Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is calling for an international conference to resolve the political crisis in Belarus, while in Germany a complaint has been filed against Alexander Lukashenko for "state torture". To follow the crisis that began with the rigged elections in August 2020, the Foundation offers you a chronology of events and links to European responses and initiatives.

Spain lifted the state of alert on 8 May but some regions are maintaining measures such as curfews. Bar and restaurant terraces reopened on 8 May in Belgium, where the curfew was lifted. Greece reopened schools on 10 May and reopened its borders to tourists on 15 May. On 7 May, Germany lifted some of the restrictions for people who have been vaccinated or who have already been ill. Several European countries have introduced restrictions on arrivals from India, Bangladesh and Turkey. To follow developments in the situation, the Foundation is offering you a complete map of the health measures in place and the conditions for travel across Europe. An essential, regularly updated resource for an informed understanding of the situation.

The Commission proposed on 5 May a new instrument to combat distortions of competition caused by State subsidies to companies from third countries. The instrument would impose rules and controls in particular on merger operations and public tenders. The Commission could prevent certain transactions or request remedies and commitments to remedy the risks of distortions.

The Commission proposed on 6 May a strategy for Covid-19 treatments to complement the strategy for vaccines. It plans to invest €90 million in population studies and clinical trials, and €40 million in manufacturing and access to treatments. The aim is to have at least three new treatments approved by next October.

The defence ministers, meeting in Brussels on 6 May, discussed the trip of the High Representative Josep Borrell to the Sahel, called on Russia to de-escalate the military situation in Ukraine and announced that the EU will help Mozambique to deal with the terrorist threat. The ministers discussed the strategic compass and crisis management. The Council authorised Canada, Norway and the United States to participate in the military mobility project led by the Netherlands in the framework of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PSC). J. Borrell also chaired the EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) Council meeting at ministerial level for the first time.

On 5 May, the Council published the text of the proposed EU climate law resulting from the agreement between Council and Parliament negotiators reached on 20 April. The proposed law sets a target of carbon neutrality by 2050, with a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. The text still needs to be adopted by the Parliament and the Council.

On 10 May, the Council adopted several texts that complete the EU's legislative framework for research, in particular the "Horizon Europe" programme for 2021-2027, and the strategic innovation programme.

In a video conference on 8 May, EU leaders and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the EU-India strategic partnership and their common interests. They agreed to strengthen their trade and investment relationship and to relaunch negotiations for a free trade agreement. They also stressed the importance of maintaining the spirit of solidarity and cooperation to overcome the pandemic and ensure a better recovery.

The European Union and Kazakhstan held their Cooperation Council on 10 May. At the meeting, both sides recalled and reviewed progress in the implementation of their enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Despite the pandemic, the EU has consolidated its position as Kazakhstan's largest trading partner and foreign investor, while Kazakhstan remains the EU's main trading partner in Central Asia. The EU welcomed Kazakhstan's ratification of the 2nd Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and commended the country's green agenda and its commitment to be climate neutral by 2060.

The Foreign Ministers held a strategic discussion on the Western Balkans on 10 May. They stressed the need to move forward the accession process of Albania and Northern Macedonia, the integration process with Serbia and Montenegro, and visa liberalisation for Kosovo. The ministers also discussed with US Special Climate Envoy John Kerry how to increase global climate ambition. They discussed the situation in Palestine, Russia, Belarus and Lebanon, as well as the ongoing negotiations on the nuclear agreement with Iran. Ministers adopted conclusions on the implementation of the EU's security and defence priorities and its new strategy in the Horn of Africa region.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention, the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, welcomed the "remarkable impact" of the Convention in preventing violence and protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators. It expressed "very serious concern" about the obstacles to ending all forms of violence covered by the treaty, and called on participating States "to intensify their efforts to promote and fully implement" the treaty.

In a report on the prevention of corruption of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors in Belgium, published on 5 May, the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) recommends for the second time the introduction of a coherent and effective regulation of gifts, donations and other gratuities received, including the identity of the donors. It recommends the introduction of regulations for foreign donors.

The Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) published on 5 May its report on the prevention of corruption of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors in Romania. The report highlights that the measures taken against corruption of parliamentarians and prosecutors are not satisfactory. GRECO calls on Romania to act "in a more determined manner" to comply, including by introducing specific measures for judges and prosecutors.

On 6 May, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture published a set of minimum requirements for conditions of detention in European prisons. It notes that the Covid-19 pandemic occurred at a time of budgetary crisis within prison systems, which led to a deterioration in the living conditions of prisoners in some prisons.

La Scala in Milan is reopening with three concerts conducted by Riccardo Chailly on 10 May, Riccardo Muti on 11 May and Daniel Harding on 17 May. This reopening corresponds to the 75th anniversary of the rebuilding of the theatre. The concert on 10 May will be broadcast by Rai Cultura on Raiplay from 11 May, and then available on video for one week. The 17 May concert will be broadcast live on the Scala website and on its Facebook and YouTube channels at 7pm.

The 16th edition of the European Museum Night is taking place on 15 May in some countries, including virtually. In France, the Army Museum is organising a digital round table from 7pm onwards on Napoleon's Russian campaign. On the same day, at 8.30 pm, the National Museum in Warsaw is organising a night visit to the sculpture park. In Barcelona, all the city's museums will be celebrating the event from 6 pm onwards. In Belgium, the museums of Brussels are offering activities every Thursday evening until 10 June. In Ireland, Germany and Austria, the event is postponed until the autumn.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the 1920s, the Roaring Twenties, when the desire for change and the spirit of innovation inspired the arts and encouraged experimentation. Incorporating movements such as Dadaism and Bauhaus, the exhibition features some 300 works from Berlin, Paris, Vienna and Zurich, representing painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and film.

The 70th Berlin International Theatre Festival is taking place online from 13 to 24 May. The programme includes 10 plays and discussions on the future of theatre in the age of the pandemic.

For its 76th edition, from 12 May to 3 June, the Prague Spring International Music Festival, which will be held in public if possible, is offering 22 concerts to be followed free of charge live and in streaming.

On 5 May, French President Emmanuel Macron led the commemoration of the bicentenary of the death of Napoleon, before whose tomb he laid a wreath at the Invalides. In a speech delivered at the Institut de France, he said that "the total work of Napoleon, in all its ambiguity", continues to shape France. The historian Jean Tulard drew a distinction between the "black and golden legends" and stressed that the history of the First Empire is "broader and more objective". Ceremonies were also organised from 5 to 9 May in Saint Helena.

The "Fondation Napoléon" offers thematic files on its website, including one on the death of Napoleon, with digitised documents, videos and articles by historians, to understand this emperor as described by Chateaubriand: "Alive, he missed the world; dead, he possessed it".