Major Current Events in Europe (as of September 2021)

Note: Information reflects knowledge cutoff of September 2021. Events have evolved significantly since.

1. COVID-19 Pandemic

• Delta wave driving cases; vaccine rollout uneven (West high, East low)
• EU Digital COVID Certificate launched (Jul 2021) for travel
• Debates: mandates, passes, school closures, long COVID

2. EU Policy Frontiers

• Fit for 55: Climate package targeting 55% emissions cut by 2030
• Migration Pact: Stalled reform of asylum rules; border externalization
• Digital Markets/Services Acts: Regulating Big Tech
• Rule of Law: Article 7 proceedings vs. Poland/Hungary; conditionality mechanism

3. National Politics

• Germany: Federal election Sep 26, 2021 — Merkel's exit after 16 years; Scholz (SPD) wins
• France: Macron prepping 2022 re-election; yellow vests memory
• Italy: Draghi unity government (Feb 2021); NRRP implementation
• Spain: Catalan independence tensions; labor reform
• Poland: Judicial independence clash with EU; border crisis (Belarus)

4. Post-Brexit UK–EU Relations

• Trade and Cooperation Agreement (Jan 2021) operational
• Northern Ireland Protocol disputes (sausage wars, Art 16 threats)
• Financial services equivalence denied
• Fishing quotas annual negotiations

5. Geopolitical Shocks

• Afghanistan collapse (Aug 2021): Refugee flows; EU evacuation ops; fear of 2015 repeat
• Belarus: Ryanair hijack (May 2021); sanctions; migrant weaponization at PL/LT/LV borders
• Russia–Ukraine: Troop buildup (Spring 2021); Nord Stream 2 controversy
• Western Balkans: Stalled enlargement; Serbia-Kosovo dialogue

6. Economic Recovery

• NextGenerationEU (€806B) rolling out; national plans approved
• Inflation rising (energy, supply chains); ECB "transitory" stance
• Labor shortages, tourism partial rebound

For current events, consult: Financial Times, Economist, Politico Europe, EUobserver, Deutsche Welle, France 24, BBC, Reuters.