As China's commercial stranglehold tightens on Europe, the European Union must rethink its approach to free trade. With European markets flooded with Chinese exports that threaten jobs and widen the trade deficit, the EU has adopted coercive measures and is stepping up trade agreements with third countries (Canada, Mercosur, India, Australia). The "Industrial Accelerator", currently under negotiation, would introduce a European preference clause in public procurement, but the forthcoming European Council meeting on 15–16 October should provide an opportunity to adopt the measures needed to stand up to the Middle Kingdom.

From 25 to 28 September, Pope Leo XIV undertook an apostolic journey to France. On the 25th, he was hosted at the Élysée Palace by President Emmanuel Macron. He then travelled to the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris. On the 26th, he celebrated Mass before an audience of over 600,000 people before travelling to Lourdes, where he met with the bishops of the French Bishops' Conference. Finally, on the 28th, he travelled to Metz for an interfaith gathering at the Robert Schuman Congress Centre, followed by a speech entitled "At the roots of Europe for peace and unity". The choice of this city, the birthplace of Robert Schuman, is highly symbolic: it emphasises the importance of European values and pays tribute to one of the "Fathers of Europe".

The book "Robert Schuman, Father of Europe" by Jean-Marie Pelt, with a foreword by Jean-Dominique Giuliani, presents a detailed biography of Robert Schuman, the French minister and founding father of the European Union. The author explores the key stages of his life, his political career, and his commitment to a Europe founded on peace, solidarity and cooperation. You can also order Robert Schuman's only book, "For 'Europe'". The books are available for purchase in French and English on the Foundation's website.

On 25 September, the European Commission approved Luxembourg's third payment request, amounting to €92.2 million, under the NextGenerationEU programme. To date, Luxembourg has received 37 per cent of its total allocation of €241.1 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The Foundation provides a summary of the various national recovery plans on its website, setting out the amounts, timetables and priorities.

On 22 September, the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement on the US presence in Greenland. Amending the agreement currently in force since 1951, the new agreement allows the United States to build two new military bases on the Arctic island and prohibits any non-NATO member state from establishing military installations there. It does not involve any transfer of territory, thereby upholding Danish sovereignty over Greenland as well as the self-determination of the Greenlandic people. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed a compromise that respected the interests of Denmark and Greenland, as well as those of the European Union and NATO more broadly. It must now be ratified by the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments.

On 22 September, the Council decided to extend the restrictive measures targeting more than 3,000 individuals and entities "undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine" for a further three years, until 22 September 2029. The decision, which requires unanimity, was made possible by the removal of two oligarchs from the list: Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.

On 24 September, the Council approved the eighth disbursement of nearly €3 billion to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility. These funds are intended, in particular, to strengthen the country's macro-financial stability, recovery and modernisation, as well as to maintain its public administration and support its reform efforts. On the same day, the Council incorporated a voluntary contribution from Norway of approximately €92 million into the Ukraine Facility. This contribution will take the form of a grant. On 18 September, the European Commission made a payment of €3.3 billion under the Ukraine Support Loan, aimed at supporting the country's procurement of defence equipment.

On 21 September, the European Court of Auditors published a report on the detection of and response to cyber incidents. In it, the Court highlights difficulties in cooperation and information sharing between Member States and identifies weaknesses in the implementation of the updated European cybersecurity framework, in particular the SRI 2 Directive.

On 23 September, the OECD published its interim report entitled "Overcoming Successive Shocks". In it, the organisation has revised its global GDP growth projections for 2026 upwards, from 2.8 per cent to 2.9 per cent. The report highlights the resilience of economies in the face of the shock caused by the war in the Middle East, thanks in particular to adjustments in energy markets and various support measures. However, it has revised downwards its projections for 2027, reducing its forecast for global GDP growth from 3.1 per cent to 3 per cent. The OECD makes several recommendations and calls in particular on central banks to ensure that "inflation expectations remain firmly anchored" and that structural reforms are implemented to help economies "weather future supply shocks".

On 24 September, EU ministers adopted temporary measures aimed at supporting the Armenian economy following Russia's recent imposition of trade restrictions against it. These measures provide for a suspension of customs duties on around 80 per cent of Armenian exports to the European Union for a period of two years from the date they come into force. Safeguard measures have also been put in place to protect European producers in the event that imports have a negative impact on the EU market.

On 24 September, the ministers responsible for the internal market and industry discussed the key priorities of the 'Chips Act 2.0', emphasising the need to consolidate Europe's semiconductor ecosystem and to strengthen the continent's resilience and competitiveness. They emphasised the need to reduce strategic dependencies without, however, closing off markets or severing cooperation with reliable international partners. They stressed the urgency of accelerating the transition from research to industrialisation and commercialisation, mobilising public and private funding, securing access to critical raw materials and developing the necessary skills.

On 21 September, the foreign ministers of the G7 (Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom) and the High Representative of the European Union issued a joint statement condemning the Houthi attacks in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, calling on Iran to cease its support for the Houthis, and affirming the need to ensure the safety of shipping lanes. They concluded their statement by repeating their commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen.

On 22 September, the European Union and the Philippines took a further step forward in their negotiations towards a free trade agreement. They agreed to liberalise more than 94 per cent of tariff lines, covering more than 97 per cent of bilateral trade, and to improve market access for exporters, service providers and investors from both sides. The negotiations still need to be formally finalised before the agreement can be definitively concluded.

On 23 September, the sixth summit of the International Crimea Platform was held in New York, focusing on the need to prevent any normalisation of the Russian occupation, the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the protection of the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law, the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea, and the need to hold Russia accountable for its international crimes. At the conclusion of the summit, the participants reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, as well as their policy of non-recognition of Russia's attempt to illegally annex Crimea.

On 3 October, Latvians are set to go to the polls to elect the 100 members of the Saeima, the unicameral parliament. According to the latest polls, seven parties are expected to clear the 5 per cent threshold required to gain representation. The "United List" (AS) is expected to lead with 22.7 per cent. It is due to be followed by "Sovereign Power" (SV) with 14.4 per cent, "Latvia First" (LPV) with 13.3 per cent, the "Progressives" (P) on 10.2 per cent, the National Alliance (NA) on 8.7 per cent, "New Unity" (JV) on 6.8 per cent and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) on 6.5 per cent. No single party is expected to secure an absolute majority on its own, and the current governing coalition (LAS, JV, NA and ZZS) would only secure 45% of the vote, making it necessary to form a new coalition.

On 22 September, the European Commission published the results of a Eurobarometer survey on agriculture and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), carried out between May and June 2026. Whilst 71 per cent said they had heard of the support the EU provides to farmers through the CAP, only 10 per cent said they were aware of the details. The survey also highlighted that almost all Europeans (95 per cent) consider agriculture and rural areas to be important for the future of the EU. In 25 Member States, extreme weather events and climate change are the most frequently cited risks to the EU's food security.

On 27 September, the Swiss rejected the popular initiative "Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality (Neutrality Initiative)" by 70.15 per cent voting 'no'. The initiative aimed to enshrine enhanced neutrality in the Constitution, which would have ruled out any membership of a military alliance as well as any adoption of economic sanctions against a third country, with the exception of those decided by the UN. On the same day, they also rejected the popular initiative "For safe food – through the strengthening of sustainable domestic production", with 72.52 per cent voting against it.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced his resignation on 27 September. He is thus bringing his second and final five-year term to an early end; it was due to end in 2027. On 9 September, he had announced that early parliamentary elections would be held, a demand that had been championed by the student movement since the collapse at Novi Sad railway station in November 2024. These will take place on 25 October, and Aleksandar Vučić intends to stand in them and run for the post of Prime Minister. His resignation will also trigger a presidential election, which is expected to take place by the end of this year.

On 23 September, the European Commission proposed releasing €4.2 billion to Hungary, having concluded that Péter Magyar's new government had addressed the breaches of the rule of law that had affected the EU budget under Viktor Orbán's previous government. The European Union also wishes to reopen access to the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes for Hungarian students and researchers. This release of funds must be approved by the Council within a month.

On 22 September, the Ministers for European Affairs discussed the multiannual financial framework covering the period 2028–2034. They began preparations for the European Council meeting on 15 and 16 October. The Commission also presented a letter of intent regarding the preparation of its work programme for 2027, on which the ministers exchanged views. As part of the annual dialogue on the rule of law, the ministers held a cross-cutting discussion on general developments concerning the state of the rule of law within the Union. They discussed the situation in several candidate countries, such as Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

On 21 September, representatives from 15 Member States of the European Union met in Brussels to launch an exchange of best practice on simplification, aimed at reducing unjustified administrative burdens. To achieve this, the aim is to improve the quality of legislation by ensuring that EU legislation is designed in a proportionate, consistent and legally predictable manner, and in a way that fosters a business environment in which European companies can invest, innovate and grow. The aim is therefore to ensure that strengthening economic competitiveness and the smooth functioning of the single market remain central objectives of European legislation.

In a decision dated 21 September, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined Google €403 million for breaching the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Following a complaint lodged by several European consumer rights organisations, the DPC ruled that Google's processing of location data had no legal basis and did not comply with the GDPR's transparency requirements. This decision follows an €890 million fine imposed on Google by the European Commission in July 2026, which was for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

On 21 September, French public and private radio stations issued a joint statement calling on the French and European authorities to guarantee access to terrestrial radio for all drivers. On 10 September, a similar appeal was issued by MEPs and representatives of the broadcasting sector, calling for amendments to the legislation on digital networks (Digital Networks Act – DNA). Indeed, French and European radio stations are warning of the growing number of vehicles on the market that lack FM and DAB+ receivers and offer only streaming services, particularly from US providers. This is therefore a matter of public safety and sovereignty, as terrestrial radio is "the only free, anonymous and resilient medium in the event of a major crisis".

Until 10 January 2027, the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden is hosting the exhibition "Corregio. Berührend menschlich". It brings together works by Antonio Allegri, known as Corregio, which are among the most original creations of the Italian Renaissance. The artist exerted considerable influence not only on his contemporaries but also on subsequent centuries, earning him a prominent place alongside Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo, even though he remains less famous than these three masters.

The year 2026 marks the centenary of the death of the artist Claude Monet. To mark the occasion, the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, in partnership with the Musée de Grenoble, are each organising an exhibition. The former explores Monet's relationship with time. Since 1927, the museum has housed his famous decorative panels featuring water lilies. The exhibition at the Musée de l'Orangerie brings together around forty paintings that reveal Claude Monet's obsession; it runs until 25 January 2027. The Musée Marmottan Monet positions this champion of plein air painting at the starting point of a journey devoted to landscape art, from 1893 to the present day. Entitled "From Monet to Hockney", the exhibition draws parallels between several of Monet's paintings and those of 20th- and 21st-century artists. It runs until 31 January 2027.

Until 14 February 2027, the Palazzo Bonaparte in Rome is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Wassily Kandinsky, a pioneer of abstract art. The show is organised into five sections, which trace the painter's life. It also highlights the works of Gabriele Münter, who for a long time remained in Kandinsky's shadow,

Until 31 January 2027, the National Gallery in London is hosting the 'Renoir and Love' exhibition. It brings together Impressionist works by Renoir produced during the most prolific years of his career, between the mid-1860s and the mid-1880s. The exhibition is organised jointly by the Musée d'Orsay, the National Gallery and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The international contemporary art fair "ArtVilnius" will be held from 1 to 4 October. ArtVilnius is the largest contemporary art fair in the Baltic region and one of the leading platforms for bringing together contemporary art movements from Central, Eastern and Northern Europe.

Until 10 January 2027, the Mapfre Foundation in Madrid is hosting three exhibitions: "Pre-Raphaelite Art: Women's Perspectives (1850–1914)", "The Other Face of the Avant-Garde" and "Minor White". They explore, respectively, how women artists approached and adapted Pre-Raphaelitism, the links between the works of psychiatric patients and avant-garde art, and the work of the American photographer Minor White to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.

In London, the Rest of the World were defeated by Europe on the final day of the Laver Cup, on 27 September. A tennis showdown between Europe and the Rest of the World, the Laver Cup saw Team Europe, coached by France's Yannick Noah, emerge victorious.