In Belgium the government has been managing current affairs since the end of 2018. On 8th December last the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) left the coalition in office in protest against the government's signature of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, a text adopted in December in Marrakesh. The following day Prime Minister Charles Michel (Reform Movement, MR) formed a minority government, which resigned on 18th December under the threat of a motion of no-confidence supported by the Socialist Party (PS), the Flemish Socialist Party (SP.A) and Ecolo. On 21st December King Philippe asked Charles Michel to manage current affairs until the next parliamentary elections that will take place on the same day as the European and regional elections, i.e. 26th May next.

Ingrida Simonyte, former Finance Minister (2009-2012), came out ahead in the first round of the Presidential election that took place on 12th May in Lithuania. She won 31.21% of the vote just front of her rival, economist Gitanas Nauseda (independent) won 30.93% of the vote. Ingrida Simonyte was standing as an independent, but she has the support of the main opposition party, the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD).

In view of the profound changes ongoing in the world there is nothing original in stating that we have entered a new period[1]. With the end of the Cold War, a new, more complicated, and more unstable multipolar world has gradually formed in the international arena. Although the confrontation with Russia has not gone away, as seen in the Ukrainian crisis, it is however the clash between the USA and China that has become the central point of tension in international relations, with a different intensity from that of the Cold War, given its nature, which is both economic and military. Washington never saw a serious economic threat in Moscow; with China however, the situation is different because long-term the USA can be legitimately concerned about losing their technological and economic lead. It is clear that this challenge is now an obsession for both countries to the point other threats are being underestimated. This is where that the rivalry between the economic, commercial, military and even cultural interests between Washington and Beijing finds its strongest expression. It is here that one senses that new, world geopolitical balances are slowly falling into place.

Jean-Dominique Giuliani contributed an article to the issue 32 of the journal The European - Security and Defence Union in which he argues that Europe's strengths are its wealth, law, freedoms and culture. Reference: The European - Security and Defence Union, Vol. 32, 1/2019

06/05/2019 2019 will witness the renewal of the Union's main institutions. From 23rd to 26th May the elections will take place whereby Europeans will be invited to elect their 751 representatives to Parliament. Then the new Commission will be appointed, along with the President of the European Council and the European Central Bank. Beyond that this opportunity of this date and renewal has to be seized to draw up and build the Europe of the 21st century.

29/04/2019 The 9th European elections will take place from 23rd to 26th May in a highly tense context. China, Russia and also the USA are increasing their attacks against multilateralism; the populists are gaining ground everywhere in the European Union and the world - and finally, the UK, which opted for Brexit on 23rd June 2016, has constantly delayed the final date of its exit. The British will, in all likelihood, be obliged to take part in the election, if they have not left by 22nd May.

02/05/2019 The Foundation has published in April the following studies::
- The electoral context 2019: new and increasingly European issues by Emmanuel Rivière and Julien Zalc
- Review of the 8th Legislature of the European Parliament by Eric Maurice
- Protecting European citizens and fight against terrrorism by Seyda Emek and Silvio Mascagna
- Protecting European citizens in an ultra-connected world by François Molins
- Which new Europe? by Jean-Dominique Giuliani
- Tour of Europe a month before the elections by Pascale Joannin
- The Socialist Workers' Party led by Pedro Sanchez ahead in Spain by Corinne Deloy
- Who will succeed Dalia Grybauskaite as the head of Lithuania? by Corinne Deloy
- Social-Democrats and populists run neck and neck in Finland by Corinne Deloy
- Europe: what the candidates will not tell you by Jean-Dominique Giuliani

29/04/2019 The Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), led by outgoing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, won a clear victory in the parliamentary elections on 28th April in Spain - it was a snap election following the rejection of the country's budget by the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Spanish parliament (Cortes generales), on 13th February last. The PSOE won 28.68% of the vote and took 123 seats in the Congress of Deputies, i.e. +39 in comparison with the previous elections on 26th June 2016.

23/04/2019 Jean-Dominique Giuliani publishes his new editorial in which he focuses on the successes of the European Union.