the 27 European leaders agreed on 30 May on a sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes an embargo on Russian oil by the end of the year, with the temporary exception of oil transported by pipeline. Other measures include the exclusion of three Russian banks from the SWIFT system, including Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, the addition of new personalities, including Kirill, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, to the list of sanctioned persons, and the banning of three Russian television stations in the European Union. The leaders also agreed in principle to provide €9 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine in 2022.

On 25 May, the Commission presented the second annual work programme of the European Defence Fund (EDF), as well as new tools to promote innovation in the field of defence. The 2022 work programme provides €924 million devoted to financing and strengthening European defence capabilities. Particular attention is given to space, naval combat and R&D in the fields of cyber security.

The so-called Omnibus Directive for better consumer protection, adopted in 2019, entered into force on 28 May. It updates the instruments regulating online marketing to better protect consumers, through increased penalties and greater redress in case of harm. The directive also introduces transparency obligations for online sellers and marketplaces, including with regard to the personalisation of product prices and the ranking of offers in search results.

On 24 May, the Council adopted its position on the relaxation of the regulation on European Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIFs), contributing to the deepening of the Capital Markets Union (CMU). The Council wants to see more finance flowing to SMEs and to make it easier for retail investors to invest in ELTIFs, including by removing barriers to entry. It intends to maintain high standards of investor protection.

On 24 May, the Agriculture Ministers discussed the situation of agricultural markets, which has been weakened by the war in Ukraine. They stressed that the European Union is self-sufficient in most basic agricultural products. The Commission reported on the solidarity measures taken by the EU to facilitate the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.

The World Economic Forum in Davos took place from 22 to 26 May. The main topics of discussion were the war in Ukraine and its consequences, including an intervention by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The energy and ecological transition and other issues such as the high level of inflation, the Covid-19 pandemic, cyber security and the metaverse were also discussed. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the participants.

Representatives of the EU institutions, Member States, the Western Balkans and Turkey exchanged views on their economic policies on 24 May and prepared the participation of Turkey and the Western Balkans in the European Semester. In response to the consequences of the war in Ukraine on employment, social cohesion and growth, the States agreed to put in place targeted budgetary and financial measures.

On 25 May, the Commission published its 4th progress report on the European Union's security strategy. The report focuses on developments in the security environment since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It shows that the EU has "increased its vigilance" in the face of the various threats facing Member States. The report underlines that the EU has taken concrete steps to strengthen the sharing of information and expertise between Member States, notably in the areas of cyber security, critical infrastructure security and the fight against disinformation.

In a special report on the protection of the EU budget published on 23 May, the Court of Auditors finds that the principle of blacklisting to prevent the payment of EU public funds to "unreliable contractors" is an ineffective tool. It points out that the European Early Warning and Exclusion System (EDES), which allows certain contractors to be blacklisted, is still little used and recommends that its use be extended to funds managed by the Member States.

At the 75th Cannes Film Festival, the jury chaired by French actor Vincent Lindon awarded the Palme d'Or to Swedish director Ruben Östlund for his feature film, "Sans filtre" (Triangle of Sadness). The festival's Grand Prize went to Belgian director Lukas Dhont for his film "Close" and to French director Claire Denis for "Des étoiles à midi". The special 75th prize was awarded to Belgians Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for "Tori and Lokita".

Until 31 July, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Strasbourg is offering a retrospective of the work of Marcelle Cahn. The changing face of the artist over the decades is honoured in more than 400 works from public and private collections around the world.

Until August 21, the Prado Museum is hosting an exhibition devoted to Luis Paret, an artist whose style is derived from the French Rococo. This retrospective brings together his paintings and drawings, which demonstrate his technical and compositional mastery as well as his sometimes critical view of 18th century society.

The Sztuki Museum in Lodz is presenting two exhibitions: one entitled "A wider field of vision" running until 8 January 2023 presents works from the 17th to the 20th centuries exploring the relationship between photography, painting and graphic art. The other, called Rajzefiber, which will run until 28 August, reflects on the experience of travel and the movement of things and people.

The Bucharest International Book Fair is taking place from 1 to 5 June. Book launches, discussions, children's events and film screenings are on the programme.

The Printemps des Comédiens theatre festival is taking place in Montpellier until 25 June. The themes of this 36th edition are the 400th anniversary of Molière's birth and the Franco-German friendship. The Comédie-Française, the Schaubühne and the Volksbühne of Berlin will present their plays. The festival will also showcase new creations, as well as other performing arts genres such as dance, music and circus.

From 1 June to 20 August, the Epidaurus and Athens Festival will give voice and life to the classics of ancient theatre. Founded in 1955, the festival offers theatre, music, opera and dance performances in the impressive setting of the Roman theatres of Epidaurus and Herod Atticus in Athens.

From 2 to 11 June, the city of Saarbrücken is hosting the Perspectives festival, which brings together the performing arts in a Franco-German programme, mixing different genres of the performing arts: theatre, dance, circus and concert. Since its first edition in 1978, the event has sought to initiate an intercultural exchange between France and Germany, with the aim of bringing Franco-German relations to life.

Writers' Week, Ireland's longest running literary festival, is the annual venue for literary and artistic gatherings in Listowel. Founded in 1970, the festival attracts established writers, up-and-coming talent and literary enthusiasts from around the world.

Until 15 January 2023, the Albertinum Museum of Modern Art in Dresden is paying tribute to the German painter Oskar Zwintscher (1870-1916). His work, which is influenced by Ludwig Richter, Moritz Schwind and Arnold Böcklin, is at the crossroads of Jugendstil and Symbolism. The exhibition seeks to convey the breadth and originality of the painter's style, which throughout his life was as much recognised as criticised.

Cultural events in support of Ukraine continue across Europe. In France, the National Institute of Art History is organising a Ukrainian cultural forum "The memory of Odessa: Philippe Hosiasson" on 8 June. At the Château de Fontaineblau, on 4 and 5 June, the Festival d'histoire de l'art is proposing four round tables on the history of art and heritage in Ukraine. In Belgium, the Ukrainian group Dakha Brakha is playing in Zedelgem on 5 June in a concert preceded by a discussion on the situation in the country. In Germany, a charity concert takes place on 5 June at the Burgtheater in Ratzeburg. In Spain, a concert is being held on 7 June in Valladolid, organised by the Red Cross and Fundos. In Poland, on 4 June, the Wieliszew municipality's day is dedicated to solidarity with Ukrainians. In the UK, on 8 June, a charity event for the town of Mykolaïv takes place at the Yellow Boat in London.