All published updates

EU Adopts Fair Labour Mobility Package with Six Legislative Proposals

The European Commission adopted the Fair Labour Mobility Package, comprising six legislative proposals: the ESSPASS Regulation, the ELA Regulation, the Skills Portability Act, the Professional Qualifications+ Directive, the Delegated Directive on Physiotherapists and the Third Country National Qualifications Directive. The package moves labor mobility from paper to digital, including real-time verification of social security documents such as the Portable Document A1 via a mobile app; strengthens the European Labour Authority's inspection and enforcement capacity; digitalises qualifications from secondary school to PhD; shortens qualification recognition procedures and expands automatic rec…

European Commission Issues €11 Billion in 8th Syndicated Transaction of 2026

The European Commission raised €11 billion in its 8th syndicated transaction of 2026, comprising a €6 billion new 3-year EU-Bond maturing 12 March 2030 with a 3.375% coupon and a €5 billion new 30-year EU-Bond maturing 12 October 2056 with a 4.5% coupon. The 3-year bond drew a final order book over €72 billion, roughly 12 times oversubscribed, while the 30-year drew over €80 billion, about 16 times oversubscribed. The transaction is part of the Commission's €80 billion funding target for the second half of 2026. The EU's total outstanding debt stands at about €849.27 billion.

European Commission Addresses Ceuta Situation and EU Border Control

European Commissioner Brunner addressed the European Parliament on the situation in Ceuta, stating that nearly 80,000 people entered illegally from Morocco over two days in late July, an unprecedented event. The Schengen area's integrity was preserved through Spanish action with Moroccan cooperation, but thousands remain, including over 2,000 unaccompanied minors. The EU granted €114.7 million in emergency assistance to Spain for border surveillance, screening facilities, and return support, and plans to strengthen Frontex, combat smuggling, and implement new return rules.

Q&A on the Fair Labour Mobility package: business impact and timeline

The European Commission published a Q&A on the Fair Labour Mobility package, explaining that ESSPASS will reduce paperwork and provide legal certainty for cross-border businesses, with common information requirements for the portable document A1 improving interoperability with the e-declaration portal. Qualification recognition processing will fall from 4 months to 11 weeks, and to 5 weeks for automatic recognition; recognition of non-EU qualifications will drop from an average of 14 months to 4 months. The Digital Identity Wallet is expected to be available to people and companies across the EU by the end of 2026, with digital qualifications integrated three years after entry into force.

European Commission proposes Fair Labour Mobility package

On 15 September 2026 the European Commission adopted the Fair Labour Mobility package, comprising one Communication and five legislative proposals: a Regulation establishing the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), a Skills Portability Act, a Regulation strengthening the European Labour Authority (ELA), an amending Directive on professional qualifications, and a Directive on qualifications of third-country nationals. The package aims to let workers handle social security and health insurance documents online, speed up cross-border recognition of qualifications, and cut administrative burdens for companies recruiting or posting staff across the EU. The Commission estimates around EUR 6 b…

EU Customs Reform: Single Data Hub and EU Customs Authority

European Commission Commissioner Šefčovič addressed the European Parliament plenary debate on the Union Customs Code and Customs Authority, presenting the Customs Reform. The reform centralizes customs data, establishes a new EU Customs Authority based in Lille, and introduces the EU Customs Data Hub as a single entry point for traders across the Union, where data need only be submitted once. The reform is expected to save EU businesses up to 1 billion euros per year. E-commerce operators can access the Hub from 1 July 2028, with other operators able to start using it by 2031. The reform also restores fairness in e-commerce: platforms and sellers, not consumers, are considered the importer…

European Commission Mid-Term Assessment: EU Missions Drive Systemic Change

The European Commission published a mid-term assessment of the five EU Missions under Horizon Europe, finding steady progress toward 2030 goals. The Climate Adaptation Mission has largely surpassed its target, with 292 regional and local authorities having implemented climate adaptation measures. The Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission has 107 cities with Climate City Contracts, projected to cut emissions 76% by 2030 backed by more than €13 billion in investment. The Cancer Mission is expected to improve the lives of 2.3 million people by 2030. The Ocean and Waters Mission delivered 121 innovative solutions tested at 349 demonstration sites, and the Soil Mission has established 45 Livi…

EU Commission approves €52 million Romanian State aid scheme

The European Commission has approved a €52 million (RON 277 million) Romanian State aid scheme to support cattle farmers affected by increased fuel and fertiliser prices stemming from the Middle East crisis. Approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted on 29 April 2026, the scheme will run until 31 December 2026 and provide direct grants of up to €50,000 per company. The Commission found the scheme necessary, appropriate and proportionate under EU State aid rules.

European Commission Approves €6.1 Billion for Ukraine Air and Missile Defence

The European Commission has approved an additional €6.1 billion for Ukraine to procure defence products in air and missile defence, ammunition, drones and electronic warfare. Funded under the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan, the package includes five derogations from standard eligibility conditions, enabling Ukraine to purchase PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems, including via the NATO-coordinated PURL mechanism. The funding aims to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to withstand continued Russian ballistic missile and drone strikes while reinforcing Europe's own defence.

European Commission to Present Circular Economy Act

European Commissioner Roswall announced at an event in Avesta, Sweden, that the Circular Economy Act will be presented later this year. The Act aims to simplify the regulatory framework and remove single market barriers, particularly differing definitions of waste. Currently, approval to transport electronic waste between Member States can take 90 to 180 days. The Act will also strengthen secondary raw material markets and reduce dependency on critical raw material imports.

EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance Holds First Board Meeting

The EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance held its first board meeting in Brussels with 18 founding members, including nine EU companies and nine Ukrainian companies. The Alliance aims to accelerate development and production of next-generation drone and counter-drone systems. Ukraine produced over 4 million drones in 2025 and expects 10 million in 2026. Commissioner Kubilius stressed the need for design cycles measured in weeks and rapid scaling capacity.

European Commission Strengthens Online Safety for Children

Executive Vice-President Virkkunen stated at a Dublin conference that the EU is strengthening online protection for children through the Digital Services Act (DSA) and AI Act. 97% of minors in the EU go online daily, and teenagers aged 13-18 spend an average of 4.5 hours on screens per day. The Commission has opened investigations into platforms including X, Shein and Snapchat, and issued 10 preliminary findings.

EU Commission to Propose Digital Fairness Act

EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection McGrath said at a Dublin conference on online safety for children and young people that the Commission will present a Digital Fairness Act (DFA) by the end of this year to close gaps in consumer protection rules for the digital age. The DFA could address dark patterns, misleading influencer marketing, unfair personalisation and personalised pricing, subscription-management difficulties, and drip pricing paired with dynamic pricing, and may consider switching off attention-maximising features by default and prohibiting loot boxes for minors. The Commission has already issued preliminary DSA findings against Meta and TikTok.

European Commission Approves €6.1 Billion for Ukraine's Air Defence and Defence Procurement

The European Commission approved an additional €6.1 billion for Ukraine to procure defence products in air and missile defence, ammunition, drones and electronic warfare, funded under the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The decision also enables Ukraine to procure PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems, including via the NATO-coordinated PURL mechanism, and includes five derogations from standard eligibility conditions. With this approval, the €28.3 billion allocated for Ukraine's 2026 defence support has been fully committed.

European Commission Presents EU-India Free Trade Deal to Council for Signature

The European Commission submitted proposals to the Council for the signature and conclusion of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, seeking authorisation. If authorised, it would be the largest trade agreement ever concluded by both the EU and India. The deal would eliminate or reduce tariffs on 96% of EU goods exports to India, saving around €4 billion per year in duties, and improve market access and investment rules. The EU and India already trade over €180 billion in goods and services annually, supporting close to 800,000 EU jobs.

EU Commissioner Highlights Civil Protection and Preparedness Cooperation in Romania

EU Commissioner Lahbib spoke in Romania, highlighting emergency preparedness and civil protection cooperation. She noted that today's crises are faster and more complex, including wars, drone attacks, sabotage, wildfires, hybrid attacks and health emergencies. Over the past decade Romania requested help through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism ten times while responding to others' calls 49 times. This year the EU pre-positioned nearly 800 firefighters from 14 countries in high-risk wildfire areas, 200 of them from Romania.

Impact and considerations

The remarks reflect the practical operation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and pre-positioning arrangements, covering wildfire-season response and cross-border emergency support, with relevance for readers tracking operational continuity and crisis management in Europe.

European Commission Pushes Auto-Enrolment Supplementary Pensions Reform

The European Commission held a Brussels workshop on "Saving for Retirement through Auto-enrolment and Supplementary Pensions," with Commissioner Albuquerque delivering closing remarks. She noted that Europe's pension systems face growing strain from longer lives, lower birth rates and changing labour markets, and that without adaptation too many people will face a sharp drop in retirement income while public budget burdens grow. The Commission's supplementary pensions package adopted last November aims to strengthen supplementary pensions while mobilising broader EU investment. Only around 20% of Europeans participate in occupational pension schemes and only 18% hold a personal pension prod…

EU Unveils Rules to Help Cities Crack Down on Airbnbs

The European Commission released a proposal for the Affordable Housing Act, laying out a new method for authorities to identify areas under housing stress and a legal framework to curb short-term rental operations. The Commission said housing has become too expensive for many in the EU and the act helps public authorities protect housing affordability and availability in the most pressured areas. EU officials said housing prices have jumped over 60% since 2013. Trade groups backing the short-term rental industry raised concerns about the legislation.

EU Proposes Public Procurement Reform and Innovation Act

The European Commission adopted proposals to overhaul EU public procurement, merging three directives into a single regulation, cutting five procedures to three, and creating a single European procurement platform. At least 30% of award weighting must be based on quality rather than price, with mandatory European preference in strategic sectors such as clean tech, cloud and AI, and critical medicines. A companion European Innovation Act sets quality at no less than 50% of R&D award criteria, with at least 15% for innovation, and caps award at 60 days after tender close.

European Commission Approves New Romanian Geographical Indication

The European Commission approved the registration of Brânză frământată de Teaca from Romania as a Protected Geographical Indication. The cheese comes from Teaca in northern Romania and is made from raw cow's milk that is curdled, fermented, aged, salted and kneaded in a pig's bladder, with characteristics relying on craft skills passed down through generations. The designation brings the number of protected names in the eAmbrosia database to more than 3,900.

EU and Greenland Sign Joint Declaration with €200 Million Investment

European Commission President von der Leyen visited Nuuk and signed a Joint Declaration with Greenland Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, deepening cooperation on youth opportunities, connectivity, civil protection and climate action. She announced a €200 million Global Gateway Partnership Package for this year and next, focused on connectivity, clean energy and critical raw materials. A new satellite project will immediately improve internet access for communities in northern Greenland, with remote eastern communities expected to benefit by October.

Commission proposes new European Innovation Act

The European Commission proposed the European Innovation Act to help Europe's most innovative companies grow across borders and compete globally. The proposal addresses two main challenges: helping innovative companies access financing and establishing a common procedure for R&D procurement. Measures include a common EU framework for intellectual property valuation, a digital marketplace for IP transactions, and simpler cross-border R&D procurement. The Commission expects around €35 million in administrative cost savings and €10.2 billion per year in additional IP-backed financing.

EU adopts Affordable Housing Act framework

The European Commission adopted the Affordable Housing Act on 9 September 2026, creating a legal framework for Member States and cities to address housing pressure. For the first time it sets technical criteria to define areas under housing stress, enabling local authorities to restrict non-primary-residence uses such as short-term rentals and second homes where justified, necessary and proportionate. Decisions remain with national and local authorities. A Recommendation on housing affordability and supply accompanies the Act, covering planning, renovation, repurposing and investment.

European Commission Proposes Simpler and More Strategic Public Procurement Rules

The European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation to modernise and simplify the EU's public procurement framework and support investment in public services and infrastructure. Public procurement accounts for around 15% of EU GDP. The proposal is expected to deliver annual administrative savings of €650 million, including €80 million for public buyers and €570 million for economic operators. It consolidates three existing procurement directives into one directly applicable regulation, reduces procedures from five to three, and creates a digital procurement marketplace of interconnected Member States' eProcurement platforms applying a once-only principle. The Best Price-Quality…

New EU rules to help local authorities tackle housing crisis

The European Commission proposed the Affordable Housing Act to help Member States and cities address housing affordability and availability. It gives public authorities legal certainty to act within EU law, requiring measures such as short-term rental restrictions to be evidence-based, necessary and proportionate. Authorities must show short-term rental activity has had a significant adverse effect on affordability or availability for at least three years and that less restrictive measures would not be equally effective. The Act also covers second homes and prolonged vacancy, and is accompanied by a Recommendation to increase housing supply.