On 11th May next 6.7 million Serbs are being called to vote. On 8th March Serb Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica (Democratic Party of Serbia, DSS) handed in his resignation which meant the organisation of early elections. This resignation came after Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence on 17th February. At present 11 political parties have a seat in the National Assembly, the only chamber in Parliament that comprises 250 members elected for a 4 year period by a proportional voting system within a single constituency. The most recent poll published by the daily B92 credits the coalition "Democratic Party (DS)-G17+" with 39.9% of the vote ahead of the Serb Radical Party (SRS), 37.1%. The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-New Serbia (NS) is due to win 10.4%, the Socialist Party (SPS) 5.4% and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), 3.1%. A minimum of 5% of the votes cast is necessary to be able to sit in Parliament.

The 27 European Environment Ministers who met on 12th and 13th April highlighted the importance of protecting biodiversity in the fight against climate change. In their opinion forests play an exceptional role in the stabilisation of climate change on earth and in the water as well as in the regulation of climate phenomena. They recalled that Europe had been severely affected by forest fires and storms and that the Natura 2000 network was an effective instrument in the fight against these problems.

Two reports on the cultural industry were adopted by the European Parliament. The report by Guy Bono (PSE, FR) adopted by 586 votes in favour, 36 against, calls for the creation of a task-force for culture and a creative economy, a guarantee of European cultural heritage. It puts forward real proposals (reduction in VAT rates, public-private funding, increase in translation aid, cross-border mobility for artists) to support cultural industries. The second report by Vasco Graça-Moura (EPP-ED, PT), adopted by 542 votes in favour, 62 against and 12 abstentions throws light on issues related to intellectual property rights and piracy. MEPs are calling for the collective, organised cross-border management of copyright.

On 10th April MEPs adopted a resolution 580 votes in favour, 24 against and 45 abstentions condemning the repression of Tibetan demonstrators by Chinese security forces. They are calling for the liberation of all peaceful demonstrators, the respect of human rights, the opening of constructive dialogue and the halt to all censorship. They are requesting the launch of an independent inquiry into the disruption and the repression under the auspices of the UN and are demanding the presidency of the Union to take a joint European stance with regard to the participation of Union leaders in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in August. The possibility of a boycott if the Chinese authorities do not start dialogue with the Dalai-Lama was mentioned again.

On 9th April MEPs debated the progress made by Croatia and Macedonia along the road to EU membership. They agreed that accession by the two countries would provide stability and prosperity to the tourmented region of South East Europe. Of course there is still a great deal of work to be done. Croatia has to improve its legal system, rid itself of high level corruption and solve the border issues with its neighbours, notably Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Although membership negotiations are not yet open with Macedonia MEPs of the Foreign Affairs Committee believe that it is highly likely that this country will be the next country after Croatia to join the EU.

On 10th April the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) presented 44 projects as part of the depollution programme of the Mediterranean Sea launched in 2005 by the European Union. The study acknowledges the need to establish a programme to help the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean countries reduce the pollutant materials they throw into the sea. The decline of the Mediterranean Sea threatens the health of 143 million people who live along its shores and affects the long term development of economic sectors such as fishing and tourism. These projects will allow the elimination of 80% of pollution sources by 2020. Most pollution involves the processing of urban waste water (57%), the processing of solid urban waste (17%) and industrial effluent (14%). The overall cost is estimated at 2.1 billion euros.

On 10th April the European Commission presented plans for a Europe-wide credit system in vocational education and training. This system, called ECVET, would make it easier for citizens to get formal recognition of knowledge, skills and competences they have gained in another country. Member States are encouraged to sign up to this voluntary scheme that does not seek to replace national systems but to facilitate the transfer between them. Originally introduced in 1989, the ECTS has improved transparency and facilitated the recognition of study components done in another country than one's own.

The EU's new chemicals legislation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) entered into force on 1st June 2007. It covers all chemical substances, manufactured or imported into the EU, in quantities of one tonne or more per year. Mandatory registration of new substances begins on 1st June 2008. A company that fails to pre-register a phase-in substance by 1st December 2008 may neither import nor manufacture it after that date until it has fully registered the substance with the European Chemicals Agency.

On 11th April the European Commission published a Communication on the role of fisheries management in implementing an ecosystem approach to marine management. In this text, the Commission outlines how the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) can help implement a more joined-up approach to protect the ecological balance of our oceans as a sustainable source of wealth and well-being for future generations. The key objectives are to minimise the impacts of fishing on the wider marine environment by reducing the overall level of fishing pressure, and to ensure that fisheries measures are used fully to support the cross-sectoral approach defined by the EU's Marine Strategy and Habitats Directives. This should ensure protection for vulnerable habitats and sensitive species, prevent disruptions to the food chain, safeguard the integrity of key ecosystem processes, and thus create a healthy marine environment which will positively support a thriving fishing industry, alongside other sustainable human activities. The present Communication forms part of the first wave of actions to be implemented under the new integrated Maritime Policy.

According to the OECD report published on 9th April German growth will remain dynamic with a GDP increase of 1.8% in 2008 and 1.6% in 2009. Exports continue to grow thanks to improvements in productivity achieved by companies, with an increase of 9% between February 2007 and February 2008. A clear fall in unemployment and an increase in income are helping to boost consumption. The OECD lauds the reforms undertaken in Germany that have led to a return of budgetary balance, a reduction in the wage burden, the dynamism of the labour market and a reform of company tax. They ask the German government to continue reforms by putting particular emphasis on its education policy.

German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier addressed a letter on 10th April to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso indicating the guidelines that Berlin would like to see adopted with regard to the European budget. Germany's position, the leading net contributor, is based on five details: the reform of the funding of policies in order to take on board the new challenges; a revaluation of the funding of future policies (R&D, etc); the taking on board of subsidiarity; the fair distribution of financial contributions; the simplification of the own resources system. This position is part of the reform of the European budget for which the Commission has to present a report in 2009 at the latest.

The Chamber of Belgian Deputies approved the Lisbon Treaty on 10th April, 116 votes in favour, 18 against (members of the far right parties Vlaams Belang and Front National) and 7 abstentions. The treaty received the approval of the Belgian senators at the beginning of March. Now the five regional and community assemblies have to approve the text before the treaty is finally ratified by Belgium.

The President of the Spanish government, José Luis Zapatero revealed his new government on 12th April - it includes more women than men (9/8) for the first time in Spain. Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega and Pedro Solbes remain 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents respectively. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Mariano Fernández Bermejo, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, Magdalena Álvarez, Elena Salgado, César Antonio Molina and Bernat Soria retain their positions. Carmé Chacon has been appointed Defence Minister, Elena Espinosa, Environment, Rural and Marine Environment Minister and Mercedes Cabrera, Education and Social Policy Minister. Five ministers are making a debut: Celestino Corbacho, Miguel Sebastián, Beatriz Corredor, Cristina Garmendia and Bibiana Aido, the youngest aged 31.

Irish Finance Minister, Brian Cowen was elected head of the party, Fianna Fail on 9th April in replacement of Bertie Ahern, Chairman of the Party and Prime Minister who will resign from the position of Prime Minister on 6th May. Brian Cowen is almost guaranteed to become the next Prime Minister on 7th May.

A week after the Sejm (lower chamber of Parliament) and the Senate approved the Lisbon Treaty Polish President Lech Kaczynski signed a law on 10th April (adopted at the beginning of the month by parliament) enabling the ratification of the new European treaty. He still has to sign the ratification act to finalise the process.

According to Eurostat figures published on 9th April Euro area GDP grew by 0.4% and European Union GDP by 0.5% in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with the previous quarter. In the third quarter of 2007, growth rates were +0.7% in the euro area and +0.8% in the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2007 and among the Member States for which seasonally adjusted GDP data are available, Slovakia (+3.3%) recorded the highest growth rate compared with the previous quarter, followed by Poland (+2.0%) and the Czech Republic (+1.7%). Among the main partners of the EU, GDP grew by 0.1% in the US in the fourth quarter of 2007 and by 1.8% in Japan.

The Swedish Institute for European Studies 'SIEPS' has just published a study entitled "The purse of the European Union. Setting priorities for the future". This document is a review of the SIEPS annual conference 2007 which focussed on this subject. As the review of the financial perspectives approaches in the autumn 2008 this study provides an analysis of revenues and expenditure, the efficacy of the use of the community funds and the future challenges faced by the Union; it also looks into the link between the Union's budget and economic theory.

The German Institute for International Affairs and Security (SWP) has published a study on Nicolas Sarkozy's project to create a Union for the Mediterranean. Daniela Schwarzer and Isabelle Werenfels highlight the lack of constructive discussion on the challenges of the Union's Mediterranean policy. They warn that the agreement found on this project should not be reduced to an internal settlement within the European Union. According to the authors the 27 Member States should use this project as a means to improve the partnership with the Mediterranean.

0n 8th April the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) published a report on the investment funds. Authors, Karel Lannoo and Jean-Pierre Casey analyse the ongoing revision of the UCITS (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) directive and estimate the impact of the MiFID (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) directive on industry. The report puts forward suggestions to industry with regard to how it can adapt to changes on the market.

According to a Commission study "Is Social Europe fit for globalisation?" presented on 11th April, the European social model is in a position to rise to the challenges of globalisation. Although Eurobarometer surveys show that 47% of Europeans believe that globalisation is a threat for employment, the new study maintains that these fears are generally unfounded. Over the last 20 years the Union's GDP share dedicated to social security expenditure has remained remarkably stable (around 27%/28%). Likewise the Union has made progress in terms of remuneration and access to employment. However the study highlights the need to modernise social policies and invest in human resources to enable the Union to use the opportunities offered by globalisation in the best possible manner.

The Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS) has published a paper on the challenges facing the French Presidency of the European Union in its quarterly review. This paper written under the guidance of Fabio Liberti brings together articles by various experts. They focus on three themes: European expectations, key issues of the presidency and French preparation for the European presidency.

On 15th April the concert "Camerata Slovenica, a Chamber Ensemble" will take place at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels; it is being organised by "Femmes d'Europe" under the patronage of Marjetica Rudolf Rupel, wife of the Slovenian Foreign Minister, as part of the cultural programme of the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union. The concert which is dedicated to Slovenian musical creativity brings together the most eminent Slovenian musicians to present compositions by Richard Strauss and Petar Cajkovski as well as Uros Krek's string sextet, one of the most important Slovenian composers of the 20th century.