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European news, 13 October 2026 — Sweden: Magdalena Andersson struggles to form a government
prometheus.fr 🇪🇺 EUROPE | 9 key European stories from 13 October
From Sweden’s political deadlock to tensions in the Black Sea, EU enlargement and biodiversity protection, here are the main developments shaping European affairs.
🔎 Politics and diplomacy: Sweden’s government deadlock, renewed efforts to restart reunification talks in Cyprus and changes to Hungary’s LGBT legislation.
⚠️ Security and geopolitics: ships hit by drones in the Black Sea, suspected sabotage in Poland and disagreements over sanctions against Russia.
🇪🇺 The EU in action: Ukraine makes progress on minority rights, Montenegro provisionally closes three more accession chapters, and the EU mobilises €149.45 million for biodiversity.
📲 Explore the key facts and implications of these nine stories in this carousel.
PromethEUs | Making sense of European news.
Sources
2. Euronews, Swedish election authority
3. Associated Press, Euronews
4. Reuters, Euronews, Consilium EU
5. Reuters
6. Consilium EU, European Commission
7. Euronews, AFP
8. Cyprus Mail
9. European Research Executive Agency (EREA)
Read this carousel as text
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Politics
Sweden: Magdalena Andersson struggles to form a government
Following the 13 September general election, the left and centre-left bloc holds 176 of the 349 seats, compared with 173 for the right. Yet Magdalena Andersson (Social Democrats, 99 seats) has been unable to form a coalition.
The deadlock is political rather than mathematical. The Speaker of Parliament may now ask other candidates, including outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, to form a government. In Sweden, a candidate is elected unless 175 or more MPs vote against them, meaning abstentions can be decisive.Source : Euronews, Swedish election authority
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War
Black Sea: Two cargo ships hit by drones near Bulgaria
Overnight on 12–13 October, two cargo ships were hit by drones off the coast of Bulgaria, an EU and NATO member. A total of 20 sailors were rescued, while 11 remain missing.
Sofia is calling on NATO and the EU to strengthen maritime and aerial surveillance, as these incidents threaten commercial shipping and grain transport routes in the Black Sea.Source : Associated Press, Euronews
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Enlargement
Ukraine: Minority rights law paves the way for further EU accession talks
On 12 October, Ukraine’s parliament adopted a reform strengthening national minorities’ right to receive education in their own language, particularly for the approximately 100,000 ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine.
The reform addresses a demand from Budapest, which had made its support for further stages of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations conditional on such changes.Source : Reuters, Euronews, Consilium EU
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Energy
Finland: Helsinki criticises US easing of sanctions on Russian diesel
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen condemned Donald Trump’s decision to lift certain sanctions on Russian diesel exports, arguing that the additional revenue could help fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Helsinki wants to increase pressure on Moscow, as differences between Washington and Europe threaten to undermine their common approach to sanctions.Source : Reuters
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Enlargement
Montenegro: Three more EU accession chapters provisionally closed
On 12 October, the EU and Montenegro provisionally closed three negotiating chapters: economic and monetary policy, statistics, and social policy and employment. The country has now provisionally closed 21 of the 33 chapters, nearly two-thirds of the process.
Podgorica aims to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2026, with EU membership hoped for in 2028.Source : Consilium EU, European Commission
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Human rights
Hungary: Parliament repeals some anti-LGBT restrictions dating from the Orbán era
On 13 October, Hungary’s parliament voted 139 to 51 to amend the 2021 law, removing several provisions that restricted the portrayal of homosexuality and gender diversity in content accessible to minors. The reform also responds to a ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU, which found these restrictions to be contrary to EU law.
The reform marks a shift under Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who took office in May after sixteen years of Orbán-led government. However, several restrictions remain, particularly those concerning legal gender recognition for transgender people and adoption by same-sex couples.Source : Euronews, AFP
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Diplomacy
Cyprus: New UN-backed meeting seeks to revive reunification talks
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met in Nicosia’s buffer zone under the auspices of the United Nations.
The aim is to create the conditions for resuming negotiations on the reunification of the island, which has been divided since 1974.
The deadlock concerns, in particular, the approach to negotiations, including the opening of crossing points and cooperation on disaster management.Source : Cyprus Mail
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Climate
Biodiversity: EU mobilises €149.45 million in funding calls
The European Union has opened two Horizon Europe funding calls: €41.45 million to study, among other things, the effects of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) on ecosystems, and €108 million for nature restoration, the fight against invasive species and wildlife trafficking. Applications are open until 14 January 2027.
Source : European Research Executive Agency (EREA)