Weekly news

Cybersecurity

A wave of cyberattacks hits European supermarkets

Supermarket refrigeration systems have been targeted by cyberattacks in at least seven countries: Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden.

The disruptions led to food losses. These incidents follow a similar attack in France last month, with suspicions of Russian involvement.

Source : The Guardian

Artificial intelligence

Germany: Berlin seeks to strengthen European AI sovereignty

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the development of European artificial intelligence capabilities to be accelerated.

He believes dependence on foreign suppliers poses a major strategic challenge. He is calling in particular for Europe to control the entire technology value chain, from hardware components to software.

Source : Reuters

Economy

ECB warns of risks posed by AI and financial markets

The European Central Bank identifies three major risks to financial stability: high valuations of AI-focused companies, tensions in bond markets and potential losses among non-bank financial institutions.

Its next semi-annual Financial Stability Review is expected on 18 November.

Source : Euronext

Election

Bulgaria: Iliana Iotova elected president, becoming the first woman to hold the office

Iliana Iotova, a member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), a centre-left party with historical roots in communism, wins the second round of the presidential election with 57.6% of the vote.

She becomes the first woman elected president of Bulgaria.

She represents a sovereignist and pro-Russian stance that could complicate European unity on defence and foreign policy. However, she remains in favour of Bulgaria staying in the European Union.

Source : Radio Bulgaria

Institutions

Belgium: Bart De Wever submits his resignation

The Belgian prime minister has tendered his resignation to King Philippe following the failure of budget negotiations for 2027. The coalition has been unable to agree on nearly €10 billion in additional savings and revenue. The King has deferred his decision and called on government partners to reach a compromise.

Source : The Brussels Times

Remembrance

Serbia: Mass mobilisation in memory of the Novi Sad victims

Yesterday, between 55,000 and 60,000 people gathered in Novi Sad to mark the second anniversary of the railway station collapse, which killed 16 people.

The disaster triggered a major student movement against corruption and institutional failures, which went on to win the latest national parliamentary elections.

Source : Associated Press, N1 info

Diplomacy

European Union–United Kingdom: Brussels and London deepen strategic dialogue

During their meeting in Brussels, Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, and British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting discussed security relations between the EU and the United Kingdom.

Kallas also said that the political conditions were not in place to consider the UK's rejoining the Union, ten years after Brexit.

Source : Financial Times

Society

Poland: Constitutional Tribunal at the heart of a new institutional crisis

The suspension of Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski has triggered a confrontation between Donald Tusk’s government and President Karol Nawrocki’s camp.

Nawrocki returned abruptly from his trip to Senegal and denounced an attack on the constitutional order. The government says it wants to restore judicial independence and allow elected judges to take office. Three protesters were arrested following clashes outside the building.

Source : Euronews, Le Monde, EUToday

Infrastructure

Wind turbines threaten bats, but mitigation measures are available

A US study estimates that 18.7 million bats belonging to 28 species died at wind energy facilities in the United States between 1981 and 2024. Annual estimates are thought to have risen from around 100,000 deaths some 20 years ago to 1.5 million in 2021.

Another study, conducted at 141 European wind farms, shows that temporarily shutting down turbines when local conditions favour bat activity could reduce mortality by more than 80%. Germany has already been implementing certain mitigation measures since around 2010.

Source : Euronews, Wildlife Society

Environment

Denmark: Government prepares for the possibility of regulated wolf hunting in 2027

Copenhagen wants to establish a scientific model to determine the population threshold required to conserve the species, alongside genetic monitoring to identify individual wolves.

Researchers estimated that Denmark had at least 49 adult wolves in spring 2026. The government hopes the framework will pave the way for regulated hunting as early as 2027. Any decision must nevertheless comply with the European obligation to maintain the species in a favourable conservation status.

Source : The Copenhagen Post

Memory

United Kingdom: Andy Burnham open to an official apology for slavery

Ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he is willing to listen to calls for an official apology for the United Kingdom’s historical role in the transatlantic slave trade.

However, he rules out financial reparations, arguing that people in Britain today cannot be held responsible for the actions of the past. The debate also concerns debt, development funding and reparative justice.

Source : Reuters, The Guardian, AFP, Anadolu Agency

Society

France - Italy - Germany: Social and student protests continue across several countries

In France, 320,000 demonstrators were recorded on 31 October, compared with 410,000 the previous weekend and more than 500,000 on 17 October.

In Germany, the “Gen Z regelt” movement mobilised in 34 cities, with organisers expecting up to 180,000 participants.

In Italy, demonstrations on 30 October took place in more than 40 cities, while trade unions claim up to 1.5 million participants.

Source : Associated Press (AP), Reuters, ABC News

Climate

Germany: €6 trillion needed to achieve climate neutrality

A study commissioned by state-owned development bank KfW and published on 12 October estimates that Germany will need to invest around €6 trillion by 2045 to achieve climate neutrality. This amounts to nearly €290 billion a year.

Transport would account for 45% of the investment required, ahead of energy, buildings and industry.

Source : KfW Research

Press Freedom

Russia: Novaya Gazeta announces closure amid pressure from authorities

Independent newspaper *Novaya Gazeta* has announced that it will cease operations, citing pressure from Russian security services.

The decision comes amid an increasingly hostile environment for independent media. The newspaper's editor-in-chief had already been questioned on 15 October, while several journalists have been forced into exile or labelled "foreign agents".

Source : Reuters, Le Monde

Digital Affairs

European Union: Brussels seeks to prevent a patchwork of national social media bans for minors

The European Commission wants to prevent member states from introducing new national bans on social media for minors before common EU legislation is adopted. Brussels aims to favour a harmonised approach in order to avoid fragmenting the digital single market and child protection rules.

Source : Commission européenne, Anadolu

Institutions

United Kingdom: Andy Burnham reignites the debate over devolution

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is attending a meeting of the National Economic Council in Glasgow with the leaders of Scotland and Wales.

The aim is to strengthen cooperation between Westminster and the devolved governments, particularly on investment, transport and economic development.

Northern Ireland is also part of the discussions, despite political tensions that prevented its First Minister from attending.

Source : The Guardian, UK Government

Greenland: Nuuk threatens to leave Nordic cooperation unless granted equal institutional status

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen is calling for Greenland to be granted equal status within Nordic cooperation institutions.

He has threatened to withdraw from the Nordic Council of Ministers unless this demand is met. The Faroe Islands also support reform of the Helsinki Treaty to allow for more equal institutional participation.

Source : High North News

Transport

Spain: death toll from railway disaster continues to rise

Spanish authorities are continuing their investigation into the collision between two high-speed trains near Urda, in Castile-La Mancha.

The death toll reported on 30 October has reached at least 69, with more than 100 people injured. Investigators are examining possible failures in the signalling system and decisions made by railway operators. The government has pledged a full investigation and reforms to restore confidence in the rail network.

Source : Associated Press, Euronews

Society

Port strikes: European dockworkers denounce the militarisation of ports

Dockworkers at more than 100 ports across Europe have staged strikes and demonstrations on 30 October.

Unions are protesting against arms shipments, the militarisation of port infrastructure and working conditions. Mobilisations have taken place in France, Italy, Greece, Spain and Turkey, among other countries.

Source : Associated Press

Enlargement

Montenegro: Podgorica could conclude EU accession negotiations in December

According to a draft European Commission report, Montenegro has met the remaining benchmarks across all negotiating chapters.

The country could therefore conclude its EU accession negotiations as early as December 2026. It remains the most advanced EU candidate among the Western Balkan countries.

Source : Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Vijesti

Energy

European Union: Ministers seek to curb soaring energy prices

European energy ministers are examining possible responses to rising oil and gas prices ahead of winter. European gas storage levels are reported to be at 75% of capacity, compared with 83% a year earlier.

Discussions focus in particular on emergency oil reserves, taxation and electricity grid costs, as governments remain divided over which measures to adopt.

Source : Reuters, RTE News, Le Monde

Security

Lithuania: Two suspects face prosecution over alleged Starlink sabotage plot

Lithuanian authorities have brought terrorism-related charges against two suspects following an attempted arson attack targeting a Starlink facility on 18 October.

Vilnius views the case as an attempted act of sabotage linked to Russia and intended to undermine Ukraine’s military capabilities. Moscow has rejected the allegations. The two suspects had been arrested in Germany as part of a separate investigation.

Source : ELTA

Diplomacy

Europe–Russia: Contacts with Moscow expose diplomatic divisions

A 90-minute phone call involving Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Vladimir Putin has reignited debate over channels of dialogue with Moscow.

Several Nordic governments have criticised the lack of coordination behind the initiative, while other officials stress the value of keeping lines of communication open. Europeans remain divided over the mandate and role of a potential envoy tasked with negotiations on Ukraine.

Source : The Guardian

Economy

Eurozone: ECB holds rates steady as energy fuels inflation concerns

The European Central Bank left its key interest rates unchanged on 29 October. Rising energy costs are nevertheless adding to inflationary risks, while tighter financing conditions could weigh on growth.

ECB President Christine Lagarde also announced that she would leave office early, with her departure scheduled for 7 February, ushering in a period of institutional uncertainty.

Source : BCE, Reuters

Culture

Overseas France: Creole language and culture take centre stage

On 28 October, International Creole Language and Culture Day was marked by workshops, storytelling, dancing and concerts in French Guiana.

Established in 1983, the day celebrates the diversity of Creole languages and aims to preserve their transmission to future generations. This living heritage is also part of the European Union’s cultural diversity. The EU has 9 outermost regions, each home to distinctive cultural traditions that often remain overlooked in European debate.

Source : Péyi Guyane, France Info - La1ere

Animal welfare

Denmark: Copenhagen wants to ban ultra-fast-growing chickens

The Danish government wants to ban the farming of “turbo chickens”, which can reach around two kilograms in just 33 days. According to Animal Welfare Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen, this accelerated growth raises animal welfare concerns.

Copenhagen also wants to push for a Europe-wide ban, although the legal and economic details have yet to be clarified.

Source : Politico, The Local Denmark, AFP