On 21 February, the Commission published a review of the implementation and impact of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, an instrument of NextGenerationEU, two years after its creation. It notes that €144 billion has been disbursed so far and estimates that these investments are contributing to EU growth of around 1.5% in 2024. The Commission published on 23 February its third biannual report on debt management operations to finance the Union's borrowing and lending programmes, including those related to NextGenerationEU.

On 23 February, the Commission presented several initiatives for connectivity, with the main objective of making gigabit networks available to all European citizens and businesses by 2030. Gigabit networks are advanced transmission technologies to meet the growing demand for connectivity.

On 21 February, the Ministers for European Affairs prepared the European Council of 23 and 24 March, during which the Heads of State and Government will discuss support for Ukraine, strategies for competitiveness and the Union's trade policy, as well as the implementation of the conclusions on energy and migration. They took stock of the needs of Türkiye and Syria after the recent earthquakes.

On 21 February, the Council sought Parliament's consent for the adoption of decisions on the conclusion by the Union of the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).

On 23 February, in response to the humanitarian situation in Syria aggravated by the earthquake of 6 February, the Council suspended for 6 months the requirement for humanitarian organisations to apply for authorisation to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in the country.

According to figures published on 22 February by the European Union Asylum Agency, the 27 Member States plus Norway and Switzerland received 966 000 asylum applications in 2022, the highest number recorded since 2016. Nearly 632,000 first instance decisions were taken by the asylum authorities of these countries, whereby 147,000 people were granted refugee status and 106,000 were granted subsidiary protection. Syrians, Afghans and Turks represented the largest groups of applicants. They come in addition to the 4 million people fleeing Ukraine who have been granted temporary protection.

On 24 February, the Council formally approved the cooperation agreement between North Macedonia and Frontex, which will provide operational support to the national authorities for the management of migration flows at the borders from 1 April. The agreement also includes provisions on the protection of fundamental rights.

On 5 March Estonian parliamentary elections will be held to renew the 101 members of the Riigikogu. According to a poll conducted by Kantar Emor, the Reform Party of current Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (liberal, centre-right) would come out ahead of the conservative People's Party (18.2%) and the Centre Party (13.4%) with 28.7% of the vote.

On 23 February, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment published a report expressing concern about the prison situation in Lithuania. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Lithuanian government take the necessary measures to speed up the process of modernising its prison facilities.

According to an estimate published on 23 February by Eurostat, annual inflation in the euro area was 8.6% in January, compared with 9.2% in December, and 10% in the Union, compared with 10.4% in December. Luxembourg and Spain recorded the lowest rate, at 5.8% and 5.9%, while Hungary had the highest rate at 26.2%.

The Canal Foundation in Madrid is hosting an exhibition devoted to the photographic work of the French artist Jacques-Henri Lartigue until 23 April. It is a lesser-known part of his work that is being honoured, with photographs aimed at capturing "happy moments", as the title of the exhibition suggests: "Lartigue, the Hunter of Joyful Snapshots".

Until 21 May, the Sara Hildén Art Museum in Tampere is holding a retrospective of the work of Jukka Mäkelä. The exhibition presents a collection of the Finnish artist's work from the 1970s to the present day. His work, which consists largely of acrylic paintings, is part of Finnish postmodernism and neo-expressionism.

Until 3 September, the Städel Museum in Frankfurt is showing a selection of 90 old photographs of Italy from the years 1850-1880. These photographs were a popular souvenir for travellers even before the invention of the postcard. The exhibition explores how these photographic views had a lasting influence on the perception of Italy throughout Europe and contributed to making it a popular travel destination.

Until 11 June, the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia is celebrating the fifth centenary of the death of Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino. The exhibition offers the viewer the opportunity to discover the works that marked the peak of the painter's career, such as the Crucifixion in the Chigi Chapel in Siena.

Until 3 May, the National Museum in Gdansk is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the photographer Sibylle Bergemann. The exhibition features 133 photographs, including series from East Germany, Africa and Asia.

Until 17 July, the Jacquemart-André Museum in Paris is hosting an exhibition devoted to Giovanni Bellini. Some fifty works by the painter are presented in perspective with the "models" who influenced him.

Until 21 May, BOZAR Brussels is organising an immersive exhibition of Swedish art, 'Swedish Ecstasy'. For this occasion, the Palace of Fine Arts has brought together works by the country's great literary figures from the 18th to the 20th century, as well as an installation based on Hilma af Klint's vision of a temple for her most important works.

Cultural solidarity with Ukraine continues in the EU with the launch of a European solidarity fund for Ukrainian films. This mechanism was announced by the Ministers of Culture of France, Luxembourg and Germany during the 73rd Berlin Film Festival, the Berlinale. The French minister was in Kyiv on 23 February. In addition, cultural events are being organised or have been organised throughout the EU in support of Ukraine, notably in honour of the commemoration of the first anniversary of the conflict with Russia.

On 23 February, the Commission proposed to extend the suspension of import duties and trade defence measures on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year. It also announced that 124 Ukrainian researchers will be integrated into scientific projects carried out by academic and non-academic institutions in 21 EU Member States.

After Kyiv, US President Joe Biden travelled to Warsaw on 21 February where he gave a speech to reassert the Western coalition's support for Ukraine and NATO's ability to stand together. On 22 February, Joe Biden met with the nine leaders of NATO's eastern flank countries to assure them of the United States' commitment to the Atlantic Alliance.

In a declaration issued on 23 February, the members of the European Council once again denounce the Russian war of aggression and reiterate their full support for the Ukrainian people and their right to self-determination. They reassert Ukraine's European future, 8 months after the country became a candidate for EU membership.

According to a Eurobarometer published on 23 February, one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europeans approve of the European Union's support for Ukraine. In particular, 91% of respondents support the provision of humanitarian aid and 77% of financial aid, while 88% are in favour of welcoming Ukrainians fleeing the war. Furthermore, 84% of respondents agree on the need to reduce European dependence on Russian gas.

Representatives of Ukraine, Iceland and the Council of Europe, including its Secretary General, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, met on 24 February in Strasbourg. On the same day, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision reiterating its commitment to a "strong and unequivocal" international legal response to the crimes committed by Russia.

On 23 February, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its military forces "immediately, completely and unconditionally from the territory of Ukraine". 141 states voted in favour of the resolution, 7 voted against. China and India abstained. On 24 February, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on the international community to intensify efforts to bring justice to the victims of the war in Ukraine.

On 24 February, the North Atlantic Council reiterated its solidarity and commitment to support Ukraine "for as long as necessary". It urged Russia to stop this illegal war, recalling that the perpetrators of the crimes committed will be held accountable, and condemned, among other things, Russian energy blackmail and disinformation campaigns. On 21 February, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hosted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and EU High Representative Josep Borrell to speed up production and improve arms supply systems to maintain support for Ukraine.

On 25 February, the Council decided to impose sanctions on 121 new individuals and entities contributing to Russia's war against Ukraine, including 18 linked to the Wagner Group. It imposed new export bans on critical technologies and industrial goods, and restrictions on the export of dual-use goods and the import of goods of particular value to Russia. It initiated proceedings to suspend two Russian-controlled media outlets.

On 24 February, the G7 leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterated their support for Ukraine. They condemned Russia's illegal war and called on it to withdraw its troops. They pointed out that Russia was responsible for the damage in Ukraine and should be sanctioned, that this war was causing food difficulties for many people and that they would continue to help them.

On 23 and 24 February, several European leaders expressed their support for Ukraine. Polish President Andrzej Duda called for a "second wave of solidarity with Ukraine" and recalled the indispensability of US military aid. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Ukraine could count on Germany as "its greatest support on the European continent".