On 24th October Frans Timmermans, the First Vice-President of the European Commission presented the Commission's 2018 Work Programme to the European Parliament. This roadmap notably aims to create a specific budgetary line for the euro zone in the Union's budget and to transform the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) into a dedicated monetary fund.

MEPs adopted a resolution on 26th October on the euro zone's economic policies. This resolution notably aims to optimise the economic policies within the zone to promote "increasing convergence" and an improved application of community legislation.

On 27th October the Council and Parliament came agreement on improving of the instrument contributing to stability and peace (IcSP). This agreement will enable Europe to finance more widely the building of support to security and development (CBSD).

The Civil Society Conference for the Eastern Partnership took place on 25th to 27th October in Tallinn. Discussions highlight the cooperation between the governments of these countries and civil society, democratic governance and the place of civil society in the fight to counter disinformation and the promotion of quality media.

ECB President Mario Draghi announced on 26th October that the European Central Bank will be reducing its public and private debt purchases from 60 to 30 billion euro per month between January and September 2018. Interest rates will remain at their present level and will only rise "well after" the end of assets' purchases.

Ladislav Hamran, who was until now Vice-President of Eurojust, was elected its President on 24th October by the Agency's College. The former Slovakian Prosecutor will therefore be replacing Michèle Coninsx as head of the European agency responsible for cooperation between Europe's judicial authorities.

On 24th October Wolfgang Schäuble was elected president of the Bundestag, the German lower house of Parliament, 501 votes in support, 173 against and 30 abstentions.

Sebastian Kurz, the future Chancellor and leader of the ÖVP announced on 24th October that he was inviting the far right FPÖ to exclusive negotiations in view of forming a coalition government. FPÖ head, Heinz-Christian Strache accepted the proposal and discussions started on 25th October.

On 27th October the parliament of Catalonia voted for the region's independence 72 votes in support 10 against. The Catalan MPs on the opposition benches left parliament before the vote on the resolution by the secessionists in a sign of protest. The Spanish Senate approved the implementation of article 155 of the Constitution and therefore the tutelage of Catalonia. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy therefore dismissed the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont, his government, the head of the regional police and the Catalan government representatives in Madrid and Brussels. Mariano Rajoy announced the dissolution of the Catalan Parliamentand and the organisation of a snap election on 21st December.

On 26th October the Arctic Council met in Oulu in Finland. The representatives of the governments of 8 countries, including three EU members (Sweden, Denmark, Finland) and six indigenous communities discussed environmental issues regarding the Arctic.

On 25th October the French government adopted an action plan aiming to monitor the implementation of the comprehensive economic and trade agreement with Canada. This action plan focuses on the control of the respect of environmental, climate, sanitary, economic standards, as well as the fight to counter fraud.

On 26th October the euro zone gave the greenlight for the disbursement of 800 million euro as part of the bail out to Greece so that it can "pay off its debts" said an European Stability Mechanism press release.

Leo Varadkar, the Irish Prime Minister travelled to Paris on 24th October to meet French President Emmanuel Macron. They focused their talks on the ongoing Brexit negotiations and said they both wanted to see a reform of Banking Union, the migration policy and defence.

On 25th October the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister welcomed the signature of the document making the mutual recognition of the common 214km long border with Russia official. This follows a long negotiation process initiated on 27th May 2007 by the establishment of the Demarcation Commission between the two countries.

On 26th October following the general elections on 15th March 2017 the Dutch government led by Mark Rutte was appointed by King Willem-Alexander. It comprises 17 ministers, 6 of whom are women and is supported by a four party coalition (VVD, CDA, D66 and CU) representing 76 seats out of 150 in the lower house of the Dutch Parliament (Tweed Kamer).

On 28th October elections took place in Iceland. The Independence Party of Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson came out ahead winning 16 seats of the 63 available in Parliament (Althing). However no party has been guaranteed a majority of 32 seats. The Left-Green Movement led by Katrin Jakobsdottir won 11 seats, ahead of the Social Democrats (7 seats) and the Pirates (6 seats).

On 25th October 2017 Bente Angell-Hansen, the present Ambassador for Norway in Vienna was appointed as the new President of the Surveillance Authority of the European Free Trade Alliance (EFTA) which includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. She will officially enter office on 1st January 2018.

NATO-Russia Council met on 26th October to discuss three issues: Ukraine, Afghanistan and the reduction of risks. Although points of view diverge massively as far as Ukraine is concerned, the meeting was at least "frank and open" said NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. Regarding Afghanistan, although analyses differ, all sides share the same interest of ensuring security and stability in Afghanistan in the fight to counter terrorism.

According to figures published by Eurostat on 23rd October the EU's public deficit slowed from 2.4% to 1.7% of the GDP between 2015 and 2016, whilst the public debt dropped from 84.5% to 83.2% of the GDP. In the euro zone the deficit dropped from 2.1% of the GDP in 2015 to 1.5% in 2016 whilst the debt contracted from 89.9% of the GDP to 88.9%.

100 years after the death of Degas in September 1917, the Fitzwilliam Museum of the University of Cambridge is celebrating his work until 14th January 2018 with an exhibition showing more than 60 pictures, sculptures, prints ... Divided into themes these works illustrate how Degas constantly experimented with techniques, as well as his desire to widen his means of expression.