The Slovenian government has decided to extend border controls with Croatia and Hungary until 19 November. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg urges EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to stick to the EU leaders’ summit declaration on the Middle East. French President Emmanuel Macron hopes the Putin-Orban meeting will not weaken EU unity.
Austrian Chancellor Nehammer said it was “unthinkable” to expand Schengen at the moment, but this had nothing to do with Bulgaria and Romania. During a first visit to Brussels, Polish opposition leader Tusk vowed to restore Poland-EU relations. The European Commission doubles funding for wind energy to 1.4 billion euros.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU’s support for Israel has not harmed the bloc’s image in the Arab world. Slovenian Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko will call on all EU Ministers to sign the Ljubljana Manifesto on Reading at a Higher Level. The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize to Mahsa Amini.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is concerned over the increase in antisemitic incidents in Europe and calls for better protection of Jewish life. In other news: Franco-German nuclear tensions, as France insists on the recognition of the role nuclear power can play in the production of low-carbon hydrogen. The next steps are taken towards a digital euro as a complement to cash.
The EU member states issued a joint statement on respect for the rights of all citizens in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner offered the UK a closer economic relationship with the EU. Slovak diplomat Ivan Korčok continues to collect signatures for his presidential candidacy.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for the behaviour of Iran, a long-time supporter of Hamas, to be monitored. At a NATO meeting in Brussels, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, defence ministers seek to increase support for Ukraine. Brussels warned the online platform Meta of a rise in false information.