On Tuesday, for the first time ever the Commission issued social bonds on the market, to raise money under SURE, the EU new safety net for preserving employment in areas severely hit by the pandemic. SURE, which has overall firepower of up to €100bn, will give national governments the necessary resources to finance measures to tackle unemployment and loss of income, as well as some health-related measures.

The Czech government announced on Wednesday strict new measures in response to an enormous rise in the number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations in the country. The new restrictions will take effect from Thursday and will be in place until at least 3 November, Radio Prague reported. All shops and small businesses will be closed with the exception of food stores, chemists and toiletries stores.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces a no-confidence motion in parliament brought by the right-wing populist Vox party, as the government grapples with a severe second wave of coronavirus infections.

The European Union told Britain on Wednesday to make up its mind on Brexit, putting the onus back on London to unlock trade talks as the bloc’s chief negotiator said an agreement was still within reach.

France will pay tribute on Wednesday to a history teacher Samuel Paty beheaded in a Paris suburb as President Emmanuel Macron promised to intensify a clampdown on Islamist extremism, AFP reported. On Wednesday evening Macron will attend an official memorial with teachers's family and some 400 guests at the Sorbonne university, posthumously giving Paty France's highest award, the Legion d'Honneur.

Swedish regulators on Tuesday banned the use of telecom equipment from China's Huawei and ZTE in its 5G network ahead of the spectrum auction scheduled for next month, news wires reported. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) said the setting of the licence conditions followed assessments by the Swedish Armed Forces and security service. Sweden's security service called China “one of the biggest threats against Sweden”.

The EU said Monday it will begin legal action against Cyprus and Malta over their controversial "golden passport" schemes for foreign investors, which critics say have been exploited by criminals.

Mayors in many parts of Italy have objected to a package of new measures aimed at combatting the spread of COVID-19 approved by PM Giuseppe Conte's government, ANSA reported. In a bid to prevent people contracting the disease while out socializing, city and town mayors will have the power to close squares and other areas where groups gather at night at 21:00.

Romania’s capital Bucharest closed schools, restaurants and theatres from Tuesday and widened the compulsory use of face masks to all outdoor spaces across the city as infection rates soared, Reuters reported. A spokesperson for the Bucharest’s emergency situations committee said the measures will be reassessed after a 14-day period.

Hungary will launch rapid antigen tests for coronavirus infections possibly as soon as Tuesday, PM Viktor Orban said on Monday, "Together with our epidemiologists we are following what new testing methods are available in the world," Orban told parliament.