The Presidential election will take place on 22nd October. The 9 candidates are running including outgoing president Borut Pahor. According to the most recent poll, Borut Pahor is due to come out ahead in the first round of voting with 44.7%. He is forecast to take the lead over Marjan Sarec, who is due to win 17.2% of the vote and Ljudmila Novak, with 6.8% of the vote. Romana Tomc is forecast to come fourth with 5.2% of the vote followed by Boris Popovic with 2.4%. The four other candidates are due to win fewer than 2% of the vote. The second round will take place on 12th November.

The Digital Summit in Tallinn took place on 29th September. Organised as part of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this summit of heads of State and government mainly focused on e-governance, cybersecurity, the digital economy and the re-design of the labour market. The issue of taxation and major web companies was also addressed.

On 25th September the European Commission announced that it had started new discussions with the unions and employers' organisations in view of "fairer and more predictable work contracts". Hence it is continuing the implementation of a common European pillar for social rights, that is designed to improve working and living conditions.

The European Commission put forward the amendment of the Schengen border code on 27th September providing the possibility of re-introducing border controls for a maximum time of 3 years, in the event "of serious threats to public order and internal security" of a country.

On 28th September the Commission put forward common instruments that aim to detect, delete and prevent the re-appearance of the illicit on-line content. It advocates notably investment in automatic detection technologies and the publication of transparency reports regarding the alerts that are received.

On 28th September the European Commission announced the launch of an investment plan designed to foster "more inclusive and sustainable development" in the countries of Africa and the European neighbourhood. This plan aims to "eradicate poverty" in the "fragile regions" of these countries, notably by creating "green energy".

On 29th September Cecilia Malmström, European Trade Commissioner and Natalia Mykolska, the Ukrainian Deputy Economic and Trade Minister welcomed the entry into force of the Union's autonomous trade measures in support of Ukraine. They pointed to the 23% increase in trade in the 1st semester of 2017.

Due to the planned departure by the UK from the EU the HQ of the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will have to leave the UK. The European Commission hopes for a rapid decision regarding this transfer and published its assessment of the 27 offers received by the Member States in view of hosting these agencies.

On 27th September the French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and the Minister for Action and Pubic Accounts, Gérald Darmanin presented the draft finance bill 2018. This draft focuses on several goals: reviving purchasing power, countering unemployment, increasing competitiveness, supporting investment and innovation, supporting ecological transition, transforming the housing policy and supporting defence, justice and security efforts.

The 34th Franco-Italian Summit took place in Lyon on 27th September together with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the Italian Council Paolo Gentiloni. They discussed defence, internal security, environment, culture and education. Paris and Rome came to agreement to bring the crisis over STX-France, in which Fincantieri has won a de facto majority, to an end.

Even if the UK is leaving the EU, Theresa May promised on 29th September that her country will continue to defend Europe "unconditionally". "I want to say clearly that the UK will always be at its allies' side," declared the British Prime Minister during her visit with Emmanuel Macron of a NATO base in Estonia.

According to a Eurostat study published on 2nd October, the unemployment rate lay at 7.6% in August 2017 in the European Union, down in comparison with the July figure of 7.7% and that of August 2016, when it lay at 8.5%. This is the lowest figure recorded since November 2008. In the euro zone unemployment lay at 9.1% in August 2017, stable in comparison with July 2017 and down in comparison with 9.9% in August 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro zone since February 2009.

The Icelandic capital of Reykjavik is hosting its International Film Festival until 8th October. Icelandic and foreign films are being screened, with particular attention being paid to young, avant-garde film makers.

From 6th October 2017 to 7th January 2018 the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is running an exhibition on Johan Maelwael, 1370-1415, one of the most famous medieval painters. He was notably the official artist of the Duke of Burgundy, Henry le Hardi.

On 7th October from 7pm to 7am the towns of Brussels and Paris are organising cultural and artistic events throughout the night on particular theme. This year Brussels has chosen "power games" whilst Paris has opted for "living together".

The Arlequin cinema in Paris is organising the 22nd Festival of German Cinema from 4th to 10th October. On the programme this year are the best German film productions - short films, first screenings as well as ciné-concerts.

Until 7th January 2018 the 14th Biennale of Lyon is devoted to the second chapter of a trilogy on a "modern" theme. In the context of a globalisation that is generating constant movement and an acceleration of flows, the Biennale explores the heritage and scope of the idea of what "modern" means in contemporary art work. The Biennale is presented as an expanding, constantly changing, mobile, atmospheric landscape.

Until 21st January 2018 the works that Picasso created between 1915 and 1925 (paintings, drawings, water-colours, sketches and theatre costumes from the world over) are on show at the Scuderie Quirinale in Rome on the occasion of the 100 years of the artist's journey to Italy.