In the face of US President Donald Trump's decision to pursue a more protectionist and, above all, 'reciprocal' policy, tariffs are once again on the global trade agenda. On 9 April, the European Union introduced trade countermeasures against the United States. This decision follows the tariffs imposed by Washington on steel and aluminium in March. The new European taxes were due to come into force on 15 April. The US president did an about-turn by suspending the tariffs for 90 days, and the European Union has suspended them temporarily.

On 11 April, a political agreement was reached between the Council and the European Parliament on the new regulation concerning toy safety. This text prohibits the use of harmful substances such as PFAS, endocrine disruptors and bisphenols. All toys will have to have a digital product passport to strengthen controls, particularly at borders. The regulation also aims to better regulate online sales and give inspectors more power to remove dangerous toys from the market. It thus guarantees safer toys, whether they are manufactured in the European Union or imported.

On 11 April, the Council adopted its negotiating mandate to extend the current rules on gas storage by two years, in a context of market volatility and geopolitical instability. Member States will have to maintain their stocks at 90% before winter, while benefiting from new flexibility measures, such as extended deadlines and deviation margins in the event of unfavourable conditions. This mandate will enable the presidency to begin discussions with the European Parliament on the final version of the text around May.

On 11 April, the president of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, emphasised the unity of the ministers in the face of developments in the global economy, ahead of the spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. On 11 and 12 April, the finance and economy ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based trading system, the single market, and key projects such as the digital euro and the savings and investment union. They discussed defence funding.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has expressed his deep concern regarding the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and other elected representatives in Turkey. He reiterated that fundamental rights – freedom of expression, the right to demonstrate, a fair trial – must be fully respected by member states. He emphasised the need for independent investigations in the event of excessive use of force. During his next visit to Ankara, he will stress the importance for Turkey to comply with its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was held from 7 to 11 April in Strasbourg. Emergency debates were held on the situations in Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. The PACE called for closer co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Political Community (EPC) in the face of threats to democratic security in Europe and the risk of foreign interference.

Until 22 September, the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian in Lisbon is hosting the exhibition 'Paula Rego and Adriana Varejão, Between Your Teeth' in reference to Hilda Hilst's poem 'Poems for the men of our time'. The two artists, Paula Rego and Adriana Varejão, from different generations and continents, explore the humanity that is the subject of the poem, the poetess, her story and the stories of all the violence and injustices. Each room is an opportunity to discover the different worlds of each of the artists.

Until 16 November, the Céret Museum of Modern Art is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a major exhibition retracing its links with major artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Miró and Boumeester. A special programme and a new publication will accompany this exceptional retrospective.

Until 6 July, the Palazzo Barberini in Rome is hosting one of the largest exhibitions ever devoted to the career of Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio. By bringing together some of his most famous works and others that are less well known but equally significant, this exhibition offers a new and in-depth reflection on the artistic and cultural revolution of this master of painting. The Palazzo Barberini offers the opportunity to explore the innovations brought by Caravaggio to the artistic, religious and social landscape of the time.

Until 17 August, the Brandhorst Museum in Munich is hosting the exhibition 'Five Friends', named after the artists John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Cy Twombly. This exhibition traces the influence of these five friends on post-war art, combining art, friendship and love that united them around conceptual art from the 1940s to the 1970s.

During a speech at the European Parliament on 8 April, Piero Cipollone, member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, emphasised the importance of the digital euro project in strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy. While payments are largely dependent on non-European players, the digital euro would offer a sovereign, secure and accessible alternative to cash that would complement it. It would allow consumers to pay anywhere in the euro area, including offline, while protecting their privacy. The project is progressing according to schedule, with legislation and innovative partnerships in the pipeline.

On 10 April, the Court of Appeal of the Spanish Supreme Court confirmed the decision of the investigating judge Pablo Llarena not to apply the amnesty law relating to the 'Catalan independence trials' to the former president of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont and two regional ministers. The Court of Appeal confirmed that this law, which allows for the cancellation of ongoing proceedings relating to Catalan separatist activities that took place between 1 November 2011 and 13 December 2023, does not apply to embezzlement offences.

On 11 April, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) approved a legal framework aimed at making shipping carbon neutral by 2050. This framework introduces mandatory standards for marine fuels as well as a global pricing mechanism for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Ships over 5,000 tonnes will have to reduce the intensity of their emissions or offset them through a system of credits. The rules will be adopted in 2025 and will come into force in 2027.

Meeting in Brussels on 10 April, the defence ministers of some thirty countries allied with Kyiv launched discussions on a future 'reassurance force' to prevent any further Russian attack after a possible ceasefire. Spearheaded by France and the United Kingdom, this coalition excludes a traditional peacekeeping force and emphasises the strengthening of Ukrainian capabilities. The key role of the United States is considered indispensable, but the mission, its size and its deployment remain unclear. Several countries, including the Netherlands and the Baltic States, have expressed their wish to participate.