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SOCIETY

France: Renewed tensions over social unrest

Demonstrations took place in several French cities on Saturday for the second consecutive week, following calls by left-wing parties and trade unions. Tens of thousands marched in Paris. Localised clashes prompted police to use tear gas and water cannon. At 1 p.m., the Interior Minister reported 35,000 demonstrators and 135 arrests nationwide.

The government deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, including specialist units. The security operation was stepped up following the violence of the previous week. Local restrictions and the closure of cultural venues further illustrate the scale of the security measures.

Source : Reuters, Le Monde

UKRAINE FRONT

Ukraine–Russia: Local ceasefire to allow evacuations

Kyiv and Moscow have agreed to a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, starting on 27 October. The agreement is intended to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and civilians to be evacuated through secure corridors. According to Reuters, between 1,700 and 2,000 people are still believed to live in the town, many of whom lack food, medicine and drinking water.

Source : Reuters

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

European Union: Brussels prepares new trade defence tool against China

Meeting in Dublin on 22 and 23 October, EU trade ministers discussed economic relations with China and preparations for the EU–Canada summit on 29 and 30 October. The Commission is preparing a package of trade diversification measures, including a new instrument designed to respond more quickly to trade distortions.

The aim is to reduce Europe’s strategic vulnerabilities while diversifying its trading partners. The precise details of the instrument have yet to be presented, so it is not yet an implemented measure.

Source : Agence Europe

BUSINESS

European Union: Member States move towards a single European framework for businesses

Member States have adopted their negotiating mandate on the “28th regime”, an optional framework designed to make it easier to establish and grow businesses across Europe. It aims in particular to reduce barriers arising from differences between national rules.

The text has not yet been adopted: the European Parliament must first agree on its own position before interinstitutional negotiations can begin. The proposal could facilitate cross-border business expansion, but its details, particularly regarding employee participation, remain under discussion.

Source : Agence Europe, the28thregime.eu

SECURITY

Germany: Merz condemns Russian attempts to destabilise the country

On 24 October, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany was facing growing threats, including political extremism and what he described as Russia’s daily efforts to destabilise the country.

His call for unity comes as his coalition faces mounting pressure. Berlin views hybrid threats as a national security issue, while Moscow rejects accusations that it is conducting a campaign to destabilise Germany.

Source : Reuters

SOCIETY

Italy: 500 additional troops deployed in Milan following violence

Further demonstrations took place on 24 October in Milan, Rome, Turin and Naples over the rising cost of living, low wages and military spending. In Milan, Giorgia Meloni’s government deployed an additional 500 military personnel following clashes, looting and property damage on 17 and 18 October.

Police also carried out more than 150 searches across several cities. The protests combine economic grievances with opposition to rearmament, while the authorities are prioritising a stronger law-enforcement presence.

Source : Associated Press

PENSIONS

Spain: Demonstration calls for higher pensions

Thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid at the call of the Coordinadora Estatal por la Defensa del Sistema Público de Pensiones (State Coordination Platform for the Defence of the Public Pension System). Organisers are demanding that pensions be adjusted in line with actual inflation and oppose any privatisation of the system.

Attendance was estimated at 50,000 by the organisers and 25,000 by the government delegation. The demonstration has brought pensioners’ purchasing power and the long-term funding of the public system back into the spotlight.

Source : RTVE

PUBLIC FINANCES

France: Moody’s maintains sovereign rating but keeps negative outlook

Moody’s has maintained France’s rating at Aa3, avoiding a downgrade that some observers had feared. However, the agency has kept its outlook negative amid high debt, sluggish growth and political uncertainty.

The decision averts an immediate downgrade but remains conditional on the adoption of a budget that reduces the deficit in 2027. Parliamentary difficulties and the cost of servicing the debt remain risks for the government.

Source : Reuters

CLIMATE

United Kingdom: Two successive storms threaten infrastructure and transport

Following Storm Austen, more than 4,200 customers in central and southern England were still without electricity on the morning of 24 October. Strong winds and fallen trees are hampering repair work.

The Met Office has also issued an amber warning for Storm Boelo, expected to affect Scotland and neighbouring areas overnight from 24 to 25 October. Gusts exceeding 100 km/h are forecast.

Source : SSEN, Met Office

Climate

Europe: Summer 2026 emerges as the deadliest on record for heat-related mortality

A new study estimates that extreme heat during the summer of 2026 was associated with nearly 50,000 deaths across more than 800 European cities. Around 30,000 of these deaths are estimated to be attributable to excess heat linked to climate change.

This estimate is 71% higher than the figure for summer 2022, which had previously been the highest recorded across the cities studied.

However, these figures remain estimates rather than a count of deaths across Europe as a whole. The study covers only around 40% of the European population and does not include a heatwave that occurred in May.

Source : London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

European affairs

Hungary: Brussels signals closer ties with Budapest despite deadlock over Ukraine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are visiting Budapest to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian uprising, alongside Prime Minister Péter Magyar.

The diplomatic thaw remains incomplete, however: Budapest blocked further steps in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations this week.

Source : Euronews

Climate

United Kingdom – France: Storm Austen batters both sides of the English Channel

Storm Austen is causing major disruption across the United Kingdom and north-western France this Friday. Strong gusts and high waves are affecting coastal areas, while thousands of households in south-west England have been left without electricity.

Météo-France forecasts particularly strong winds along the coasts of Brittany, Normandy and Hauts-de-France, with gusts locally reaching 130–140 km/h along the coast. Rough seas and the risk of falling trees are disrupting travel and maritime activities.

Source : Météo-France

Society

Serbia: Massive rally in Belgrade ahead of parliamentary elections

On 22 October, around 150,000 people gathered in Belgrade to support the student-led electoral list “Students Will Win”, according to an estimate cited by AFP.

The movement emerged after 16 people died when the railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in 2024. It is now challenging the ruling party ahead of the snap parliamentary elections on 25 October.

→ Read our dedicated analysis for more information.

Source : AFP

Society

France: 70,000 police officers and gendarmes deployed for demonstrations scheduled for 24 October

Following the violence on 17 October, the government is significantly strengthening the security arrangements planned for Saturday. The Interior Minister has announced the deployment of specialist tactical units, alongside military personnel from Operation Sentinelle, France’s domestic counter-terrorism operation.

Armoured vehicles, helicopters and water-cannon vehicles are also expected to be deployed. Specialist units are primarily intended to help secure sensitive sites, rather than to handle public-order duties on their own.

Source : French Ministry of the Interior, Anadolu

Free movement

Italy and Spain announce end to mutual border controls

Rome and Madrid have decided not to extend the suspension of their free-movement arrangements, introduced after a surge in migrant arrivals in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

The two countries plan to step up information-sharing to strengthen security in the Schengen Area.

Source : Reuters

Education

Erasmus+: European Parliament backs €47.4 billion for 2028–2034

MEPs have backed a budget of around €47.4 billion for the next Erasmus+ programme, along with grants better adjusted to the cost of living in destination countries. They also want to make it easier for people with fewer financial resources to take part.

Source : 2EU.brussels, European Parliament

International award

2026 Sakharov Prize: European Parliament honours the International Criminal Court

The European Parliament has awarded its Sakharov Prize—which recognises individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to defending freedom of thought—to the International Criminal Court and its officials.

The award specifically recognises their work in support of international law and justice. The ceremony will take place during the December plenary session in Strasbourg.

Source : European Parliament, Associated Press

Economy

Italy: government announces €540 million in aid amid transport workers’ protests

After several days of blockades in southern Italy, the government has increased support for road hauliers and the agriculture and fishing sectors.

The aid package now totals €540 million, while some truckers have begun lifting their blockades. Protests over diesel prices had disrupted fuel and food deliveries, particularly in Sicily and Campania.

Source : Associated Press

Transport

European Union: travellers to find it easier to claim refunds

The European Parliament has adopted new rules to make it easier for passengers to exercise their rights when journeys are disrupted. A standardised European form is intended to allow passengers to claim a refund within 14 days, including when tickets were purchased through an intermediary.

The text also strengthens protections for people with disabilities, including free travel for an accompanying person when necessary.

Source : Euronews

Greece: thousands of young people protest over education and housing

Following similar movements elsewhere in Europe, pupils, university students and teachers took to the streets in several Greek cities to demand more funding for public education, better teaching conditions and affordable student housing.

According to police, around 10,000 people marched in Athens. Trade unions point in particular to teacher vacancies and poorly maintained school buildings.

Source : Reuters, Kathimerini

Economy

France: borrowing costs reach their highest level since 2002

The interest rate at which France borrows money over ten years has reached 5.14%, its highest level since 2002.

Investors are concerned about the country’s debt, political uncertainty and difficulties in getting the budget adopted. The gap between French and German borrowing costs has also widened to its highest level since the European debt crisis of 2011.

Source : Reuters

Health

Poland: Parliament votes to ease abortion restrictions

Poland’s lower house of parliament has adopted proposals aimed at easing some restrictions on abortion.

The proposals include decriminalising certain forms of assistance with abortion and restoring the option of terminating a pregnancy in cases of foetal abnormalities. The measures seek to partially reverse the tighter restrictions introduced in 2021.

They do not yet change the law definitively: further legislative steps are required, and President Karol Nawrocki could veto them.

Source : Reuters

Democracy

Georgia: Court examines bid to ban opposition parties

Georgia’s Constitutional Court has begun hearing a case seeking to ban five major opposition parties, brought by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The proceedings come amid growing tensions between the government, opposition and civil society. According to Reuters, a ruling is expected by June 2027.

Opposition groups and human rights organisations see the case as a threat to political pluralism, as Georgia has held EU candidate status since 2023.

Source : Reuters, Constitutional Court of Georgia

Solidarity

European Union: €489 million to help four countries recover from storms

The European Parliament has approved around €489 million from the EU Solidarity Fund to help Portugal (€261.5 million), Spain (€149.1 million), Italy (€74.9 million) and Malta (€3.7 million) repair damage caused by storms and floods in 2026.

The aid is intended to help restore infrastructure and essential services. The Council must still formally approve the release of the funds.

Source : European Parliament

Digital

European Union: Booking.com investigated over fraudulent listings

The European Commission has opened an investigation to determine whether Booking.com complies with the Digital Services Act (DSA) in its efforts to tackle fake listings, scams and phishing attempts.

Brussels is examining, in particular, how the platform assesses these risks and protects its users.

The launch of an investigation does not mean that a breach has been established.

Source : European Commission

Economy

Euro area: Resilience to the energy shock exceeds expectations

Economists at the European Central Bank believe the euro area has weathered the 2026 energy shock better than expected.

They point in particular to a halving of oil dependency since the early 1990s, investment linked to artificial intelligence and fiscal support.

Source : Reuters, European Central Bank

History

France: Parliament votes to repeal the Code Noir

On 20 October, the French Senate adopted without amendments a bill to formally repeal the Code Noir, the 1685 royal decree that regulated slavery in France’s colonies.

The bill also provides for recognition of the role colonial laws played in institutionalising slavery and calls on the government to review which provisions derived from colonial law remain in force in France’s overseas territories.

The repeal is primarily symbolic and commemorative: the Code Noir had not been applied since slavery was abolished in 1848, but it had never been formally repealed.

Source : French Senate, TF1 Info

Security

Italy and France: Military reinforcements following protest-related violence

In Italy, Giorgia Meloni’s government has announced the deployment of an additional 500 troops to Milan following riots, looting and clashes with police. Rome is also preparing tougher penalties for violence committed during protests.

In France, military support has also been announced following the violence on 17 October. According to Reuters, the government plans to deploy troops alongside police to help secure upcoming demonstrations, including those scheduled for Saturday, 24 October.

Source : Associated Press, Reuters, Le Monde