Several countries have suspended flights from southern Africa. In France, masks must once again be worn in enclosed public places, the validity of tests has been reduced to 24 hours, and the health pass will only be valid for 7 months from 15 December onwards if the person has not had a third dose of vaccine. A state of health emergency has been declared in the Czech Republic until Christmas, bars and restaurants close at 10pm and gatherings are restricted. In Belgium, teleworking is mandatory 4 days a week, discos are closed and bars and restaurants close at 11pm. In the Netherlands, non-essential shops close between 5pm and 5am. In Italy, from 6 December to 15 January, people who have not been vaccinated will no longer have access to restaurants, bars, cinemas and theatres, and the validity of the pass will be extended to 9 months instead of 12. To follow the development of the situation and to find out what measures are in place in the EU Member States, the Foundation offers you a complete map of the measures in place. An indispensable, regularly updated resource.

Following the instrumentalization of migrants by the Belarusian regime, the Commission proposed on 23 November measures to restrict the activities of transport operators who smuggle or facilitate the smuggling of migrants into the EU. This legal framework includes the limitation of the operations of the carriers concerned on the European market, the suspension of their licences or authorisations and a ban on transiting or flying over the territory of the Union. The Commission specified that these targeted sanctions concern all types of transport (sea, land and air).

On 23 November, MEPs approved the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the main objective of which is to strengthen biodiversity and environmental and climate protection. From 2023, Member States will have to spend at least 35% of the agricultural budget on rural development and at least 25% of direct payments on environmental and climate measures. In addition, 10% of direct payments will go to small and medium-sized farms and a permanent crisis reserve will be available in case of price or market instability.

On 23 November, the ministers responsible for European affairs adopted conclusions on the Union's resilience, which will be discussed at the European Council on 16 and 17 December. They discussed the EU's relations with Africa, the rise in energy prices and the state of play in the enlargement negotiations with the Western Balkans. They also took stock of the discussions with the UK on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

On the occasion of the Asia-Europe Summit on 25-26 November, leaders recalled the importance of partnership and peace and security in both continents. On the situation in Afghanistan, they noted the importance of the role of the international community in maintaining stability in the region. At the ministerial meeting with the Central Asian countries on 22 November in Dushanbe, the participants confirmed their willingness to strengthen cooperation in addressing the problems related to developments in Afghanistan and to support a green and sustainable recovery from the pandemic.

On 26 November, the Vice-President of the European Court of First Instance rejected a new request to suspend the lifting of the immunity of MEPs Carles Puigdemont, Antoni Comin and Clara Ponsati. He considered that the three Catalan pro-independence activists were not exposed to a risk of serious and irreparable harm as they still benefit from their immunity when they travel to attend Parliament meetings.

On 24 November, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) presented their coalition agreement to govern Germany for the next 4 years. The 177-page text focuses on European cooperation, investment, an overhaul of the social system and the ecological transition. Olaf Scholz (SPD) will be Chancellor, Annalena Baerbock (Greens) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Christian Lindner (FDP) Minister of Finance. The agreement now has to be accepted by each party before a investiture vote in the Bundestag in early December. The Foundation has published an analysis of this agreement to understand what is at stake for Germany and Europe.

During an official visit to Zagreb on 24-25 November, French President Emmanuel Macron and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic signed a strategic partnership that strengthens their cooperation in areas such as education, the economy and the need to ensure stability and prosperity in South East Europe. The two countries also signed an agreement for the delivery of 12 Rafale aircraft.

French President Emmanuel Macron received Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on 24 November. They discussed the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and in Ukraine. They also discussed the European commitment in the Sahel to fight terrorism, the development of a European defence system, climate change and digital regulation.

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on 26 November. They discussed at length issues of the "world in crisis" such as the climate, the management of vaccines and the crisis in Lebanon.

On 26 November, the President of the Italian Council, Mario Draghi, and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, in the presence of the Italian President Sergio Mattarella, signed the Quirinal Treaty on enhanced cooperation between the two countries. The treaty has three specific objectives: to work together on the European scene, to bring civil society in both countries closer together and to establish common strategic guidelines.

Petr Fiala, leader of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), was appointed Prime Minister by Czech President Milos Zeman on 28 November. He will head a coalition government between his party and the Christian Democratic Union-People's Party (KDU-ČSL), the TOP 09, the Pirate Party, the Mayors and Independents (STAN), which is expected to comprise 18 ministers.

The Romanian Parliament swore in the new government led by Nicolae Ciuca of the National Liberal Party (PNL) on 25 November. The coalition composed of the PNL, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Magyar Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) has 21 ministers, including one woman.

The Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson was elected Prime Minister by the Swedish Parliament on 29 November. She was first elected on 24 November but was outvoted a few hours later during the vote on the budget.

Outgoing Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir was reappointed as head of government in Iceland on 28 November. This coalition government, between her left-green party, the Independence Party and the Progress Party, includes 12 ministers, 5 of whom are women.

In a vote held on 28 November, 62% of the Swiss people approved the Covid Act, which provides for the introduction of a health pass in restaurants, cinemas and cultural venues. The vote was marked by a high turnout.

The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) published a report on 24 November assessing Sweden's progress in preventing corruption against parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors and a similar report on Denmark on 25 November.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) condemned Turkey on 23 November for the alleged arbitrary detention of 427 judges after the failed coup of July 2016.

On 23 November, the Commission published two reports on foreign investment in the EU and the control of exports abroad. The first report highlights the effectiveness of the new foreign investment screening framework that came into force in October 2020. The new regulation, which came into force in September, aims to strengthen the control of dual-use technologies, including cyber surveillance tools.

Until 6 March 2022, the Boverie Museum in Liège is offering visitors the chance to enter the spirit of Surrealism through the ''Inside Magritte'' exhibition, an immersive experience designed to awaken all the senses through an original presentation of the emblematic works of Belgian painter René Magritte.

On 2 December, the anniversary of Napoleon's coronation and the battle of Austerlitz, the Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides will host a concert entitled "Apothéose de Napoléon" (Napoleon's Apotheosis), organised in partnership with the Fondation Napoléon, with the Chœur de l'Armée française (French Army Choir) and the symphony orchestra of the Garde républicaine.