Whether in Syria, Libya or Nagorno-Karabakh, Ankara has become a destabilising factor. There is once again a "Turkish question" that concerns NATO, Europe and the Mediterranean. The Europeans will have to find the means to contain Turkey's aggressions to compel it to discuss with its partners before acting in an increasingly brutal manner.

The 2020 edition of the "Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union", a reference work for European decision-makers, is available in hard copy in French, published by Marie B, and in electronic format in French and English. With contributions from leading personalities and experts, together with original maps and annotated statistics, it provides a comprehensive view of the European Union and analyses the challenges facing Europe. You can order it from our website.

On 22 September, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), opened the virtual meeting of the General Assembly. On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, which it is celebrating this year, the president of the European Council Charles Michel gave a speech on 21 September in which he reaffirmed the EU's "multilateral oath".

On 23 September, the Commission presented its New Pact on Migration and Asylum. It provides for a pre-entry check prior to entering the territory of the European Union, including the identification of all persons without the right of residence in the Eurodac database. Each Member State will then have to participate in the distribution or return effort. A European legal framework for returns with the appointment of a Coordinator, an Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2024, a Code of Conduct for Sea Rescue and new tailor-made partnerships with countries of origin and transit are also planned.

Trade Ministers met in Berlin at an informal meeting on 20 and 21 September to discuss the reorientation of the Commission's trade policy to deal with the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis, the situation of the steel industry, cooperation with the WTO and the appointment of its future Director-General.

On 20 September, France, Germany and the United Kingdom (E3) jointly responded to the US request to reinstate multilateral sanctions against Iran, lifted in 2015 in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The three countries stated that the United States, no longer a member of the Joint Comprehensive Joint Action Plan (JCPOA) since 8 May 2018, cannot request the reinstatement of sanctions on the basis of paragraph 11 of the resolution, as this would be "without legal effect".

The renting of short-term residential premises without a permanent address may be subject to prior authorisation by the local authorities as provided for by national law, according to a judgment of the Court of Justice of 22 September. This ruling is part of the fight against the housing shortage and follows the conviction by the Paris Court of Appeal of two Parisian homeowners who had rented their flats to a clientele passing through for short periods without giving prior notice to the local authorities as provided for in the French building and housing code.

On 22 September, the Court of Auditors published a report on the Commission's 2016 "Digitising European Industry" initiative. The auditors highlight the wide disparities between Member States and between large and small businesses. In particular, they call for better use of EU regional development funds for digital development and stronger monitoring by the Commission, for example in setting up digital innovation clusters (DIPs) to support businesses and encourage them to adopt broadband.

The US Department of Justice and the European agency Europol announced on 22 September the arrest of 179 alleged sellers of opiates and illicit goods on the dark net in the United States and Europe. As a result of this joint operation, €5.5 million in cash and digital currency, 500 kilos of opiates and around 60 firearms were seized by the police.

On 22 September, the Munich Institute for Economic Research (Ifo) published an analysis on the recovery of the German economy. According to its forecasts, the German GDP is expected to contract by 5.2% in 2020, compared to 6.7% previously anticipated. In the absence of a second lockdown, the Ifo predicts that the German economy might catch up in the fourth quarter of 2021 and that growth would remain sustained in 2022 at around 1.7% per year.

On 23 September, King Philip of the Belgians entrusted Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) and Paul Magnette (PS) with the formation of the Belgian government following the elections of 26 May 2019. The summary note of the two pre-formers Egbert Lachaert (Open Vld) and Conner Rousseau (sp.a) had been accepted by 7 parties. The "formateurs" must submit their report to the King "as quickly as possible", since the parties of the so-called "Vivaldi" coalition have announced that they want to present their government agreement on 1 October to the Chamber, where they have a majority of 87 seats out of 150.

Following the partial renewal of the Senate on 27 September, the balance has not changed. A new group could be created around Europe Ecology-Greens. Alain Cadec, Special Adviser of the Foundation and President of the Departmental Council of Côtes d'Armor, was elected senator.

In the constitutional referendum on 20 and 21 September, the Italian electorate voted for a reduction in the number of members of parliament by 69.64% in favour. The number of parliamentarians is to be reduced from 945 to 600. With regard to the regional elections held at the same time, the Democratic Party (PD), which governs in coalition with the 5-Star Movement, has retained three regions (Tuscany, Apulia and Campania) while the centre-right-extreme right united front has retained its own (V2netia and Liguria) and won the Marche region. The League came first in Valle d'Aosta.

On 27 September, Romanians were called to the polls to renew the members of all local government bodies. According to exit polls in Bucharest, the elections were won by Nicușor Dan, an independent candidate supported by the centre-right Alliance, PNL and USR PLUS, (47.2%). At the national level, the turnout was 46%, down from 48.43% in 2016. For political observers, the elections are a test before the legislative elections scheduled for 6 December.

On 22 September, the research centre "UK in a changing Europe" published a report on the effects of a no deal Brexit, which it estimates to be three times more costly for the British economy than the Covid-19 pandemic. The report points to short-term disruptions such as customs delays, but it is mainly the long-term effects that are to be feared. The study forecasts a cost of around 5.7% of GDP over 15 years. The report comes at a time when negotiations with the EU are blocked, notably by the draft "internal market law" which violates the withdrawal agreement signed in October 2019.

On 21 September, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda made public an economic assistance plan prepared with Poland and Romania to help "democratic Belarus". The three countries propose a preferential trade regime between the European Union and Belarus, the possibility for Belarusians to enter the Union without visas and support for the country's application for WTO membership. This plan will be presented by Lithuania, Poland and Romania to the European partners at the European Council on 1 and 2 October.

On 27 September Swiss citizens rejected the popular initiative organised by the Union Démocratique du Centre (UDC) party entitled "For moderate immigration" by 61.7% of the vote. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen welcomed this result on the same day and said she was waiting for the Swiss Federal Council to take steps to sign and ratify the Institutional Framework Agreement negotiated with the European Union in 2018.

On 21 September, the European Court of Human Rights asked Poland for its opinion in the case against Polish judge Igor Tuleya, one of the most critical voices in the country's judicial reforms, which have strengthened executive and legislative control over the judiciary and allowed judges to be sanctioned for their judicial decisions. Igor Tuleya filed his petition in April 2019, alleging that the seven disciplinary proceedings brought against him have damaged his reputation. The International Commission of Jurists had called for a withdrawal of the proceedings against Igor Tuleya last June.

On 27 September, fighting broke out in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, a predominantly Armenian region. A provisional death toll of 95 people has been reported. The region has announced full mobilisation, Armenia and Azerbaijan have declared martial law. Armed conflict in the breakaway region resulted in more than 30,000 deaths and 1.5 million refugees between 1988 and 1994. On 28 September Armenia filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights for interim measures against Azerbaijan. EU High Representative Josep Borrell held talks with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and called on 29 September for a halt to foreign interference and an end to the clashes.

A report published on 22 September by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) shows that drug use and production in Europe is increasing and diversifying. Cannabis use is taking precedence over the use of drugs such as MDMA and cocaine. The period of confinement has favoured the development of home selling, social networks and the darknet. Opioid use among people aged over 50 has also increased.

The Berlin Festival of Lights returns for a special edition, from 2 to 4 October, to celebrate the Day of German Unity on 3 October. On the programme, 90 light shows, spread over 86 locations in Berlin, can be viewed between 8 pm and 6 am.