0n the occasion of the International Women's Day on 8th March the Robert Schuman Foundation has published three tables on the representation of women in Europe: within the 27 Member States' governments, within the Parliaments of the 27 Member States and within the European Parliament. They show that although the States have achieved major progress over the last few years they still have a long way to go to establish true parity. Only two Member States have established this parity within their governments (Finland and Spain).

On 5th March the chairman of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean-Claude Trichet presented the conclusions of the meeting of the Governors' Council. The ECB decided to reduce key ECB interest rates by a further 50 basis points rations. This decision brings the total reduction in the interest rate on the main refinancing operations of the Eurosystem since 8th October 2008 to 275 basis points. The ECB reduced its main rate to an historical level of 1.50% (instead of 2%).

On 6th March on a visit to Brussels Hillary Clinton, American Secretary of State met Javier Solana, High Representative and Secretary General of the Council, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Foreign Minister. They met to prepare the EU/USA summit that is to take place on 5th April, relations with Russia, Afghanistan and Iran, the situation in the Middle East, the financial and economic crisis and climate change. The new American administration would like "to provide dynamism to the transatlantic relation" and provide "high level" co-operation, said Hillary Clinton adding "we intend to bring dynamism to transatlantic relations and to promote a strong European Union and more fundamentally a strong Europe."

The minimum taxes on tobacco products are due to be raised by 1.50€ per packet on cigarettes by 2014 said the Economic Affairs Committee at the European Parliament on March 3rd. MEPs did however support lower increases than those put forward by the European Commission. The aim of the suggested reglementation is to avoid distorsion in competition on the single market and to increase fiscal convergence. Together with the ban on advertising and information campaigns this measure should help to protect health according to a report by Zsolt Lazslo Becsey (EPP-ED, HU).

On 3rd March the European Commission called for the improvement of broadband internet connections with rural areas. According to Commission data 30% of the EU's rural population does not have access to broadband internet. Because of their low population density these rural areas are less profitable for service providers who are therefore less prepared to develop their networks there. The Commission wants to use some of the means available to it, notably structural funds or the European Funds for Rural Development (FEDER) to reduce "the broadband Internet gap" between urban and rural zones. It has called on Member States to follow the same path. "If we really want our countrysides to live and prosper then we must help everyone take best advantage of modern technology," commented European Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer-Boel.

The 27 Environment Ministers, who met on 2nd March, welcomed the 'green' measures put forward as part of the plan to rescue the European economy. These measures aim to modernise European infrastructures, by privileging means of transport that respect the environment, water and waste management (including recycling), as well as renewable energies. They adopted conclusions defining the EU's position in view of the Copenhagen Conference on the Protection of the Climate. They finally rejected a Commission proposal aiming to force Hungary and Austria to repeal their prohibition of genetically modified corn production.

In a decision delivered on 5th March the Court of Justice clarified the conditions in which Member States can authorise dismissal by reason of retirement. The Court recalls that the 2000/781 directive prohibits discrimination based on age in the areas of employment and work. European Judges recalled that European legislation says "that some differences in treatment based on age are not classed as discrimination if it is a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate social policy objective related to employment policy, the labour market or vocational training."

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves signed a resolution establishing the rules for the European Parliament election. The voting method has changed (the preferential vote is no longer possible) and the elections have been officially set for 7th June.

French and German Finance Ministers, Peer Steinbrück and Christine Lagarde met on 3rd March in Paris with the governors of the Bank of France, Christian Noyer and the Bundesbank, Axel Weber for the 40th Franco-German Economic and Financial Council; they called for structural reform that aimed to improve surveillance rules of international financial markets. They all hope to witness a decision on the part of the G20 with regard to "tax havens and un-co-operative financial centres" and hope that these measures encourage the States involved to respect the criteria established by the Organisation for Co-operation and Economic Development (OCED) long term. As part of the preparation work for the European Council on 19th and 20th March Peer Steinbrück announced his support for a possible compromise with regard to the issue of reduced VAT rates, thereby making a decisive concession to France.

The French Group BNP Paribas came to a revised agreement with the Belgian State on 7th March which should allow it to save its project to purchase the country's leading bank, Fortis, thereby becoming the leader in the euro area in its sector. BNP Paribas is to purchase 75% of Fortis Bank from the Belgian State to a total of 14.5 billion euros; the latter will then become the leading shareholder in the French bank. BNP Paribas will also purchase 25% of the insurance activities in Belgium. Fortis Bank will assume any initial losses on risky assets running at 3.5 billion euros but the Belgian State will guarantee the following 1.5 billion. The State is ready to refloat the bank within the next three years to a maximum of 2 billion euros which may brings its participation to over the 25% mark. This agreement still has to be approved by shareholders.

2/3 of Cypriots believe that the reunification process that started over six months ago is destined to fail according to a survey published on 8th March in the newspaper Phileleftheros bearing witness to increasing scepticism on the Mediterranean island. 68% of those interviewed say that present dialogue will not lead to a solution. Only 27% believe the contrary. Cyprus, whose northern part is occupied by the Turkish army, has been divided since 1974. The new reunification negotiations started in September last between Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and the leader of the northern part of the island, only acknowledged by Ankara, Mehmet Ali Talat, have not made any significant progress. Their next meeting is planned for 11th March.

On 3rd March Spain announced a rise in unemployment in February, with 154, 058 more unemployed than in January ie a rise of 4.63% according to figures provided by the Public Services Employment Bureau. The total number of unemployed lies at 3,325,558.

The unemployment rate in France recorded a significant rise in the fourth quarter of 2008 and lies at 8.2% of the working population (7.8% in mainland France) according to figures published on 5th March by the INSEE based on quarterly results from the Employment Survey.

Croatian gas company Plinacro said that it had signed an agreement on 3rd March with the Hungarian company FGSz on the construction of a 298 km long pipeline to a total of 395 million euros. The pipeline will extend from Slobodnica (Croatia) to Varosfold (Hungary) and will be used to "connect the gas transport systems between Croatia and Hungary." Work is due to be finished at the end of 2010 and the new gas pipeline will have a 6.5 billion cubic metre/year capacity.

The Irish unemployment rate continued to rise in February reaching a 10.4% - peak which has not been seen since October 1997, after 9.6% in January according to seasonally adjusted data published on 4th March by the Irish Central Statistic Office (CSO). The number of unemployed registered rose to 352,800 last month, ie 26,700 more than in January and 165,000 more than a year earlier. This annual variation is the biggest ever recorded by the CSO since the start of calculations in 1967.

An envelope of 17.8 billion euros was released on 6th March for the construction of infrastructures in Italy. The Interministerial Committee for Economic Programming gave the greenlight for the release of the 17.8 billion: 8.510 billion in public funds and 8,090 in private contributions to which 1.2 billion can be added for schools and prisons. 1.3 billion euros will notably be used for the controversial building of a bridge over the Messina Strait to link Sicily with mainland Italy. The bridge, which is 3,69 km long and suspended 64 metres over the sea will cost 6 billion euros in all.

The coalition government of Latvia, a country facing a major economic crisis will comprise five political parties and will have a 63 seat majority out of 100 in parliament announced Prime Minister Valdas Dombrovskis on 4th March. It will have the vital majority to offer the necessary political support to the austerity measures that Latvia is obliged to implement. It still has to win the support of Parliament. Apart from the three outgoing government parties (the Union of Greens and Farmers, the People's Party and the Fatherland Party), New Era and the Civic Union will be part of the coalition.

On 2nd March a consultation between the Foreign Ministers of Lithuania and Russia took place at the Foreign Office of Lithuania. The delegations responded positively to the development of economic relations between the two countries. They agreed to organise a bilateral economic business forum as soon as possible.

On 3rd March Luxembourg Economy Minister, Jeannot Krecké presented the conclusions of the White Paper on the future energy strategy of the Grand Duchy.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown travelled to Washington on 3rd March. With American President Barack Obama they re-iterated their commitment to "a special relationship" between their two countries. During a joint press conference Gordon Brown said that he wanted to boost strong bilateral co-operation and face the economic and financial crisis together with the USA. Barack Obama said that those who said that the bilateral relationship has deteriorated should not be believed. Apart from economic issues the two leaders also discussed Afghanistan, Iraq and the situation in Palestine. On 4th March the British Prime Minister spoke to both chambers of Congress.

On 3rd March the leaders of all the parties represented in the Slovenian parliament gave the government the greenlight to accept the mediation offer from the European Commission to settle the border dispute with Croatia.

Albania is to borrow 250 million euros from the Deutsche Bank and the Greek Alpha Bank to cover its budgetary deficit said the Finance Ministry spokeswomen Eva Simoni on 6th March. Deutsche Bank and Alpha Bank were selected after a call for tender that was launched at the beginning of January by the Albanian authorities to which seven other international banking institutions responded.

On 3rd March the IMF announced that it would grant a 540 million dollar loan (426 million euros) to Armenia that is sorely affected by the world economic and financial crisis. To face the crisis "the Armenian authorities have adopted a sound, credible economic programme to re-establish confidence in the currency and the financial system and to protect the poor," added the IMF in a press release. "I shall therefore recommend the directorate approve the request for 540 million dollars for a 28 month aid programme," declared IMF Director General Dominique Strauss Kahn.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev travelled to Spain on 2nd and 3rd March. The Spanish and Russian governments signed a "protocol co-operation agreement on energy" on 3rd March with regard to oil, gas, coal as well as renewable and alternative energies announced the presidency of the Spanish government. Both countries plan "to establish the foundations of real co-operation" in terms of the prospection and drilling for fossil fuels, the development of "new clean technologies", together with the transport and distribution of natural gas. The agreement will also focus on the production of electricity using renewable, clean energies. After the meeting Dmitri Medvedev gave a press conference where he broached the subject of European security.

On 4th March Serb Secretary of State for Justice, Slobodan Homen announced that a Serb Justice Ministry delegation had received the draft agreement in the Hague that Serbia is to sign with the EU with regard to co-operation between the prosecutor's office, the police and justice of all EU Member States. He added that this agreement "is one of the most important stages on the road to European integration."

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulya Timoshenko made a working visit to Paris on 4th march during which she spoke with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, French Prime Minister, François Fillon and Economy Minister Christine Lagarde. In a column published on the occasion of this visit Yulya Timoshenko called on France to help the Ukraine draw closer to the EU and said she hoped Russia, the Ukraine and EU Member States would come together during the present crisis rather than continue in their division. Whilst she was in France Ukrainian security commandos investigated Naftogaz to bring together documents as part of an inquiry into the recent gas agreements with Russia.

On 5th March the Foreign Ministers of NATO Member States decided to re-initiate the work of the NATO-Russia Council. American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton called on NATO to "relax" relations with their Russian partner. The Atlantic Alliance suspended its formal relations with Russia seven months ago because of the Russian-Georgian war.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 5th March the GDP in the euro area and that of the EU declined by 1.5% in the fourth quarter of 2008 in comparison with the previous quarter. During the third quarter of 2008 the growth rate lay at -0.2% in the euro area and -0.3% in the EU. In comparison with the fourth quarter of 2007 the GDP declined by 1.3% both in the euro area and in the EU against +0.6% and +0.7% during the previous quarter respectively.

On 4th March the Eurobarometer study on women and the European Parliament elections was published; it reveals that European women expect action on the part of the Parliament with regard to wage equality, against violence to women, as well as with regard to childcare structures and the inclusion of the years spent caring for children in the calculation of retirement pensions. "On the eve of International Women's Day and in view of the upcoming European elections this Eurobarometer and the accompanying socio-demographic analysis strengthen our work that aims to bring us closer to the European citizen," said Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Vice-President of the European Parliament.

On 4th March the Commission published the General Report on the Activities of the European Union. Amongst the most significant facts feature the international financial crisis and climate change. Several international conflicts were the focus of a rapid, effective European reaction, placing the Union on the forefront of the world political arena. The ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty that was held up after the victory of "no" vote in the Irish referendum in the spring and its revival during the European Council in December comprised the year's main institutional event. The 250 page report focuses on four strategic objectives defined by the Commission at the start of its term in office: prosperity, solidarity, security and the Union's role as a world partner. Three other chapters are dedicated to institutional life and organisations, the budget and financial activities together with the general political and economic framework of community activities.

On 4th March Joelle Milquet, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Employment and Equal Opportunities Minister published with the publishers Luc Pire a book entitled "Une nouvelle réponse politique à la crise: l'humanisme démocratique". During the present economic and financial crisis she explains how democratic humanism "the new utopia of the 21st century" which rises beyond Socialism, Liberalism and ecology comprises a political response to the present crisis.

The Kulturhistorisches Museum Rostock is presenting an exhibition on 24th May "Masterpieces of Modernity". It reveals work that was saved by a collector at the end of the 1930's but until today remained hidden because there was no legal confirmation of who they belong to. Max Pechstein and Otto Dix are on show next to the stars of Bauhaus, Ernst Barlach and Willi Baumeister. All of this work have one point in common : they are direct witnesses of the darkest hours of Germany's past.