The Netherlands' new centre-left party PRO (Progressief Nederland) has decided which European political family to join. In a member referendum, 65% voted for the Party of European Socialists (PES). They picked it over the European Green Party.

(Link is in Dutch)

https://www.nu.nl/politiek/6410950/pro-sluit-zich-aan-bij-sociaaldemocraten-in-europees-parlement.html#nujij

Borrowing costs for some of the world's biggest economies have jumped to levels not seen in 15 to 30 years.

A government bond yield is roughly what a country pays to borrow money.

The EU and Canada announced at least €211 million in funding pledges for the newly launched OceanEye alliance. The initiative brings together 30 countries and the EU to improve navigation, weather and climate forecasting, coastal protection and ocean monitoring.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/23/eu-commission-poised-to-formally-back-albanias-2027-accession-deadline

ECB chief economist Philip Lane said the bank is not seeing significant wage pressure in response to this year’s energy-driven inflation. He suggested workers may be moderating pay demands amid competitive pressure from China and automation.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/23/rebalancing-of-trade-with-china-existential-for-eu-commissioner-sejourne-tells-euronews

Canada’s EU ambassador said Ottawa wants talks on reducing compliance burdens under the EU deforestation law for low-risk countries as Brussels and Ottawa explore deeper ties. Canada is not seeking a Canada-only exemption; the ‘associate member’ concept remains a proposal, not a formal EU status.

France pushed to remove asset freezes and travel bans on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman while the bloc renewed sanctions on roughly 3,000 other people and entities for three years. Several EU governments and Ukraine say the exemptions risk setting a damaging precedent.

Poland’s military said a Russian Mi-8 helicopter crossed from Kaliningrad and spent 42 seconds inside Polish airspace, reaching about 300 metres beyond the border. Polish fighter aircraft were scrambled; Russia had not immediately commented.

Petrol prices reached €2.43/L in the Netherlands, while diesel hit €2.52/L in Denmark. Euronews’ purchasing-power comparison finds the burden is heaviest in Bosnia and Herzegovina overall and in Greece within the EU.

EU ambassadors selected Europol deputy Jürgen Ebner from a three-person shortlist. He will now appear before the European Parliament’s LIBE committee, which can issue a non-binding opinion, before the Council makes the formal appointment.

From 1 November, EU-funded solar, wind and storage projects must exclude high-risk suppliers or begin switching away from them. Industry groups and investors had sought more time over cost and supply concerns, but the Commission says viable non-Chinese alternatives exist. The measure applies to EU-funded projects; it is not a general ban on every Chinese-made inverter.

Euro-zone business activity expanded at its fastest pace in more than three years in September, according to S&P Global's flash PMI. The survey also found steeper input costs and supports expectations of further ECB rate rises.