The Robert Schuman Foundation has published its third "State of the Union 2009 - Schuman Report on Europe". This work offers readers original analyses, unique maps and vital data to understand everything about Europe. This work published by Lignes de Repères is available in all bookshops and on the Foundation's internet site.The Robert Schuman Foundation and the Centre for European Studies is organising a presentation of this work on 27th April at the European Parliament in Brussels in the presence of Joseph Daul, Chairman of the EPP-ED group. During the presentation of the Schuman Report on 15th April in Paris, the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation Jean-Dominique Giuliani spoke on Euronews. He believes that to keep on target for Political Europe unification must be taken further.

On 15th April the Swedish government implemented new measures to fight the crisis. In order to protect itself from the negative effects on employment and key sectors in the social protection system the government announced an increase in subsidies to local authorities and the budget designed for employment policies. Finance Minister, Anders Borg explained that these measures were necessary to maintain public finance. The Swedish government allocated in all nearly 45 billion Swedish Kronor in 2009 and 60 billion for 2010.

Massive abstention is looming for the European Elections on 4th and 7th June. According to a Eurobarometer survey undertaken for the European Parliament amongst 27,218 citizens from the 27 Member States only 34% say they are going to vote. 53% say they are not "interested" in the European elections, 62% say that their vote will not change anything and 55% believe that "the European Parliament does not deal with enough problems that affect them." Poland and the UK are the two countries where disinterest seems to be the greatest, with respectively 13% and 22% of the electorate saying they will vote. Abstention may be high in Portugal (24%), in the Czech Republic (26%), in Spain (27%) and in Italy (30%). In France 47% say they will probably go and vote but 15% are already sure they will not fulfill their duty. Turn out is due to be high in Belgium (70%), because it is obligatory to vote and abstention is punished by a fine, likewise in Luxembourg (62%), Denmark and Malta (56%).

The Czech Presidency and representatives of the European Parliament reached agreement on 16th April with regard to energy projects. These projects will be implemented as part of the European plan for economic recovery to which 5 billion euros have been allocated from the EU's joint budget. This agreement still has to be formally approved by the Member States and voted on in the European Parliament. The energy projects that have been put forward as part of the recovery plan by the Czech presidency have not been modified. "One of the main priorities of the Czech presidency, energy security, is the key point of the package. The agreement confirms the reciprocal solidarity between Member countries in this area," said the Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra who represented the Czechs during discussions.

The Women's Rights Committee at the European Parliament asked on 16th April for the extension of the minimum maternity leave in the EU to 20 weeks ie two more than the European Commission's proposal that was already deemed to ambitious by some countries. Present European legislation that dates back to 1992 plans for a minimum 14 consecutive weeks for maternity leave, including two breaks taken obligatorily before or after birth. "The aim is to achieve a postitive effect on the state of health of mothers, to enable them to recover more easily from the birth and to establish a strong relationship with the child", explained the reporter, Portuguese Socialist Edite Estela. Whilst waiting for a first reading vote in plenary session in May parliamentarians also spoke in favour of full payment of salary for six weeks and an 85% minimum during the rest of the maternity leave, going further than the Commission which would have left the decision in the hands of the Member States.

In 2008 Member States' contributions to the EU budget nearly matched expenditure approved for the financial years said the European Commission on 15th April. With just over 1.5% of the overall EU budget unspent, the high implementation rate of funds has left another record low surplus, reflecting effective budgetary management and ongoing efforts only to call on Member States for payments that are strictly necessary. The end-of-year surplus – the difference between all EU budget revenue and spending – amounted to €1.79bn of the total €115.771bn budget in 2008 and will be returned to Member States. This 1.5% compares to 16% in 2001, when the EU budget surplus was at its peak. Dalia Grybauskaitė, EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget, commented "consistently high levels of budget execution are helping ease the pressure on national finances". She underlined the particular importance of tight budgetary management in difficult economic times adding "every single euro paid into the EU budget counts and the low level of leftover funds in 2008 demonstrates how money did not lie idle."

The 27 Environment Ministers decided on 15th April acted to protect Europe from the effects of climate change whether these be drought in the southern countries or floods in the north. "Much more can be done on a European level," declared Czech Minister Martin Bursik after the informal meeting with his counterparts, assessing the cost of the necessary adaptation to the effects of climate change between 23 and 54 million euros. Negotiations on a future climate agreement in Copenhagen were also on the agenda. "Reaching agreement in Copenhagen on the protection of the climate is one vital condition for the protection of the climate and for our economic development," said Martin Bursik.

On 19th April German President Horst Köhler launched the Hannover Fair. In spite of the economic crisis some 6000 exhibitors from the entire world are expected between 20th and 24th April. The main theme of this year's exhibition is energy efficacy. Indeed in all areas industry has to face the challenge of using resources effectively and to market products and economic procedures with regard to energy. The issue of technological leadership is also high on the agenda.

During a visit to Zagreb (Croatia) on 16th April Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger met his counterpart Gordan Jandrkovic and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. He indicated that the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia should not hinder Croatia's membership negotiations - the latter hopes to finalise these at the end of the year. Mr Spindelegger welcomed Olli Rehn, the Enlargement Commissioner's suggestion which aims to establish a mediation court comprising a Commission representative and two judges from each of the countries to decide on the issue. On 14th April Ivo Sanader said that Croatia "could and had" to enter the EU even if the border dispute was not settled.

Citizens from Member States which joined the EU in 2004 will be able to work freely in Belgium as from May 1st said the Belgian Employment Minister on 16th April. These restrictions are to be abolished in principle on 30th April but the 15 can ask for an additional dispensation of two years if they show that these European " immigrants" greatly disturb their labour market. Belgium gave up asking the European Commission for a new dispensation believing that it would be too difficult to obtain and that it would damage its image, since it is to take over the presidency of the EU in July 2010. The only countries which have asked for a further dispensation are Germany and Austria because they have a border with the new Member States.

The Spanish National Statistics Institute (Ine) published final figures on the development of prices on 15th April. Spain recorded a decline of 0.1% in its prices in March over one year. It is the first negative annual rate in consumer prices recorded since the creation of the statistic in 1961. The Spanish government has discarded the hypothesis of deflation for the time being ie an extended period of price decreases that affect activity. Since the summer of 2008 when Spanish inflation was the highest in the euro area it has declined sharply to reach 0.7% in February.

On 16th April the Finnish government approved the Action Plan for Russia that establishes guidelines for the management of relations between Finland and Russia. Since Russia is Finland's leading trade partner the Finnish government believed it useful to establish an assessment including the three following points: Finnish policy towards Russia; evaluation of Russian affairs; the coordination of Finnish policy with regard to Russia. This plan assesses the state of relations between Russia and the EU. A "Russian Forum" led by the Prime Minister will be responsible for monitoring the completion of this plan.

From 14th-16th April French fisherman from Nord-Pas-de-Calais demonstrated against the early closure of cod and sole quotas because they had fished beyond the allowed quotas in the first quarter of 2008. French Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michel Barnier called on 15th April for professionals to act responsibly given the cod stocks in the North Sea and the Channel and recalled that fishing over the quota was an infringement which penalised all French fishermen by a restriction of quotas the following year. He maintained that measures had been established to compensate ships that could not fish other species and promised aid to a total of 4 million euros. Michel Barnier is negotiating at present with other European countries with regard to possible quota exchanges which would make it possible to increase the French quote of sole and cod distributed by the European Commission.

The unemployment rate in Greece increased in January to lie at 9.4% of the working population, in comparison with 8% for the same month the previous year announced the National Statistics Service on 14th April (Esye). The number of unemployed rose to 465,692 in January 2009 in comparison with 390,210 in January last year, according to an Esye survey based on a sample of 28,638 people across the country. Women are particularly affected, with an unemployment rate of 13.3% in comparison wtih 12.1% for the same period a year ago, ie around double that of men (6.7% in January 2009, in comparison with 5.1% in January 2008).

On 14th April the Hungarian Parliament approved 204 votes in favour, 181 against the investiture of Gordon Bajnai as Prime Minister. Independent Gordon Bajnai was supported by the Socialist coalition in power. The new Prime Minister presented his "crisis" government that includes six new ministers. For Finance he has appointed Peter Oszko; for Foreign Affairs he has chosen Peter Balazs - who was the first Hungarian European commissioner in Brussels. This "crisis government" will have a year's mandate only until the general elections in the spring of 2010. Expert Tamas Vahl appointed as Economy Minister gave up his post on 16th April after having been accused of being involved in an old illegal agreements scandal.

Ireland is to toughen up on access conditions to its labour market for immigrant workers in reaction to the rise in unemployment in this country that is suffering greatly due to the recession announced Deputy Prime Minister, Mary Coughlan on 15th April. The new rules include a review of the conditions for the obtention of work permits - this is due to be implemented on 1st June.

The G8 Agriculture Ministers, who met on 18th and 19th April, are trying to define a joint position with regard to the food crisis and speculation on foodstuffs as nearly one billion people are suffeirng from hunger. Italy is campaigning for "a share of the final declaration being devoted to speculation" on raw materials, one of the causes of sharp price rises that led to hunger riots in many countries last year.

On 16th April Latvian Foreign Minister, Maris Riekstins started an official visit to Azerbaijan and met Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. This meeting focussed on bilateral economic relations and political dialogue on cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan - including the new eastern partnership as well as issues relative to energy and the enhancement of regional security.

Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu travelled to Brussels on 15th April where he met with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the European Parliament and the President of the Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering. "The Moldovan authorities have gone beyond the acceptable," he declared referring to the expulsion of Romanian Ambassador in Chisinau, Filip Teodorescu. He encouraged the European Parliament to dispatch a mission to Moldova and supported the launch of an inquiry by the European institutions. On 16th April in Prague he talked with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Alexandr Vondra.

On 14th April the European Commission opened an infringement proceeding against the United Kingdom after a series of complaints by UK internet users, and extensive communication of the Commission with UK authorities, about the use of a behavioural advertising technology known as 'Phorm' by internet service providers. The proceeding addresses several problems with the UK's implementation of EU ePrivacy and personal data protection rules, under which EU countries must ensure, among other things, the confidentiality of communications by prohibiting interception and surveillance without the user's consent. These problems emerged during the Commission's inquiry into the UK authorities' action in response to complaints from internet users concerning Phorm. Since April 2008, the Commission has received several questions from UK citizens and UK Members of the European Parliament concerned about the use of a behavioural advertising technology known as 'Phorm' by Internet Service Providers in the UK. Phorm technology works by constantly analysing customers' web surfing to determine users' interests and then deliver targeted advertising to users when they visit certain websites. In April 2008, the UK fixed operator, BT, admitted that it had tested Phorm in 2006 and 2007 without informing customers involved in the trial.

Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák was in Paris on 15th April where he met his counterpart, Bernard Kouchner. They discussed the bilateral Franco-Slovakian strategic partnership and exchanged views on the resolution of the economic crisis, the oriental partnership as well as EU energy security.

Nearly half of the Swedes (47%) say they support the adoption of the euro and are prepared to give up the Kronor, in comparison with 45% who are against and 6% undecided, according to a survey by Sifo published on 19th April. Toivo Sjoeren, polls manager at Sifo, said on the TV channel Sveriges Television that the recent decline in value of the Swedish Kronor against with the euro may have influenced this result.

The National Unity party won the early general elections on 20th April in the northern part of Cyprus with 44% of the vote. Its leader Dervis Eroglu, former Prime Minister insisted on saying that negotiations aiming to find a settlement with Cyprus would be continued. The Turkish Republican Party (in power until now) won 29% of the vote. The Democratic Party (DP - Conservative) won 10.7% of the vote. Two leftwing parties won 6% of the vote each.

Human Rights Commissioner at the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg presented his report on the situation in Italy on 16th April. His report points to the "worrying situation of the Roms, the immigration policies and practices, and the non-respect of the obligatory provisional measures requested by the European Court of Human Rights." The report issues a certain number of recommendations with regard to problematic issues, even though he acknowledges that progess has been achieved.

On 14th April Poland asked the IMF for a loan of 20.5 billion dollars that should be granted without problem given the stable situation of its economy. This flexible credit line of 20.5 billion dollars should make it possible to increase "the Polish Central Bank's reserves by one third" declared Jan Rostowski, Polish Finance Minister and may "protect Poland from the crisis virus and attacks undertaken by speculators."

According to figures published by Eurostat on 16th April the annual inflation rate in the euro area lay at 0.6% in March 2009 in comparison with 1.2% in February. One year previously it lay at 3.6%. The monthly inflation rate lay at 0.4% in March 2009. The annual inflation rate of the EU was 1.3% in March 2009 in comparison with 1.8% in February. One year before it lay at 3.8%. The monthly inflation rate lay at 0.3% in March 2009.

On 16th April Symantec published its annual report on internet security ("Symantec Global Internet Security Threat Report. Trends for 2008"). According to the report information on credit cards and bank accounts were the most sold data on the black electronic market in 2008. Information on credit cards sold over the net represented 32% in 2008, +11 points in comparison with the previous year whilst information about bank accounts represented 19%. The USA is by far the country which uses the most credit cards and is also the country where the black market for banking data is the most developed, far ahead of Europe.

Eyrolles publishing has released a book by Jérôme Bédier, chairman of the Fédération des Entreprises du Commerce et de la Distribution, entitled "Le réveil de l'Europe". This book is the fruit of three years work, contacts made with entrepreneurs and experts, political decision makers in Brussels, Paris and other European capitals. The need for Europe finds expression everywhere with a great will to recover the energy that embodied Europe's beginnings.

2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the death of Georg Friedrich Haendel (1685-1759). In all he wrote 18 concertos for the organ, 40 operas and 21 oratorios. Haendel, a German musician and composer, fond of travel, left for London in 1712 where in 1726 at the age of 41 he gained English citizenship; he remained in Britain for the rest of his life.