The key facts
- France plans to deploy the army ahead of weekend protests; mayor of Cullen Christophe Ruillon notes that the curfew is restoring calm to the streets
- Steve Witkoff held talks with Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo before his visit to Russia; no signs of a breakthrough were reported
- The EU presented a new Arctic strategy focused on peace, security and keeping oil, coal and gas in the ground
France and Italy in focus
In the Euronews Europe Today edition of 21 October 2026, the main topics were France's preparations to deploy the army ahead of protests this coming weekend and the expansion of powers in Italy. The mayor of Cullen, Christophe Ruillon, said the curfew is restoring calm to French streets, but stressed that great responsibility also lies with parents.
Disputes in the European Parliament
In Strasbourg, far-right and far-left MEPs clashed over the riots in France. MEP Fabrice Leggeri (the 'Patriots for Europe' group) discussed in an interview who bears responsibility for the situation, whether the army should be called in and how to tackle the root causes of the riots.
Strikes in Greece
Correspondent Apostolos Staikos reported from Athens, where teachers and students held strikes and rallies that day over the rising cost of living, housing problems and low wages. The question was also examined of how concerned the government is about the situation ahead of next year's elections.
Dispute over the EU budget
Germany's Ambassador to the EU, Thomas Ossowski, in a conversation with Stefan Grobe discussed whether the Union is trying to put together a budget it cannot afford. Germany, as the largest donor to the budget, is at the epicentre of this dispute.
Talks on Ukraine
Sasha Vakulina reported on the talks that Steve Witkoff held with Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo ahead of his visit to Russia, scheduled for the same day. It was assessed whether there were any signs of a breakthrough in the talks.
The EU's new Arctic strategy
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela explained to Mered Guin why the EU is presenting a new strategy for the Arctic right now. The strategy emphasises peace and security and sets out a position that oil, coal and gas should remain in the ground.
