31 August marked an important milestone for the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the cornerstone of NextGenerationEU, as Member States met the final deadline for implementing the reforms and investments set out in their national recovery and resilience plans. This is a decisive moment for the EU’s unprecedented joint response to two major crises: the COVID-19 […]
The EU reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine on the 35th anniversary of the restoration of its independence
On 24 August, Ukraine’s Independence Day was celebrated. This occasion embodies the courage, resistance and resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s vicious war of aggression. It also symbolises the journey Ukraine has undertaken over the past thirty-five years to become a modern, democratic and European country. To mark the occasion, the […]
The EU’s agri-food trade surplus rises in the first five months of 2026
The latest report on EU agri-food trade published by the European Commission shows that, in the first five months of 2026, the EU’s agri-food trade surplus stood at €19.4 billion, €1 billion more than in the same period of 2025. The value of the EU’s agri-food exports totalled €96,900 million between January and May 2026, […]
EU launches AI Gigafactories call to boost Europe’s computing capacity
Last July 30, the EU launched a call for tenders to establish up to seven AI Gigafactories across Europe, as part of its latest major push to accelerate Europe’s technological sovereignty and ambition of becoming the AI Continent. Led by industry and supported by up to €10 billion in EU and national funding, the initiative […]
UNODC and the EU warn of rising human trafficking for criminal activities in scam centres
Human trafficking for forced criminality is increasing across the world, with authorities raising particular concern about a rapidly growing form of exploitation: trafficking to commit cyber-enabled fraud and online scams. On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU) call for urgent and coordinated international action to […]
The Council amends the Ukraine Plan to reflect funding of more than 8,000 million euros under the Ukraine Facility for 2026
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 […]
Japan officially joins Horizon Europe
As of today, 30 July, Japan is officially an associate partner of Horizon Europe. With a population of 123 million, Japan is the most populous country associated with the programme, bringing one of the world’s most advanced research and innovation ecosystems to the European network for scientific cooperation. The agreement allows Japanese researchers and organisations […]
The Commission is inviting comments on the proposed amendments to the regional state aid guidelines
The European Commission has launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to comment on its proposal to amend the Guidelines on regional state aid in order to keep them up to date. The proposed amendments The guidelines set out the legal framework governing the granting of state aid for regional development and territorial cohesion. […]
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 […]