Category: _European Commission News

The Commission extended the winter fishing closure in the Bay of Biscay to help prevent catches of common dolphins and other small cetaceans, which are strictly protected species under the EU Habitats Directive. This measure will apply to fishing vessels over eight metres from 22 January until 20 February 2026.   This is the third consecutive year that the […]

Innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, programme leaders and policymakers from Africa, Europe and beyond  convened on 17 December 2025 in Brussels and online for the fifth edition of the Workshop Series: Implementing the AU–EU Innovation Agenda.  Co-organised by the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) and the Africa–Europe Foundation, within the framework of the 10-year AU–EU Innovation […]

The European Commission is deeply concerned about the recent arrangement on mackerel fishing quotas reached by the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands on 15 December 2025. This arrangement was signed without prior consultation with the European Union.  This arrangement poses serious risks for the sustainability of the mackerel stock and undermines the […]

The new Toy Safety Regulation will enter into force on 1 January 2026, following its adoption by the European Parliament and the Council. It strengthens children’s protection from harmful chemicals in toys and improves enforcement of EU toy safety rules. Under the regulation, substances will be banned from toys as soon as they are identified […]

Today the Portuguese debt management office repaid €2.5 billion of its debt to the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM) – the EU instrument that provides financial assistance to any EU country facing severe financial difficulties, managed by the European Commission. The repayment relates to the financial assistance programme for Portugal in 2011-2014. Under that programme, […]

The European Commission today launched a public consultation and call for evidence to evaluate the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). This is the first step in examining how well the Directive has reduced the impact of certain plastic products on the marine environment and on human health, while promoting a circular, innovative and sustainable economy.  Four […]

The European Commission has successfully relocated a full thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine, completing its largest-ever coordinated logistical operation to date. This unprecedented transfer restores critical energy capacity and directly reinforces Ukraine’s national grid following sustained Russian attacks on its infrastructure. The equipment has been crucial to completing emergency repairs in several parts […]

The EU agri-food trade surplus increased sharply in October 2025, reaching EUR 6.4 billion. This represents an 18% increase compared to September and represents the highest monthly surplus in more than a year. The surplus was 19% higher than in October of last year. Between January and October 2025, the cumulative EU agri-food surplus stood […]