AS IT HAPPENED: Brexit, Budget, Balkans

European leaders gatherED for a summit in Brussels 17-18 October to discuss if, how and when the United Kingdom will leave the bloc. Contrary to expectations, a deal was reached within hours on Thursday and member states quickly endorsed it, though it is still subject to approval in the UK parliament.

The leaders also discussed the EU’s seven-year budget for 2021-27, but made little progress, and the prospect of enlarging to the Western Balkans, which France currently opposes.

At the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron remained adamant in refusing to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania and the issue was postponed for an enlargement summit to be held in Zagreb in May.

Read more with Euractiv

New EU Commission delayed for at least a month

The European Parliament expects the new EU Commission to start work with at least a month's delay after MEPs rejected three candidate-commissioners, the institution's spokesman said Wednesday.