On 6th April Montenegrins are being called to vote to elect the next President of the Republic. The election will be the first presidential election organised since independence on 21st May 2006. If no candidate wins an absolute majority in the first round, a second round will be organised on 20th April. Four personalities are running for the post: Filip Vujanovic (Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS), outgoing President and former Prime Minister (1998-2002); Nebojsa Medojevic, chairman of the opposition party, the Movement for Change (PZP); Andrija Mandic (Serb People's Party, SNS), leader of the Serb List; finally Srdjan Milic, leader of the centre-left party -the Socialist People's Party (SNP). According to the most recent poll the outgoing head of State is due to be elected in the first round with 52.8% of the vote. He is said to be ahead of Andrija Mandic (19.1%), Nebojsa Medojevic (18.3%) and Srdjan Milic (9.8%).

The Robert Schuman Foundation together with the Europe Committee of the MEDEF is a organising a conference-debate on 15th April on the theme of: "Faut-il une boussole européenne à la finance internationale?" ("Is a European compass necessary for international finance?"). The conference will include Jean-Paul Betbèze, chief economist at the Crédit Agricole, member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee, Gérard de la Martinière, chairman of the French Federation of Insurance Companies and Jean du Rusquec, project manager at Total.

The entry of nine new Member States (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia) into the Schengen Area on 21st December 2007 led to the abolition of both land and maritime border controls. Since 30th March 2008 controls on internal flights have been abolished in airports, thereby completing the total abolition of internal border controls. Passengers can now travel from one airport to another in the Schengen Area without having to submit to any particular formality. However ID controls undertaken by airlines will be maintained during check-in and embarkation now only undertaken on flights external to the Schengen Area (outside of the EU + UK, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus which are not part of the Schengen Area). Norway and Iceland are part of the Area. Switzerland signed an EU agreement on 28th January last.

The Middle East Peace Process and relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation, and the situation in the Balkans were at the heart of discussions at the EU foreign ministers' informal meeting on 28th and 29th March. The ministers assessed that negotiations between Palestine and Israel are progressing, although slowly. The ministers agreed that the EU must improve its coordination of relations with Syria. They expressed support for Lebanon's endeavours to resolve the political crisis in the country. With regard to Russia they mentioned the energy problem. The next EU-Russia Summit will take place in June and will provide the first opportunity to meet the new Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. With regard to the Western Balkans the renewal of the Thessaloniki Agenda – which in 2003 guaranteed all Western Balkan countries a European future provided that certain conditions are met - is one of Slovenia's presidency priorities.

In 2008 the European Parliament celebrates its 50th Anniversary. During its first meeting on 19th March 1958 there were 142 members who spoke four languages. Now there are 785 members who speak in 23 languages. The first President was Robert Schuman (1958-1960). On the occasion of its anniversary the Parliament has put forward a review in film of the key events in its history. Each week you can watch new videos (50 videos for 50 years of existence).

The President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering was elected President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA). He will occupy this post for one year until March 2009.

The European Commission launched the 16th issue of the Lorenzo Natali Prize on 27th March: this aims to promote the freedom of expression, democracy, Human rights and development by rewarding committed journalists across the world. Prizes are given in November in the presence of the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel. Journalists who are interested can present their candidature until 30th June.

In order to provide the implementation of the EU's integrated maritime policy with new impetus the European Commission decided on 29th March on a far-reaching reorganisation of the Directorate-General in charge of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. The former "DG FISH" becomes the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and will now be known as DG MARE. The main change involves the setting up of three geographic Directorates that will be responsible for managing both the Common Fisheries Policy and the new EU integrated maritime policy (IMP) in Europe's three main maritime regions. These will be complemented by a new Directorate in charge of co-ordination and policy development. The other two Directorates (External Policy, and Resources and Legal Affairs) will remain largely unchanged.

Since 30th March, European airlines can fly unrestricted from any point in the EU to any point in the US. The new agreement on air transport between the EU and the USA makes its possible, for the first time ever, for European airlines to travel freely from any European airport to any American town. "This marks the start of a new era in transatlantic aviation. This Agreement will bring more competition and cheaper flights to the US," said Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Transports. The two biggest aviation markets, encompassing 60% of world traffic, will cooperate closer in all fields of aviation policy. In May 2008, the European Commission will engage in second-stage negotiations with the US.

The IFO index on the business climate that was published on 26th March rose by 0.7% in comparison with February, to lie at 104.8. In spite of the turbulence on the financial markets and a strong euro business leaders are more optimistic than in February with regard to the present economic situation (+1.2%). There has been an improvement in the areas of construction and wholesale, as well with regard to the export of manufactured goods. In spite of a slight stagnation in retail trade, the future is bright. The third consecutive increase of the IFO index is good news for employment whose rate is due to increase. Between January 2007 and 2008, 130,000 jobs were created in the metallurgy and electronic industries. Finally according to a study in Germany consumers are expecting an increase in salary and are tending to consumer more (+5% between February and March).

During the appointment of the 29 new members of the Austrian Statistics Office Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer congratulated Austrian companies on their results that led the country to growth rate of 3.4% in 2007, that is continuing at a high rate in 2008. He indicated that companies had taken advantage of the EU's enlargement and he lauded in particular the SME's who have helped greatly towards creating this high rate of economic growth. Finally he welcomed the biggest rise in employment since 1955 and a drop in the unemployment rate.

According to an opinion delivered on 25th March the Constitutional Committee of the Lower Chamber of Austrian Parliament (Nationalrat) advises for the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. The examination of the treaty started in November 2007. The parties (SPÖ, ÖVP and Greens) support ratification, believing that the Lisbon Treaty makes the Union more democratic and improves how it functions whilst granting additional rights to national parliaments. The FPÖ says that the treaty affects Austria's sovereignty and neutrality; it is still in favour of a referendum. The BZÖ wants the vote to be postponed to the autumn. To be ratified the Lisbon Treaty has to win a 2/3 majority in each of the chambers of Parliament. Information meetings are also planned by Parliament in order to inform citizens about the text.

During his State visit to London 26th and 27th March French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that he hoped "a new Franco-British fraternity" would develop in the 21st century as he spoke to the House of Commons and Lords which met at the Houses of Parliament. He was then received by the British sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle. He then spoke with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during the Franco-British Summit on 27th March. They notably discussed the dispatch of French troops to Afghanistan, the future of NATO, the fight against global warming, nuclear co-operation and immigration. They also asked for greater transparency on the financial markets and agreed to contact the USA to put an end to the decline of the dollar. President Sarkozy again said that the EU needed the UK to move forwards.

AirTanker, the consortium led by EADS signed a 27 year contract on 27th March with the British Defence Ministry (MoD) for the supply of air transport and air refuelling capabilities to the Royal Air Force (RAF). The AirTanker consortium has also completed its financing for the programme, raising approx £2.5 billion (€3.2 billion) for investment in the fleet, a new state-of-the-art operational base and associated infrastructure. With this success EADS is the main supply of RAF military transport planes in addition to its present commitment of delivering 25 A400M to the British armed forces. Louis Gallois, EADS CEO declared: "We are proud to be providing the RAF with the very best air-to-air refuelling solution available internationally. The MoD's requirements are known to be highly exacting, and we are grateful that its trust has been placed in EADS and our consortium partners."

The Belarusian KGB undertook searches across the entire country on 27th March confiscating computers and cameras from at least 16 journalists working for the radios Svoboda, Racja, the European Radio and and TV Channel Bielsat. Journalists working for these foreign media are doing so "illegally" said the information service of the Foreign Ministry. The KGB also undertook searches at the head offices of NGO's and and opposition youth movements. The Belarus regime qualified as the "last dictatorship in Europe" is regularly criticised for its infringements of freedom and the persecution of its opponents.

Following his participation in the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting, Serb Foreign Minister, Vuk Jeremic declared on 29th March during a press conference that the 27 Member States had re-iterated their support for Serbia's accession remarking that the situation in Serbia was still a sensitive one and that the issue of Kosovo threatened the stability of the region. Serbia still wants to integrate Europe without giving up the province of Kosovo!

The Serb Minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic declared on 29th March that early Serb general elections to be held on 11th May would also take place in Kosovo. He added that local and regional elections also convened for 11th May in Serbia would also be organised in Kosovo.

According to Eurostat figures published on 31st March inflation in the Euro Area lay at 3.5% in March 2008. In February 2008 the rate lay at 3.3%. This new inflation record (since the creation of the euro area in 1999) is slightly above economists forecasts that estimated price rises of 3.4% in March. Oil prices notably rose sharply reaching new heights of over 110 dollars per barrel in March.

Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, John Denham, has published a White Paper entitled "Great-Britain: Innovation Nation." This document defines government action so that innovation can develop in all areas of the economy (business, tertiary sector, public sector). He believes that innovation is vital for the quality of life and the future prosperity of the UK. To increase productivity, foster the emergence of competitive companies, rise to the challenge of globalisation and adapt to the limits set by its environment and its demography, the UK has to be on the leading edge of progress in all areas.

On 25th March the British Foreign Ministry published its 2007 report on Human Rights. Some countries such as Burma, China, Iraq and Zimbabwe have become "problem countries" since the first issue of the report in 1999. Over the years major progress has been witnessed in Indonesia, the Western Balkans and Turkey. This report evaluates progress made, the deterioration in some situations, and concerns with regard to children's rights and the equality of the sexes, the fight against the death penalty and torture.

The German Society for Foreign Policy (DGAP) has published a study on Russia under Medvedev. Alexander Rahr and Stefan Meister show that Dmitri Medvedev could break free of Vladimir Putin. Indeed he does not come from the secret services and belongs to the "perestroika generation" whose origins are not in the communist system. He hopes to enhance the State of Law and the market economy, support civil society and the freedom of the press, guarantee independence of the legal system, reduce State bureaucracy and improve Russia's relations with the West.

In a study by the Danish Institute for Internatonal Studies entitled "NATO and global Partnerships - to be global or to act globally?" Trine Flockhart and Kristian Soby Kristensen believe that the future of NATO depends on its ability to combine an intervention strategy (act on a world scale) with a vast integration strategy (be globalised). If NATO only targets its integration strategy the Atlantic Alliance could suffer from a lack of legitimacy and increase tension with non-democratic NATO partners.

The Cerfa has published a paper that looks into the German positions with regard to some of the most important areas of tension within the Alliance. Author Henning Riecke analyses the way in which Germany sees the major themes on the political agenda of the Bucharest Summit: notably risk sharing in Afghanistan, the transformation of the armed forces and NATO's rapid reaction force together with NATO's anti-missile defence. He then dedicates a chapter to France's rapprochement with the Alliance as it is seen in Germany. In conclusion Henning Riecke presents four theories for a pragmatic alliance policy that aims to solve the various contradictions within German policy towards NATO.

The publishing house Dalloz has just published the entire "Lisbon Treaty" together with a presentation by Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France. He explains how he approached this treaty, its effects and its meaning for Europe as the French Presidency of the EU approaches.