European Parliament's PEGA committee hearing on the use of spyware against MEPs, including Greek opposition leader Nikos Androulakis and Catalan separatists, has been delayed due to what some EU officials call 'political games.' The hearing, focused on Greece after revelations of attempted surveillance on Androulakis, will exclude him and Catalan MEPs from speaking next week. The European People's Party, aligned with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, pushed for Catalan MEPs' inclusion, which would have reduced time for discussions on Greece. The Socialists & Democrats, associated with Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, preferred not to hear from the Catalans. A separate hearing is now set for October 6. The delay fits a broader pattern of member states' reluctance to investigate and involve the EU. Greece seeks to avoid EU interference, citing national security, while the EU considers using alleged GDPR violations as grounds for investigation. Despite the Catalangate scandal, no European Parliament mission to Spain was planned until recently, leading to accusations of double standards by the EU. A mission is now scheduled for next year.

The EU has intensified its focus on the Western Balkans since the war in Ukraine, viewing the region's tense relations as a potential gateway for Russian influence. However, a setback occurred when Kosovo was denied the long-awaited visa liberalization by several EU member states, including France and Spain. This decision keeps Kosovo as one of the few European countries whose citizens require a visa to enter the EU, despite the European Commission's four-year promise of better EU access for Kosovar citizens. A new criterion was added at the last minute to the already lengthy list for granting visa liberalization. The EU's policy towards Kosovo is further complicated by the fact that five EU states do not recognize the country's independence.

The European Parliament’s ITRE Committee adopted a report on the EU’s secure connectivity programme for 2023-2027, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign companies and protect critical communications. The initiative will establish a secure satellite communication system to keep the EU connected during cyberattacks or natural disasters. It emphasizes space and environmental sustainability, and seeks to improve internet access across Europe, including remote areas. The programme is linked to the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and is expected to enhance other EU space capabilities. The ITRE report proposes an accelerated timeline with initial services by 2024 and full capacity by 2027, with a budget of €6 billion, of which member states should contribute at least €1.6 billion.

Europe's youth are increasingly returning to live with their parents due to a housing crisis exacerbated by rising energy prices, high inflation, and a growing student population. Urban areas are experiencing severe housing shortages and price hikes, with Paris leading at €29.10/m2/month for rent. Students face long waitlists for housing, and buying property is often not an option for young adults. Governments and the EU are urged to take more action, with some countries like Belgium and Germany implementing measures such as rent freezes and plans to build new apartments. However, issues like corruption in Albania and insufficient state-backed solutions in Poland persist. The housing crisis is affecting the mental health and employment opportunities of young Europeans, creating a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.

Alexander Van der Bellen was re-elected as the Austrian president on Sunday, securing about 56% of the votes for his second six-year term, according to SORA institute projections. Van der Bellen, running as an independent, campaigned on themes of 'reason and stability in stormy times.' The right-wing candidate Walter Rosenkranz came in second with approximately 18%. The election, which featured seven candidates and a significant number of mail-in ballots, was not expected to have a high international profile, with only about ten foreign media outlets accredited to cover it.

Alexander Van der Bellen was re-elected as Austria's Federal President on October 9, securing a second six-year term with about 56% of the vote according to projections by the SORA Institute. Running as an independent candidate, Van der Bellen's campaign emphasized 'reason and stability in turbulent times.' The election, which saw seven candidates on the ballot, was overshadowed by multiple crises, leading to some dissatisfaction with politics. Right-leaning candidate Walter Rosenkranz came in second with approximately 18%. The international interest in this year's election was reportedly low, with only about ten foreign media outlets accredited at the media center in Palais Niederösterreich.

Austria and Hungary have pledged to support Serbia in strengthening its border protection with North Macedonia in exchange for Serbia's promise to tighten visa rules. This agreement was discussed in Belgrade by officials from the three countries, including Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin. Austria has been assisting Serbia with police officers since 2020 and plans to increase its support. The collaboration aims to address the surge in migrants entering the EU via Serbia, with concerns over Russia's potential role in the situation.

The Austrian government has allocated additional monkeypox vaccine doses to Vienna to meet high demand, but the supply will not be sufficient to cover all pre-registered individuals in the capital. The government provided an extra 140 doses for pre-exposure vaccinations, enough for 700 shots. However, since two doses are required for full immunization, only 350 people can be vaccinated with this batch, far fewer than the 2,200 pre-registered. Due to the severe vaccine shortage, not all interested parties will be able to get an appointment, according to the office of Health City Councillor Peter Hacker. Those among the pre-registered who belong to the defined target groups will automatically receive a reminder by email and SMS and can book vaccination appointments starting Wednesday. Last week, the first 360 vaccinations in Vienna were booked out within just 25 minutes. Austria has only 4,340 vaccine doses available nationwide, with two-thirds reserved by the Health Ministry for post-exposure vaccinations for cases of proven contact with an infected person. The National Vaccination Panel currently does not recommend vaccination for broader population groups but primarily for individuals with individual risk behaviors such as men with frequent changing same-sex sexual contacts and healthcare workers at high risk.

The European Commission will present an initiative on the metaverse next year, focusing on virtual reality spaces where users can interact. The initiative aims to ensure these spaces are aligned with European values and regulations. Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, highlighted the importance of human factors, technological capabilities, and infrastructure in developing the metaverse. He also called for interoperable standards and a collaborative effort to create safe virtual environments. The Commission is working on a roadmap and investments in key technologies, and Breton has launched the Virtual and Augmented Reality Industrial Coalition with 40 companies to drive the metaverse technologies forward.

Austria has launched 'Mission 11', a campaign encouraging citizens to reduce electricity consumption by 11% through small behavioral changes. Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler presented the campaign, which includes tips such as lowering heating, turning off devices, and preferring showers over baths. Labour Minister Martin Kocher emphasized awareness, while Energy Industry Secretary General Barbara Schmidt acknowledged the simplicity of the tips. The liberal NEOS party criticized the campaign for being late and contradictory to the government's electricity price cap. Environmental organizations Greenpeace and WWF welcomed the initiative but called for additional measures like an energy efficiency law.

Europe's quantum technology pioneers are advocating for strategic EU funding to achieve quantum supremacy, the ability of quantum computers to solve problems faster than classical computers. The Netherlands is advancing in quantum technology development, emphasizing an ecosystem approach that includes education, research, and business aspects. The national initiative Quantum Delta NL is leading efforts, but there is criticism of the EU's lack of strategic investments. The European Commission's funding is seen as too dispersed, and there is a call for more concentrated investments in specific projects. Technological challenges include increasing the number of qubits and reducing errors, with the goal of reaching at least 1000 qubits for complex tasks.

Germany has increased its optical fibre network connections to 26% of households and businesses as of June 2022, ranking third in Europe after France and the UK. The German Broadband Communications Association (BREKO) report highlights the country's progress and future expansion plans, aiming for full coverage by 2030. The Gigabit Strategy presented by Federal Minister Volker Wissing targets 50% connectivity by 2025. However, the Russian-Ukraine conflict poses risks to these goals, with price increases, supply bottlenecks, and skilled worker shortages impacting the expansion. BREKO President Norbert Westfal emphasizes the need for government subsidies and digitalized licensing procedures to support the private sector's efforts.

Pakistani beer sellers, like Mohammed, have become a common sight in Barcelona, serving the city's bustling tourist population. Mohammed, who has lived in the Raval district for seven years, supports his family by selling beer on the streets. Despite the challenges of integration and occasional discrimination, he is content with his life in Barcelona. The Raval neighborhood, known for its diversity and low rent, is popular among immigrants and has a significant Pakistani community. Mohammed's story reflects the broader narrative of immigration, economic survival, and cultural adaptation in a foreign land.