The G7 leaders met by video conference on 11 October with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They again condemned the Russian attacks on Ukrainian soil. They called on Russia to end the war. They affirmed their support for Ukraine's integration into international institutions to guarantee its security and await the conclusions of the International Conference of Experts on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine to be held on 25 October.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave three speeches on 11, 12 and 13 October: the first at the G7 summit; the second with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; and the third before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Meeting on 12-13 October, NATO Defence Ministers announced increased support for Ukraine's defence and a strengthening of their deterrence. NATO plans to provide Ukraine with hundreds of jammers and member countries will increase their stockpiles of ammunition specifically for Ukraine. In addition, 14 NATO countries and Finland have built a European missile shield project called "European Sky Shield".

The pseudo-referendums organised by Russia in Ukraine were described as an "affront to international law" and deemed "null and void, without legal or political effect" by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 13 October, which unanimously adopted a resolution to set up a "comprehensive system" to sanction Russia, including a special tribunal to judge its crimes. The elected representatives also called on member states to declare the Russian regime "terrorist".

On 12 October, the Council adopted legislative measures facilitating the use of cohesion policy funds to support the increasing reception of Ukrainian refugees by Member States. These measures will strengthen CARE financial assistance and mobilise an additional €3.5 billion in pre-financing. On 10 October, the Commission announced the introduction of solidarity measures to facilitate access to employment for Ukrainians benefiting from temporary protection, including the creation of a new online job search tool and registration in the "EU Talent Pool pilot".

On 13 October, the Commission published its proposals for fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, which aim to ensure sustainable management of fish stocks and control their distribution. The Council will discuss the Commission's proposal on 12 and 13 December.

The energy ministers met on 12 October in Prague to define European legislative options for the purchase or possible capping of gas prices. On the subject of the European electricity market, they discussed renewable energies and nuclear power as part of the future energy mix.

Franco-Swiss Thérèse Blanchet was appointed Secretary General of the Council on 13 October for a five-year term. Currently Director General of the Council's Legal Service, she will be responsible for advising the Council and the European Council on the progress of their work.

On 12 October, Member States agreed on a Council Regulation that will allow air carriers to temporarily derogate from the rules on the use of slots at EU airports. The aim is to support the current recovery in aviation activity, which suffered a sharp decline due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

At an informal meeting on 13-14 October in Prague, the ministers responsible for employment and social policy discussed the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the labour market. They discussed the issues of access to health, education and social protection, as well as the question of increasing the EU's financial assistance to Member States. They took stock of the impact of rising energy prices on households and discussed a long-term plan for the situation of low and middle-income households.

Meeting on 13 October, the Justice Ministers discussed the deployment of a common judicial response against Russia. In particular, they discussed the issue of prosecuting and investigating war crimes. They also discussed the state of play of the draft directive on environmental crime. On 14 October, the Home Affairs Ministers discussed the management of external borders and approved conclusions on the external border strategy. They discussed the internal aspects of the consequences of the war in Ukraine, in particular with regard to refugees.

The Finance Ministers met in Washington on 14 October on the margins of the IMF/World Bank meeting and met with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. They reviewed the transatlantic economic outlook and risks.

On 17 October, the Council gave its final approval to the directive which aims to ensure better representation of women in decision-making positions in listed companies. The objective is to reach a level of 40% of non-executive directorships in listed companies held by members of the under-represented sex by 2026.

Cooperation to promote fair competition in the digital sector was discussed at the EU-US Technology Competition Policy meeting on 13 October. On 7 October, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order allowing and clarifying the conditions for the transfer of personal data between the EU and the US. The European Commission will now prepare a draft decision and then launch its adoption procedure.

The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached an air transport agreement on 17 October, after more than six years of negotiations. The agreement provides for an extension of the catalogue of destinations and more frequent flights for airlines from both regions. In addition, the agreement covers safety and air traffic management and includes environmental measures such as the establishment of a carbon offset and reduction scheme for international aviation.

On October 17, foreign affairs ministers approved the creation of a training mission for the Ukrainian armed forces, called EUMAM Ukraine, as well as a new tranche of €500 million for assistance in terms of the supply of military equipment to Ukraine. They agreed, among other things, on the temporary deployment of 40 experts to observe the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan to help the peace process. With regard to Iran, they added 11 individuals and 4 entities to the list of persons subject to European restrictive measures, due to the current repression

The Eutelsat Hotbird 13F satellite was successfully launched into geostationary transfer orbit by SpaceX on 15 October aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite is one of two designed by Airbus Defence and Space.

At its autumn plenary session from 10 to 14 October, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted several recommendations and resolutions relating to the integration of the Western Balkans into Europe and the honouring of commitments by Turkey, Hungary and Romania. The Assembly reported on the deterioration of human rights in Northern Ireland following Brexit.

Until 5 November, Canterbury is hosting its annual festival to celebrate the arts with a varied and extravagant programme of music, theatre and science.

The world's largest book fair takes place in Frankfurt from 19 to 23 October. The theme is "translation" in all its facets and as a prerequisite for understanding and agreement. Numerous events, lectures, readings, debates, performances and meetings are organised in the city.

Until 29 January 2023, the Musée de l'Armée in Paris is hosting the first-ever exhibition devoted to the French special forces. This exhibition looks at the history, functioning, equipment and evolution of the special forces, as well as their image in "popular culture". This exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Special Operations Command (COS).

The city of Namur is hosting the 28th edition of the international nature festival until 23 October. The programme includes film screenings, photography exhibitions, conferences and meetings on the subject of nature.

Until 19 February 2023, the Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen is organising an exhibition on Germany in the 1920s, which highlights the "Neue Sachlichkeit" movement, the New Objectivity. Around 600 works by 90 artists illustrate the political and social upheavals of the time. This exhibition is being organised in partnership with the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The KBr Photographic Centre of the Mapfre Foundation in Barcelona is devoting an exhibition to Carrie Mae Weems until 15 January 2023. The exhibition "A Grand Tour of the Possible" is being organised together with the Fundació Foto Colectania and the Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart (WKV) and features works that focus on the identity of the African-American community, women and the mechanisms of power.

Until 5 March 2023, the Abattoirs at the Musée - Frac Occitanie in Toulouse are presenting an exhibition devoted to Niki de Saint Phalle, and in particular to the lesser-known "second part" of her career, from 1978 until her death in 2002.

The world of culture is mobilising for Ukraine. The association "Solidarité Ukraine-Wasquehal" from Wasquehal is organising a performance of the show "George Kaplan" on 20 October, the profits of which will be donated in full to support the Ukrainian people. On the same date, the London Chorus is offering a concert at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London for the benefit of Ukrainian refugees. On 21 October, the city of Rietberg in Germany is hosting the "Art of Peace" event, a solidarity concert by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, L. & P. Hahn. On the Polish platform Pomagam.pl, a fundraising event has been organised to provide the Ukrainian army with the necessary winter equipment and help the population cope with one of the worst winters in decades. On 27 October, the Diario de avisos foundation in Spain will award the Ukrainian civil society.

From 19 to 23 October, the 58th edition of the Student Song Festival, which has been one of the country's most important festivals of artistic and politically engaged songs since 1962, will be held in Krakow.

Until 22 January 2023, Palazzo Strozzi in Florence is hosting the exhibition "Olafur Eliasson: In His Time". It places the visitor at the heart of the artist's reflection on the notion of shared experience and interaction with reality and combines new installations with historical works.

From 20 to 23 October, Paris + by Art Basel will be held for the first time at the Grand Palais Ephémère. The contemporary art fair, with 156 exhibitors from 30 countries, is also developing a programme of sculptures and installations throughout Paris and attracting numerous off-site events.