In a letter sent on 1 February to the Presidents of the Parliament, the Commission and the European Council, 77 MEPs expressed concern about the presence of Russian troops in Belarus, said the deployment could be part of a plan to "subjugate and occupy" the country, and called for decisions that could be taken to avoid a war in Ukraine not to be taken at the expense of an "independent and democratic future for Belarus".

Jean-Dominique Giuliani will be one of the guests at the 'One ocean summit' which is being held from 9 to 11 February in Brest under the French Presidency of the Council. He will speak at the workshop "Which Europe of the sea?

In his new book, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Foundation, unabashedly addresses his fellow citizens, who must refuse to accept the lies about the European Union while at the same time contributing unstintingly to its improvement. For in Europe, it is always the ideas of the "Grande Nation" that lead the way: Europe is something more for France and the French, nothing less. This book, published by Marie B, is available in paper format on the Foundation's website and in bookshops. Order it here.

On 1 February, the validity of the Covid certificate was reduced from 12 to 9 months in the absence of a booster vaccination. In France, as of 2 February, masks are no longer mandatory outdoors, cultural and sporting events no longer have spectator limits, and teleworking is no longer mandatory. In Sweden, from 9 February, there will be no limit on the number of participants at public events, the health pass will no longer be required and restrictions in bars and restaurants will be lifted. In the Czech Republic, health passes will no longer be required in bars, restaurants, theatres and cinemas from 9 February. To follow the developments in the situation and to understand the measures in place in the EU Member States, the Foundation provides you with a complete map of the measures in place. An indispensable, regularly updated resource.

On 2 February, the Commission presented a new standardisation strategy designed to anticipate and prioritise needs in strategic areas, speed up the development of standards and improve the governance and integrity of the European standardisation system. The strategy aims to strengthen the EU's leading role in global standards and to stimulate innovation.

On 3 February, the Commission proposed to extend the validity of the EU's digital Covid certificate by one year, until 30 June 2023. It calls on the Parliament and the Council to adopt the proposal before the current expiry date of 30 June 2022.

On 3 February, the Council updated the list of terrorist organisations, which includes individuals, groups and entities subject to restrictive measures. One person has been removed from the list. The 13 individuals and 21 groups and entities on the list have their funds and other financial assets frozen in the EU. EU operators are also prohibited from making funds and economic resources available to them.

The interior ministers, meeting on 2 February in Tourcoing, agreed on the creation of a "Schengen Council" to more effectively steer the action of Member States and EU agencies such as Frontex. They endorsed the French Presidency's step-by-step approach to negotiations on asylum and immigration issues. They confirmed the need to increase a common adaptation and response capacity. Prior to the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the ministers to outline France's proposals on these issues.

The Ministers of Justice, meeting in Lille on 4 February, recalled the importance of defending the values of the Union in the face of the increase in hate speech, particularly on social networks, and physical attacks linked to hate speech against certain categories of people. They insisted on the need to adopt a European legal framework so that electronic evidence can be obtained in criminal matters, and exchanged views on the interest of better coordinating public alert systems in the event of the disappearance of minors. They discussed the issue of mutual recognition of parentage links between Member States.

High Representative Josep Borrell and Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participated in an EU-US Energy Council on 7 February in Washington. They stressed the importance of strategic transatlantic cooperation, particularly to strengthen energy security and diversify supplies for the EU, but also for Ukraine and neighbouring partners.

German and Greek police, with the support of Europol, have dismantled a criminal group involved in smuggling migrants from Greece to Germany and other EU countries by plane and boat.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Helsinki on 3 February. They reiterated the need for de-escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia, coordination at European level, as well as the EU's support to Ukraine. The discussion also focused on forestry issues and taxonomy.

More than 40 countries, dozens of airlines and industrialists presented a united front on 4 February in Toulouse under the auspices of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In the "Toulouse Declaration", the signatories urged the "whole world" to take action to achieve a climate-friendly aviation sector by 2050.

Polish President Andrzej Duda presented on 3 February a bill proposing the abolition of the disciplinary chamber of the Supreme Court. This chamber would be replaced by a chamber of professional responsibility, comprising 11 judges appointed by drawing lots. The abolition of the disciplinary chamber was requested by the European Court of Justice in July 2021, and Poland was fined for failing to comply with the Court's ruling.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled on 3 February that the civil chamber of the Polish Supreme Court is not "an independent and impartial court established by law". It considers that the 2017 law amending the procedure for appointing judges, allowing the legislative and executive powers to interfere, undermines the impartiality and independence of judges. It concludes that Poland is in violation of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, guaranteeing the right to a fair trial.

Annual inflation in the euro area was estimated at 5.1% in January, up from 5% in December 2021, according to data published by Eurostat on 2 February. Energy is expected to be the sector with the highest annual rate.

From 9 February to 15 May, the Southbank Centre in London is hosting a retrospective of Louise Bourgeois' textile works. The artist's approach was to integrate clothing from different stages of her life into her art, creating sculptures, collages and installations that explore themes of sexuality and identity, memory, trauma and repair.

The Pinacoteca Moderna in Munich is hosting an exhibition entitled "Venice, the Serenissima", which explores the relationship between Venice and art over the centuries. The city is celebrated through a series of urban panoramas and the art of Venetian drawing.

From 11 February to 8 May, the Recoletos Room of the Mapfre Foundation in Madrid is presenting an exhibition on the presence of French art in Spain from the 17th to the 19th centuries. This long period allows us to analyse the reciprocal influence and constant interaction between the two countries in painting, fashion, sculpture and the sumptuary arts.

The Belvedere in Vienna is hosting an exhibition on Salvador Dali and Sigmund Freud until 29 May. Paintings, photographs, books, surrealist objects, letters and other documents show the development of Dali's thinking and artistic production, from his discovery of the psychoanalyst's work to their meeting in London in 1938.

The Paul Klee Centre in Bern is showing a retrospective of the work of Gabriele Münter until 8 May. The co-founder of the Blue Rider group of artists is one of the most important women painters of German Expressionism. Her original and powerful style made her one of the pioneers of modern art. In addition to her paintings, prints and drawings, the exhibition also presents her photographic works.

From 11 February to 5 June, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam will be exploring Indonesia's struggle for independence between 1945 and 1949. The exhibition Revolusi! presents the stories of the people who lived through this revolution, as well as documents confiscated by the Dutch intelligence services at the time.

The 72nd Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale, is taking place from 10 to 20 February. Eighteen films, including seven by women directors, are in competing with each other.