Ukraine making progress on EU path, but corruption remains worry and ‘red line’ – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
With all the praise for Montenegro, Albania and Moldova, a lot of focus will inevitably be on Ukraine, as there is a growing political momentum to progress the negotiations, with Zelenskyy repeatedly urging EU leaders to find a way around Hungary’s blocking of the talks (12:49).
It’s clear the political intent is there with the commission’s release today saying that it “expects Ukraine to meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters and works to ensure that the Council is in a position to take forward the opening of all clusters before the end of the year.”
But it also noted that the commission is “commited” to support the ambitious 2028 target for closing accession talks adopted by the Ukrainian authorities, but “considers that, to meet it an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law.”
The general report stressed that “amid the challenges caused by Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine has demonstrated its strong commitment to its EU path, moving forward on key reforms, while further and steady progress is needed in the fight against corruption.”
“Steps already taken (from reinforcing anti-corruption measures to improving public administration) are laying the foundations for recovery and opening space for greater private sector involvement.
Sustaining this momentum and preventing any risk of backsliding, in particular on anti-corruption, will be essential. Significant progress was also made on gradual integration into the single market, already bringing Ukraine closer to the EU.”
A detailed Ukraine report, running into over 110-pages, repeatedly referenced corruption issues too, saying “there have also been some elements of notable concern, in particular in ensuring a robust and independent anti-corruption framework” and “limited progress” made in this area over the last year.
The analysis did not hold back in its assessment of the now-reversed corruption law reform over the summer, saying the proposal would have “dismantled important safeguards” for corruption agencies, and “severely weakened Ukraine’s anti-corruption framework.”
“The independence of NABU and SAPO was swiftly restored following domestic protests and strong concerns voiced by international partners,” it noted.
It further warned that “legislative initiatives presented as protecting businesses or national security were registered or adopted that risk undermining the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, including by limiting transparency of public registers and criminal liability for corruption offences.”
“Overall, these developments cast doubts on Ukraine’s commitment to its anticorruption agenda.
Ukraine should advance its anti-corruption framework and prevent any backsliding on its notable reform achievements. Procedural delays and obstructions in highlevel corruption proceedings should be addressed.”
But responding to questions from EU lawmakers, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos tried to strike a balance as she said that corruption remains “a red line” for the bloc, but also spoke about her “admiration” for the general progress made by Kyiv.
Addressing Kyiv’s frustration with the formal process being blocked by Hungary, she said that on her recent visit to Ukraine she “told Ukrainians: you don’t need Orbán to do the necessary reforms, and we can help them.”
As always the case with EU enlargement, both the technical assessment and the political intent will matter going forward as the process continues.
One to watch.
Key events
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EU press conference on enlargement imminent
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Ukraine making progress on EU path, but corruption remains worry and ‘red line’ – snap analysis
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‘Ukraine confidently moving towards EU membership,’ Zelenskyy says
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EU enlargement ‘realistic possibility’ given progress made, commission says
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EU’s enlargement review published, with praise for Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, and criticism for Serbia, Georgia
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Georgia ‘candidate country in name only,’ EU’s Kos warns amid ‘continued backsliding’ on fundamental rights
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Montenegro leads in accession plans, but ‘significant’ progress in Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, EU says
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China issues warning to Europe on supply of chips after Nexperia’s Dutch plant takeover
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Europe needs to show ‘greater attention and effort’ to counter Russian threat, Italian president says
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Can Spanish PM survive corruption cases against family and allies?
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Outrage in Paris as Shein prepares to open its first permanent store
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Dutch coalition forming process to get under way today
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Worker dies after being rescued from partially collapsed medieval tower in Rome
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Czechs mourn death of Catholic leader Duka
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EU’s rule of law reports ‘even less comprehensive’ this year, risks ‘backsliding’, campaigners warn
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Morning opening: The marking process
Jakub Krupa
The press conference is now under way.
EU press conference on enlargement imminent
Jakub Krupa
We should hear from the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and the EU’s enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, any moment now.
We can certainly expect more questions on Ukraine.
I will bring you all the key quotes here.
Ukraine making progress on EU path, but corruption remains worry and ‘red line’ – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
With all the praise for Montenegro, Albania and Moldova, a lot of focus will inevitably be on Ukraine, as there is a growing political momentum to progress the negotiations, with Zelenskyy repeatedly urging EU leaders to find a way around Hungary’s blocking of the talks (12:49).
It’s clear the political intent is there with the commission’s release today saying that it “expects Ukraine to meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters and works to ensure that the Council is in a position to take forward the opening of all clusters before the end of the year.”
But it also noted that the commission is “commited” to support the ambitious 2028 target for closing accession talks adopted by the Ukrainian authorities, but “considers that, to meet it an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law.”
The general report stressed that “amid the challenges caused by Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine has demonstrated its strong commitment to its EU path, moving forward on key reforms, while further and steady progress is needed in the fight against corruption.”
“Steps already taken (from reinforcing anti-corruption measures to improving public administration) are laying the foundations for recovery and opening space for greater private sector involvement.
Sustaining this momentum and preventing any risk of backsliding, in particular on anti-corruption, will be essential. Significant progress was also made on gradual integration into the single market, already bringing Ukraine closer to the EU.”
A detailed Ukraine report, running into over 110-pages, repeatedly referenced corruption issues too, saying “there have also been some elements of notable concern, in particular in ensuring a robust and independent anti-corruption framework” and “limited progress” made in this area over the last year.
The analysis did not hold back in its assessment of the now-reversed corruption law reform over the summer, saying the proposal would have “dismantled important safeguards” for corruption agencies, and “severely weakened Ukraine’s anti-corruption framework.”
“The independence of NABU and SAPO was swiftly restored following domestic protests and strong concerns voiced by international partners,” it noted.
It further warned that “legislative initiatives presented as protecting businesses or national security were registered or adopted that risk undermining the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, including by limiting transparency of public registers and criminal liability for corruption offences.”
“Overall, these developments cast doubts on Ukraine’s commitment to its anticorruption agenda.
Ukraine should advance its anti-corruption framework and prevent any backsliding on its notable reform achievements. Procedural delays and obstructions in highlevel corruption proceedings should be addressed.”
But responding to questions from EU lawmakers, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos tried to strike a balance as she said that corruption remains “a red line” for the bloc, but also spoke about her “admiration” for the general progress made by Kyiv.
Addressing Kyiv’s frustration with the formal process being blocked by Hungary, she said that on her recent visit to Ukraine she “told Ukrainians: you don’t need Orbán to do the necessary reforms, and we can help them.”
As always the case with EU enlargement, both the technical assessment and the political intent will matter going forward as the process continues.
One to watch.
‘Ukraine confidently moving towards EU membership,’ Zelenskyy says
Responding to the EU’s findings, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “Ukraine is confidently moving towards EU membership” and ready to open more cluster negotiations with the union.
“This is the best assessment to date—proof that even as we defend against Russia’s full-scale aggression, Ukraine continues to reform and transform according to European standards,” he said on X.
In an apparent dig at Hungary, which continues to block further progress in accession talks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine expected “the EU’s decisive action to overcome all artificial obstacles for a strong and united Europe.”
EU enlargement ‘realistic possibility’ given progress made, commission says
The full report noted that “this is the first Commission mandate since 2010-2014 where, given the accelerating pace of the process for some candidate countries, enlargement is a realistic possibility,” noting that expanding the union in the next budget – 2028-2034 timeframe – is “a political and geostrategic imperative.”
But some particular concerns across the board were raised about drugs trafficking, which it said “remains one of the most widespread areas of activity of organised criminal groups across enlargement countries.”
It also called for “the capacity to fight economic crime, international tax fraud and money-laundering … to be improved.”
EU’s enlargement review published, with praise for Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, and criticism for Serbia, Georgia
Oh, the EU’s assessment of the candidate countries has now been published here and, unsurprisingly, it is in line with Kos’s comments to the European parliament.
The EU pointedly singled out Montenegro for “maintaining steady progress on reforms,” saying that the country was “on track” to meets its ambitious target to close accession negotiations by 2026.
It also praised Albania, saying its “goal of concluding negotiations by 2027 depends on maintaining reform momentum and fostering inclusive political dialogue,” but “subject to maintaining the pace of reforms, Albania is on track to meet this ambitious objective.|
On Ukraine, the commission said praised its progress, but said “an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law” to have a chance to “provisionally close accession negotiations by the end of 2028”.
Similarly, Moldova’s 2028 ambition is “ambitious but achievable, provided Moldova accelerates the current pace of reforms,” the EU said.
But the tone was markedly different on Serbia noting “disappointment of citizens over inter alia corruption and the perceived lack of accountability and transparency coupled with instances of excessive use of force against protesters and pressure on civil society,” and “an increasingly difficult environment” for reforms.
“Reforms have significantly slowed down,” it said, noting that “more needs to be done” and Serbia needs to “overcome the standstill in the area of judiciary and fundamental rights overall and urgently reverse the backsliding on freedom of expression and the erosion of academic freedom.”
The harshest language, as in Kos’s statement to lawmakers, was saved for Georgia, with the commission standing by its statement that it’s “accession process was de facto halted” since 2024, and the situation “has sharply deteriorated, with serious democratic backsliding marked by a rapid erosion of the rule of law and severe restrictions on fundamental rights.”
“… in light of Georgia’s continued backsliding, the Commission considers Georgia a candidate country in name only. The Georgian authorities must demonstrate resolute commitment to reverse course and return to the EU accession path,” it said.
The full 60-page document is here.
Georgia ‘candidate country in name only,’ EU’s Kos warns amid ‘continued backsliding’ on fundamental rights
In stark contrast to praise for other countries, EU’s enlargement commissioner Kos strongly criticised the worsening situation in Georgia, saying that “in light of Georgia’s continued backsliding on the fundamentals since then, the Commission considers Georgia a candidate country in the name only.”
She said the accession talks “have remained at a standstill since 2018,” and the situation “has sharply deteriorated, with serious democratic backsliding as never before.”
“Georgian authorities need to urgently reverse their course to respond to their citizens’ demand for a European future,” she said.
Montenegro leads in accession plans, but ‘significant’ progress in Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, EU says
We will formally get the EU’s commentary on the enlargement ratings (9:26) in just over an hour – when EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU enlargment commissioner Marta Kos are due to speak to journalists – but we have just had a brief glimpse of what’s coming during Kos’s appearance in the European parliament.
She said these have been “significant advances on the EU path achieved so far by Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine,” stressing that “reforms pay off.”
I can say that these four candidates have matched their ambitions with concrete actions.
Kos said that Montenegro is “the most advanced and has made significant progress towards EU accession and is … the most prepared country,” but also praised Albania for making “unprecedented progress” in the last year, with “firm political commitment … and clear EU aspirations of its society.”
Moldova also “progressed on its … path,” despite attempts to throw it off course by Russia.
On Ukraine, Kos also spoke highly of the country’s work, while warning it’s necessary to “sustain this momentum and prevent any risk of backsliding, in partticular, on anti-corruption,” an apparent reference to an attempted and eventually reversed anti-corruption reform over the summer.
She said that good progress reported by these countries allow the EU to “think more broadly about our work with aspiring members and grant participation in various policies and programmes before EU membership, provided they meet the conditions” on issues such as energy resilience, rule of law, and foreign and security policy.
The commission will next week adopt its “Democracy Shield” proposal which will include the EU’s new civil society organisation strategy and media resilience proposals.
But Kos also offered more detail on other countries, including on Serbia, where she pointedly warned that “the actual pace of implementation of reforms has slowed down significantly” over the last year, during which the country’s authoritarian leadership faced mass protests over alleged corruption.
“Serbia is expected to overcome the standstill in the area of judiciary and fundamental rights and urgently reverse the backsliding on freedom of expression, on freedom of academia, as well as ensure progress on the electoral framework.”
In a nod to protests, Kos added: “This also is something what the citizens of Serbia are requesting.”
China issues warning to Europe on supply of chips after Nexperia’s Dutch plant takeover
Lisa O’Carroll
China has issued a veiled warning to European leaders that restrictions on supply of chips critical for the car industry will continue to be affected by the Dutch government’s takeover of the Chinese-owned Nexperia plant last month.
The EU is continuing talks with China in the hope of persuading Beijing to reverse its export controls on chips and rare earths but failed to get a breakthrough at a summit of officials in Brussels on Friday.
On Tuesday, Beijing made its position clear warning that continued Dutch interference in the running of Nexperia in Nijmegen could impact “global” supplies of chips.
“The Netherlands continues to act unilaterally without taking concrete steps to resolve the issue, which will inevitably exacerbate the adverse impact on the global semiconductor supply chain,” China’s ministry of commerce said.
The warning comes days after the EU trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said he “welcomed progress on Nexperia, key to restoring a semiconductor supply chain”.
He added that work “continues towards lasting stability without export control barriers and with a diversified EU ecosystem”.
Last month, Dutch government took control of the Netherlands-based chipmaker, citing fears of possible technology transfer to Chinese parent company Wingtech.
This sparked a diplomatic spat between the EU and China and threats to chip supply to the European auto industry.
Europe needs to show ‘greater attention and effort’ to counter Russian threat, Italian president says
Italian president Sergio Mattarella warned that “the bloody conflict” triggered by Russia’s invasion on Ukraine “demands greater attention and a significant effort to adapt the military to create a common European defence force” to play a major role within Nato.
In a statement issued on the Italian National Unification and Armed Forces’ Day, marking the anniversary of the armistice of Villa Giusti in 1918, he also warned that “new conflicts have emerged in Europe and the Mediterranean, challenging the security framework built in the postwar period and the institutions established to protect it.”
The Corriere della Sera newspaper noted that Mattarella has been increasingly vocal about the need to step up Europe’s defence in recent months, issuing a similarly stark warning in May in Portugal, when he joined former Italian prime minister, Mario Draghi, in calling for ““for a more competitive, technologically advanced, and therefore more secure Europe.”
Can Spanish PM survive corruption cases against family and allies?
Sam Jones
in Madrid
Despite spending the past 18 months variously defending his wife, his brother, his party, his attorney general and his government against a relentless slew of corruption allegations, Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has not entirely lost his sense of humour.
Three weeks ago, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the opposition conservative People’s party (PP), rattled off the familiar litany of accusations and concluded by suggesting the man sitting opposite him in congress was neither “a decent or worthy prime minister” but rather a seasoned enabler of corruption. After the giddy applause that greeted Feijóo’s speech from the PP benches had died down, Sánchez rose to his feet and uttered two words.
“Ánimo, Alberto,” he said. “Chin up, Alberto.”
The prime minister’s retort would appear to have been carefully chosen to remind Feijóo’s party of its own problems.
Seven years ago, Sánchez became prime minister by using a vote of no confidence to topple the PP government of one of Feijóo’s predecessors, Mariano Rajoy. By then, the conservative party was so mired in scandals that Sánchez accused it of turning Spanish politics into a “corruption thriller”.
In a series of leaked text messages, Rajoy told his close ally, the former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas, to “be strong” and to keep his chin up as the net closed around him – hence the “Ánimo, Alberto” dig.
In May 2018, Bárcenas was jailed for 33 years for fraud and money laundering, and the PP itself was found to have profited from an illegal kickbacks-for-contracts scheme. A week later, the PP was out of government and Sánchez was Spain’s new prime minister.
Given what happened to Rajoy and his government, some may see Sánchez’s taunt as tempting fate.
But the prime minister has insisted he has worked to tackle corruption and is adamant the cases against his family are politically motivated vendettas waged by his right and far-right opponents and their media supporters.
More controversially, he has also cast doubts on the independence of some members of the Spanish judiciary, claiming in an interview at the beginning of September “there’s no doubt that there are judges doing politics and there are politicians trying to do justice”.
Read more about Sánchez’s problems here:
Outrage in Paris as Shein prepares to open its first permanent store
Angelique Chrisafis
in Paris
The online fast-fashion retailer Shein will open its first permanent bricks-and-mortar store in the world in Paris this week amid political outrage, fury from workers and warnings from city hall that it will damage the French capital’s progressive image.
The Singapore-based clothing company, which was founded in China, has built a massive online business despite criticism over its factory working conditions and the environmental impact of low-cost, throwaway fashion.
Shein, which has previously trialled temporary pop-up stores, will on Wednesday open a permanent shop on the sixth floor of Paris’s prestigious BHV department store, a historic building that has stood opposite Paris’s city hall since 1856. There are about 23 million Shein customers in France, one of its biggest European markets.
But with vast banners for Shein draped across the building, the brand’s arrival has sparked outrage over the promotion of fast fashion.
The office of the French minister for small businesses said Shein’s Paris presence sent “a bad signal that should be avoided”. Several leading independent French fashion brands have pulled their products from the BHV store in protest.
“There would be no sense being sold in the same shop as Shein,” Guillaume Alcan, a co-founder of the French ethical footwear brand Odaje, told Le Monde.
The company has also separately pledged to cooperate with French prosecutors who have opened an investigation into the sale of childlike sex dolls on its platform.
Dutch coalition forming process to get under way today
Meanwhile over in the Netherlands, the coalition forming process is about to start this afternoon as leaders of the main parties meet to discuss next steps and appoint a “scout” to see what’s possible.
The meeting is scheduled for 4pm local time today, and will be hosted by the parliament speaker, Martin Bosma.
The final forecast by the Dutch news agency ANP last night suggested that both the centrist D66 party, led by charismatic Rob Jetten, and the far-right VPP party by Geert Wilders will have 26 seats each in the new parliament.
After counting the overseas vote, the centrists appeared to be firmly on course to win the most votes by just under 30,000 votes over Wilders’s party, but they are unlikely to get the additional, 27th seat as hoped.
This complicates the coalition forming process a bit, as a potential alternative coalition scenario with VVD, the Christian Democrats in CDA, and JA21 would no longer have the required majority in the new parliament.
A broader coalition involving the centre-left GL-PvdA party remains the default scenario, but persuading the conservative-liberal VVD party to join a left-wing party in the government is likely to prove to be tricky.
Jetten – widely expected to be the next prime minister, the youngest in the Dutch history and the country’s first out gay to lead the government – hopes to have the new government as soon as possible, but the outgoing caretaker, Dick Schoof, has indicated he still expects to be in place at Christmas.
Worker dies after being rescued from partially collapsed medieval tower in Rome
Angela Giuffrida
in Rome
Separately, a Romanian worker who was trapped for hours under rubble in Rome after the partial collapse of a medieval tower has died in hospital, just a short time after he was pulled free by emergency services.
“I express deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the government, for the tragic loss of Octay Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome,” Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement after midnight. “We are close to his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable suffering.”
Two section of the 29-metre (95ft) Torre dei Conti, near the Colosseum, crashed to the ground, videos posted on social media showed. The first collapse took place at about 10.30am UK time, the second about 90 minutes later.
Clouds of dust billowed out of the windows, along with the sound of collapsing masonry. The second collapse happened while firefighters worked on the structure with aerial ladders. None of the firefighters were injured.
Authorities said he was conscious during the lengthy rescue operation before he was hospitalised in critical condition. He died shortly after he arrived at the hospital.
Czechs mourn death of Catholic leader Duka
In other news, Czechs are mourning the Catholic archbishop emeritus of Prague, Dominik Duka, who has died overnight at the age of 82.
Cardinal Duka – whose father flew in the British RAF during the second world war – was one of the most influential religious leaders in the Czech Republic, serving as a dissident priest under communism who eventually got imprisoned alongside playwright turned president Václav Havel.
After 1989, he played a pivotal role as the church sought to reinstate itself in the Czech public life, becoming the archbishop of Prague in 2012, and leading the church through a difficult debate about the restitution of property confiscated under communism.
But in recent years he also faced growing criticism over his increasingly outspoken positions on public issues, including Russia, and Muslim immigration, with the Radio Prague’s International service calling him a “a divisive yet defining church leader.”
AFP also noted that Duka repeatedly came under fire during his time as archbishop of Prague from 2010 until 2022, including for allegedly protecting paedophile priests.
Outgoing prime minister, Petr Fiala, said he “respected his courage and activity during the time of totalitarianism,” and “appreciated his important role in the renewal of the church in the democratic society.”
Incoming Czech billionaire turned prime minister, Andrej Babiš, also paid tribute to Duka’s service which “for many years helped shape the spiritual and social life of our country.”
Duka’s funeral is planned for 15 November.
EU’s rule of law reports ‘even less comprehensive’ this year, risks ‘backsliding’, campaigners warn
Speaking of the marking process, the civil rights group Liberties has also just published its assessment of the EU commission’s separate annual rule of law report, which looks at the union’s member states and their work in this area.
In a scathing summary, the assessment found that the EU’s analysis “in key areas was even less comprehensive, with key issues neglected and no consequences for non-compliance with recommendations,” with some parts of the report literally “repeated verbatim, regardless of the level of progress, the seriousness of the violation, or the implications of continued inaction” from previous years.
It said that “Hungary stands out as an outlier, holding the highest number of recommendations with persistent ‘no progress’ status, underscoring deep-rooted governance issues and resistance to EU-level oversight.”
But “other countries showing notable stagnation include Italy, Bulgaria, Ireland, and Germany, each with five or six recommendations that remain unaddressed since 2022.”
In total, “the share of recommendations fully implemented fell from 11% in 2023 to 6% in both 2024 and 2025,” it said.
“This indicates that the Annual Rule of Law Report risks becoming a symbolic monitoring exercise rather than a real tool to protect the rule of law and fundamental rights. The main recommendation to tackle persistent non-compliance is to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, including infringement proceedings and budget conditionality, ensuring that they are applied in a regular and timely manner,” Liberties said.
The group warned that “without rapid action, we fear the backsliding will escalate and changes will become very difficult to reverse.”
The report is here.
Morning opening: The marking process
Jakub Krupa
The European Union is set to reveal its ratings for candidate countries later today, assessing the progress they are making on the path to become the union’s members in the future.
We will hear from the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and the enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, early afternoon.
Lots of potential lines to look out for there, as we will get the commission’s assessment of the worsening situation in Georgia, the attempts to reform Ukraine despite the on-going Russian aggression, and their look at the western Balkan countries, including Serbia, which sees continued protests against Aleksandar Vučić’s rule.
Separately, I will keep an eye on the EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius’s meeting with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte in Brussels on rearming Europe.
There is also more news from the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Germany, and others.
Lots for us to go through.
It’s Tuesday, 4 November 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
