Current political events (terrorism and its repercussions) and institutional affairs (preparing for the Laeken Summit) have led me to somewhat neglect "standard" European affairs, despite their economic, social and sometimes political importance. I tried to give an update on takeover bids in the second week of September, but that is (almost) all. But there are a number of dossiers that merit being followed with attention, three of which are: a) the ever more heated discussions concerning the...