Europe & EU October 2026-

EU-Canada summit, 29-30 October 2026

24 October
Canada’s potential EU ‘associate membership’ needs to be defined – and trigger projects – to be taken seriously
Eric Reguly, European bureau chief
(Globe & Mail) … Today, the EU sees Canada as a potential strategic, economic and security partner. … The prospect has lit up Brussels. Hundreds of EC and EU representatives, including about 10 EC commissioners for defence, digital sovereignty, trade, energy, financial markets, critical metals and other areas, are prepping for the Oct. 29 and 30 Canada-EU summit in Montreal. …

Hundreds of thousands march in France as protests take place across Europe – as it happened
French police have made 1,000 arrests and Italian officers have raided homes in Milan, with protests also taking place in Spain and Albania

22 October
What is at stake in Serbia’s election? The key players, main issues and potential fallout
A grassroots student-led coalition threatens to upend Serbia’s political landscape as the EU-candidate country heads to the polls on Sunday
(The Guardian)Serbia’s 6.5 million voters go to the polls on 25 October in a watershed parliamentary election characterised by civil unrest, a new political landscape, allegations of irregularities, an uncertain outcome and the potential of far-reaching consequences.
Two events frame this election. The first was the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy in November 2024, which killed 16 people and uncovered massive government and institutional corruption, setting off two years of anti-government protests.
The second was the hero’s funeral accorded to the Serbian general Ratko Mladić, the “Butcher of Bosnia”, who was convicted of orchestrating Europe’s worst massacre since the second world war but buried with military honours in Belgrade last month.
Amid international outrage but intense Serb nationalist pride, the increasingly authoritarian president, Aleksandar Vučić, who has dominated Serbia’s politics for 14 years, resigned to lead his ruling Serbian Progressive party (SNS) list in an attempt to become prime minister.

19 October
Europe is developing its own version of Starlink, independent of Elon Musk, – Financial Times 
Europe’s largest telecoms operators – Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone – have signed an agreement to jointly develop next-generation satellite communications.
The project will enable ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites without the need for specialised equipment or additional antennas reports Censor.NET citing the Financial Times
The main aim of this initiative is to create a European alternative to American services, primarily Elon Musk’s Starlink network.
European companies are seeking to significantly reduce the region’s dependence on foreign technology and overseas space infrastructure.
The creation of an autonomous satellite network will be a decisive step towards ensuring the European Union’s digital sovereignty and security

European Council Meeting
15-16 October 2026

16 October
EU leaders met in Brussels for a two-day summit.
(European Council) They adopted conclusions on competitiveness, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, the next multiannual financial framework, the Middle East, European defence and security, migration, enlargement and reforms, as well as other items, which covered the Arctic region, Ceuta and Melilla, a safer digital sphere, the UN climate change conference and international jurisdiction.
On 15 and 16 October, the European Council adopted conclusions on competitiveness, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, the next multiannual financial framework, the Middle East, European defence and security, migration, enlargement and reforms and other items.
EU’s support to Ukraine matters more than ever, von der Leyen says, as US relationship sours

9 October
‘Self-imposed irrelevance’: why the EU is failing to act on growing public criticism of Israel
While Israel’s actions against Palestinians intensify public anger, the bloc remains paralysed along familiar fault lines
(The Guardian) A meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers on Monday is likely to showcase the bloc’s stasis in policy towards Israel – a stalemate that is at odds with rising public criticism in Europe of Israel’s government.
A survey of 10 European countries, including Spain, France and Sweden, found large majorities of people had a negative opinion of Israel. …
Israel is facing ever deeper isolation in the theatre of public opinion. …