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European news of the week, 12 – 18 Here 2026 — This Week in European News
prometheus.fr 🇪🇺 EUROPE | 8 key European stories from the week of 12–18 October
🛡️ Security and defence: in Poland, a suspect is facing charges over an alleged plot to attack Donald Tusk. Ukraine is seeking an additional €70 billion in funding for 2027, while Romania shoots down two drones over the Black Sea.
🌍 Foreign relations: Latvia is calling for a ban on tourist visas for Russian citizens. Meanwhile, EFTA has signed a free trade agreement with Vietnam to strengthen trade ties.
📊 Economy: the IMF warns about European debt and calls for faster growth or lower deficits. Meanwhile, the EU’s 2028–2034 budget remains deadlocked despite a revised proposal.
🏛️ Enlargement: Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova have reached new milestones in their EU accession negotiations.
📢 Society: protests in France, Belgium, Portugal, Albania and Italy have highlighted concerns over the cost of living, inequality, access to housing and corruption.
📲 Discover the key facts and implications of these eight stories in this carousel.
PromethEUs | Making sense of European affairs.
Sources
1. Reuters
2. European Council, Reuters, Romanian Ministry of National Defence
3. Financial Times
4. IMF, Reuters
5. EFTA, Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade
6. Reuters, Associated Press, European Council
7. Council of the EU
8. TV5 Monde, AFP, Reuters
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This Week in European News
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Security
Poland: Suspect Held in Custody Over Alleged Assassination Plot
A 66-year-old man is suspected of planning an attack on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Homemade explosive materials were found at his home.
The court remanded him in custody for two months. He denies the allegations. A second man was also arrested over threats against political figures.Source : Reuters
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Ukraine Front
Ukraine-Romania: Kyiv Seeks European Security Guarantees as Two Drones Are Shot Down Over the Black Sea
At the European Council meeting on 15–16 October, Volodymyr Zelensky called for more military aid and greater protection for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Kyiv estimates its funding needs for 2027 at around €70 billion. The EU is considering options including a new loan and the use of immobilised Russian assets.
On 17 October, two Romanian F-16s shot down two Iranian-designed, Russian-operated attack drones after they entered Romanian airspace near Sulina.Source : European Council, Reuters, Romanian Ministry of National Defence
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Diplomacy
Latvia: Riga Calls for a Ban on Tourist Visas for Russian Citizens
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is urging EU member states to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens, citing the risks of espionage and hybrid threats. No blanket ban has been adopted.
However, the EU has already ended the issuance of multiple-entry visas to Russian citizens and prepared a legal basis for barring entry to certain Russian combatants and former combatants.Source : Financial Times
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Economy
IMF Calls on Europe to Boost Growth or Cut Deficits
The IMF forecasts eurozone growth of 1.1% in 2026 and 1.2% in 2027. To stabilise debt, around three-quarters of European countries will need structural reforms and an average fiscal adjustment of about 3.5% of GDP over the medium term.
For a quarter of these countries, the required adjustment would exceed 5% of GDP.Source : IMF, Reuters
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Trade
EFTA-Vietnam: Free Trade Agreement Signed After Years of Negotiations
On 18 October, Vietnam and the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein — signed an agreement in Hanoi covering goods, services, investment, intellectual property and public procurement.
Bilateral trade reached €4.8 billion in 2025, following steady growth over the past decade.Source : EFTA, Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade
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Budget
European Union: Member States Reject Revised €1.62 Trillion Budget Proposal
The European Commission initially proposed €1.763 trillion in 2025 prices, equivalent to nearly €2 trillion in current prices. Ireland’s Council presidency has reduced the proposed budget to €1.622 trillion, a cut of €141 billion (8%). But the compromise remains contentious: Germany and Sweden consider their contributions too high, while 17 countries want to protect agricultural support and cohesion funds. Negotiations remain deadlocked.
Source : Reuters, Associated Press, European Council
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Enlargement
Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova Make Further Progress Towards EU Membership
The accession conferences held on 12 and 13 October marked further progress. Montenegro provisionally closed three additional negotiating chapters, bringing its total to 21 out of 33. Albania closed one more chapter.
Ukraine and Moldova opened negotiations on two further groups of EU rules covering the internal market, competitiveness and inclusive growth. These advances do not mean that membership is guaranteed.Source : Council of the EU
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Society
Protests Across Europe Highlight Cost-of-Living Pressures, Inequality, Gaza and Government Policies
From France to Italy, via Belgium, Portugal and Albania, protests have highlighted the cost of living and wider social concerns. Demands have also focused on public services in France, the cost of education in Belgium, housing in Portugal and corruption in Albania. In Italy, protesters have also denounced the war. Several demonstrations descended into clashes, notably in France, Albania and Milan.
Source : TV5 Monde, AFP, Reuters