A new lockdown came into force in Latvia on 21 October, with a curfew from 8pm to 5am and the closure of bars, restaurants, cultural venues and shops selling non-essential goods. In Bulgaria, the health pass was introduced on 21 October in bars and restaurants, cultural venues and for sports events. In Romania, as of 25 October, a curfew for non-vaccinated people is in place, masks must be worn and the health pass has been introduced. On 22 October, Austria implemented a 5-step plan that could lead to the confinement of non-vaccinated people in the event of a flare-up of the epidemic. To follow the development of the situation and to learn about the conditions of entry into the different EU Member States, the Foundation offers you a complete map of the measures in place. An indispensable, regularly updated resource.

At the European Council on 21-22 October, the 27 leaders recalled the importance of strengthening the Health Union and called for further vaccination and coordination to facilitate free movement. Faced with rising energy prices, they asked the Commission and the Council to consider measures. They also asked the Commission for proposals and financial means for actions on all migration routes and threatened Belarus with new sanctions. They discussed the rule of law in Poland, the digital transition, the Union's trade policy, external relations in view of COP26 and the Eastern Partnership summit. They paid tribute to Angela Merkel, whose 107th and probably last European Council was held.

On 18 October, the European Union and Qatar signed an agreement to establish a level playing field for flights between the two parties. This air transport agreement aims to provide for sustainable aviation, including the possibility for airlines to operate direct flights between the two areas, as well as improving their social and labour policies. Implementation of the agreement has started, but it still needs to be ratified by both parties before it enters into force.

In a resolution adopted on 19 October, MEPs gave their support to the draft "Farm to Fork" strategy. They insist on the need for binding targets for reducing pesticide use, reviewing animal welfare standards and increasing the amount of organic land in the EU by 2030.

The tripartite social summit, held by video conference on 20 October, addressed the issues of recovery and the role of the social partners, the social dimension of the dual climate and digital transition, and sustainable work.

On 21 October, representatives of some 30 states and international organisations met in Tripoli for the Conference in Support of the Stability of Libya, in the run-up to the presidential election that the interim government has pledged to hold on 24 December.

On 21 October, the European Court of Auditors published a report on the use of performance as a funding criterion in the Cohesion Policy for the period 2014-2020. It observes that, despite the progress made, the objective of basing funding on performance has not been fully achieved. For the future, it recommends monitoring compliance by Member States receiving funds, anticipating the mid-term review for 2021-2027, and introducing better monitoring of internal market rules and reporting by states on the results to be achieved.

The President of the Bundesbank, the German Central Bank, Jens Weidmann, announced on 20 October his intention to step down on 31 December. He explained his decision by "personal reasons" and the wish to "open a new chapter" in his career and in the institution he has headed since May 2011.

On 23 October, an Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou with two satellites on board, SES-17 and Syracuse 4A. For its 111th launch (VA255), Ariane 5 achieved the "most successful flight ever by a launcher to the geostationary transfer orbit", the European heavy launcher achieving a world record for injection into this orbit.

On 19 October, the Italian government presented its draft budget for the year 2022 to support "the economy in the phase of recovery from the pandemic and strengthen the growth rate in the medium term". It mainly foresees a tax cut, a reform of social buffers and pensions, as well as tax allowances to adapt homes to the energy transition. It also plans an overhaul of the "citizenship income", a minimum income aimed at fighting poverty.

The Romanian Parliament refused on 20 October to invest Dacian Ciolos, leader of the centre-right USR+ party, as head of government. On 21 October, President Klaus Iohannis tasked General Nicolae Ciuca, the current Defence Minister, to try to form a government within 10 days. The country has been in political crisis since parliament overthrew Prime Minister Florin Citu (PNL, centre-right) on 5 October.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing body, placed Turkey on its grey list on 21 October due to the country's shortcomings in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

At a meeting of the Swiss-EU Joint Committee on the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons on 22 October, the Swiss government announced that Croatia will have full free movement on 1 January 2022. Until now, Croatian nationals are subject to labour market protection measures under the agreement.

The Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) estimates in a report published on 20 October that the number of presumed trafficked persons reported to the UK's National Referral Mechanism increased from 1 182 to 10 613 between 2012 and 2020. The report welcomes the efforts of the UK authorities to create specialised anti-trafficking bodies. However, it calls on the government to take further steps to improve the identification of victims of trafficking, ensure legal and psychological support for victims, and convict more traffickers.

NATO Defence Ministers met on 21-22 October to discuss the Alliance's capabilities and its role on the international stage. They discussed NATO's response to Russian attacks and the situation in Afghanistan. Ministers from 17 member states launched a €1 billion innovation fund as part of the implementation of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme to make better use of civilian innovation. The Ministers also expressed their wish to strengthen cooperation between NATO and the Scandinavian countries (Finland and Sweden).

In its forecast for Europe published on 20 October, the International Monetary Fund estimates that growth in 2022 will be 4.4% for the continent's advanced economies and 3.6% for emerging economies. It stresses that Europe now faces two challenges in this period of economic recovery: controlling inflation and reducing government budget support. He says it is better to withdraw aid "too slowly rather than too quickly" to avoid the risk of weakening the momentum of the recovery. It also calls on governments to support job transitions, with public support for hiring or training.

Annual inflation was 3.6% in the European Union and 3.4% in the euro area in September, according to Eurostat figures published on 20 October.

Until February 27, 2022, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is presenting an exhibition that aims to document the contribution of women artists to 20th century abstraction. Through choreographic works, photographs and decorative arts, the exhibition highlights the specific contexts that have surrounded, favoured or, on the contrary, limited the recognition of these women artists, from all continents.

The Musée Masséna in Nice is presenting the Emperor as a writer together with his memoirs in the exhibition "Napoleon, a literary hero" until 9 January 2022. On 30 and 31 October, special "Imperial Days" will be held on the theme of "Napoleon, hero beyond death".