Global Scans · Europe · Weekly Summary

• [New] Lavrov's comments, which followed the drone discovery, are seen as a threat and warning of a more aggressive campaign against Europe, the West, and NATO, and are close to an admission of guilt by Russia in hybrid warfare operations. Counter Extremism Project
• [New] The sustained high levels of vaccine hesitancy in Southeastern Europe following the COVID-19 pandemic may pose significant risks to population health and herd immunity. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] More than 30 nationalities can enter visa-free for 30 or 45 days, including most of Western Europe, the Nordic countries, Japan, South Korea, and several ASEAN neighbours, under exemptions that currently run to 2028. Emerhub
• [New] Europe fears losing control over strategic technologies, industrial assets, and defence innovation ecosystems to foreign capital-not only Chinese, but increasingly, American. Hudson Institute
• [New] A solar eclipse will temporarily reduce solar power generation across Europe. Vattenfall
• [New] Europe is on course to enter the cooler months with gas stores at their lowest level in 13 years, which has triggered winter panic among energy traders, experts have warned. The Guardian
• [New] United Airlines has announced the largest international expansion in its history for 2027, adding 10 new cities across Europe and Asia, eight of which will have no nonstop service from any other U.S. airline. Luxury Travel Expert
• [New] The moment when Europe most needs to reduce dependency is precisely when it most needs American intelligence, space capabilities, semiconductors, and AI expertise, as Russia reconstitutes its forces and China supplies Moscow's war machine and competes for technologies Europe hopes to master. Hudson Institute
• [New] Given the persistent shortage of European defence capital, restricting US investment or transatlantic industrial partnerships could ultimately weaken the very ecosystem Europe seeks to strengthen. Hudson Institute
• [New] The accelerated deployment of photovoltaic and wind energy technologies across Europe is expected to result in growing volumes of End-of-Life equipment in the coming decades, creating significant challenges for their sustainable management. EERA
• [New] Europe consequently offers particularly strong growth potential for vendors providing regulatory mapping, automated compliance, model documentation, and trustworthy-AI assessment. MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH
• Raw material dependency and geopolitical vulnerabilities: Europe largely imports critical raw materials, mainly rare earths, lithium, cobalt, etc. and domestic mining and recycling capacities remain underdeveloped. Scientific Advice Mechanism
• Global lithium prices, which peaked in 2022 and corrected sharply in 2023-2024, are expected to stabilize in 2026 as demand from EV adoption (especially in Europe and North America) catches up with supply. Energy Solutions Intelligence
• Europe will witness steady growth over the forecast period with a regional share of roughly 17.6% in 2026 globally, as sustainability has become a major priority for the agricultural sector. Persistence Market Research
• Europe will likely see steady growth over the forecast period, with a share of nearly 16.9% in 2026, backed by rising emphasis on premium interior design, renovation activities, and increasing preference for durable and aesthetically appealing surfacing materials. Persistence Market Research
• The inclusion of new members in China's unilateral visa-free scheme - which now includes 35 countries from Europe, seven in Asia, six in the Americas, and two in Oceania - will not only enhance people-to-people exchanges but also support broader economic benefits. The Diplomat
• Unless LNG starts flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz very soon, Europe faces a winter with the highest prices for gas and electricity in four years, with even higher gas needs in 2027 for the next winter. investing.com
• By 2030, AM Intelligence aims to hit 5GW of data center capacity across India, US and Europe, with facilities designed for high-density AI compute and liquid cooling. TahawulTech.com
• Europe is expected to progressively strengthen domestic cell and material production capabilities during the forecast period. Persistence Market Research
• In 2027 a 3.0% rebound is expected, mainly driven by higher activity in Europe and North America. atradius
• The flagship financial pillar of the ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 initiative, SAFE offers €150 billion in EU-backed loans to support joint procurement of priority defence capabilities. Hudson Institute
• Ongoing efforts aim to embed generative AI in future calls across Horizon Europe, DEP, and the EIC for 2026 and 2027, reinforcing Europe's position as a global hub for secure, inclusive, and innovative AI technologies. Shaping Europe's digital future

Last updated: 20 September 2026