The Council on 30 of july adopted a decision amending the Ukraine Support Mechanism and its associated Ukraine Plan. The Ukraine Plan sets out a roadmap of ambitious reforms that Ukraine must carry out before disbursements are made under the Mechanism. The amendments provide for additional funding of €8.3 billion for 2026, to be provided […]
The Commission approves €74 million in Spanish state aid to support shipping companies affected by rising fuel prices
The European Commission has approved a Spanish state aid scheme worth €74 million to support shipping companies affected by rising fuel prices due to the crisis in the Middle East. The scheme has been approved under the Temporary Framework for State Aid in Response to the Middle East Crisis (METSAF), adopted by the Commission on […]
EU state aid rules facilitate investment and social support
New guidelines from the European Commission set out how state aid rules allow EU Member States to facilitate investment and provide social assistance. These guidelines help Member States to plan state aid for investment and social support, as set out in the Clean Industry Pact. A tool for managing state aid in the social sector […]
New EU energy regulations: cleaner and safer energy and greater consumer protection
New rules for the electricity and gas markets are coming into force across the EU. Their aim is to achieve a cleaner, safer and more resilient European energy system. They protect citizens from fluctuations in energy prices and give them greater rights and control over their energy choices. Revised electricity market rules: more choice and […]
The Commission approves advance payments for Malta, Portugal and Spain under the EUSF to help them recover from the storms
The European Commission has approved advance payments totalling 103.6 million euros for Malta, Portugal and Spain under the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), with the aim of alleviating the financial burden of reconstruction efforts following the damage caused by the devastating storms that struck these countries in January and February 2026. The advance payments have […]
EU countries have approved the UK’s involvement to help meet Ukraine’s urgent defence needs
On 22 July, EU countries approved the UK’s participation in the loan to support Ukraine, a €90 billion package to help meet Ukraine’s most pressing needs in 2026 and 2027 as it continues to face Russia’s war of aggression. “The EU’s solidarity with Ukraine is a key priority of the Irish Presidency. Today’s approval reflects […]
The Commission fines AliExpress €550 million for breaching the Digital Services Act
On 20 July, the European Commission fined AliExpress €550 million for failing to fulfil its obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to diligently assess and mitigate risks associated with the sale of illegal, unsafe or counterfeit products on its e-commerce platform. The Commission has ordered the platform to take action in this regard. Failure […]
The Commission is launching the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance with the aim of promoting drone and anti-drone technology
The European Commission officially launched the EU-Ukraine Alliance for Drone Development during the third EU-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum, held in Kyiv. This Alliance will enable the EU and Ukraine to collaborate more closely on the development and use of drones and systems to intercept hostile drones. It forms part of the EU’s wider efforts to […]
The Council and the Parliament reach a political agreement on a programme for agile and rapid innovation in defence
On 15 July, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the proposal to establish a Programme for Agile and Rapid Innovation in Defence (AGILE), a new €115 million instrument designed to provide rapid, agile and targeted financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises – including start-ups and scale-ups – that […]