European Commission - Daily News Daily News 05 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 5 March 2026 Commission holds first meeting of Special Panel on child safety online Today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosted the first meeting of the Special Panel on child safety online. The panel, announced in the 2025 State of the Union address , will provide expert recommendations to better protect and empower children on...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 05 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 5 March 2026 Commission holds first meeting of Special Panel on child safety online Today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosted the first meeting of the Special Panel on child safety online. The panel, announced in the 2025 State of the Union address , will provide expert recommendations to better protect and empower children online and will explore the need for potential harmonised age restrictions to access social media. President Ursula von der Leyen said: “For decades, we have made the real world safer for children and we must do the same in the digital world. The positive opportunities that technology offers cannot come at the cost of their safety, health or happiness. In Europe, tech platforms already have a responsibility to ensure the safety of users and we will continue to ensure they do so. But we must also do more to protect and empower our young people online. That is why I have convened this panel: to forge a strong, realistic, European approach to keep our children safe in the digital age.” Find more information in our press release . (For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat - Tel.: +32 2 298 04 85) Commission coordinates repatriation flights from the Middle East under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism Yesterday and today, the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) has supported EU Member States with the organisation of six repatriation flights, bringing European citizens safely back to Bulgaria, Italy, Austria and Slovakia. Additional repatriation flights under the Mechanism are planned in the coming days, as an increasing number of EU Member States have activated it. In response to the recent developments in the region, the Commission is taking every possible step to ensure the safety of EU citizens by supporting Member states in coordinating repatriation flights from the Middle East. The priority is to assist Member states and to protect EU citizens stranded in the region and bring them safely back home, to Europe. As of 5 March, 10 Member States have activated the Mechanism, namely Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Italy, Cyprus, Luxemburg, Romania, Slovakia and Austria. “No European is ever alone in a crisis. Their safety always comes first” , said Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib , “From day one, we have been fully mobilised to bring home the hundreds of thousands of Europeans stranded in the Middle East through our EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU stands by its people and will spare no effort to get them home safe and sound”. The ERCC coordinates logistically flights offered by the Member States. The Commission is fully mobilised to assist them and remains in contact on this issue with EU Delegations and Member States' consular authorities in the region. More information is available in our press release . (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová — Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Commission and Switzerland sign agreement on transfer of passenger name records data Today, Commissioner Brunner signed on behalf of the EU an agreement on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data by air carriers operating flights between the EU and Switzerland. The signature took place in the margins of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, and Switzerland was represented by Federal Councillor Beat Jans, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police. PNR data is information provided by passengers during both the reservation and check-in process and gathered by airlines in the normal course of their business. The use and analysis of PNR data is essential to fight terrorism, serious and organised crime, drug trafficking and child exploitation. This PNR agreement with Switzerland will further strengthen law enforcement cooperation in the Schengen Area, in which Switzerland takes part as an associated State. The agreement will guarantee a high level of privacy protection through strong safeguards. It will complete the framework for the exchange of PNR data between the EU and Switzerland: already today, EU Member States receive PNR data on flights operating to and from Switzerland, in line with the PNR Directive . This agreement will create the legal basis for Switzerland to also receive PNR data. Following the signature, Switzerland will launch its national ratification procedure. On the EU side, the Commission will propose to the Council to adopt a decision concluding the agreement, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. The EU has already signed agreements allowing EU carriers to transfer PNR data to the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway and Iceland. Moreover, today's agreement builds on the recent signature of a package of agreements between the EU and Switzerland, which deepened and expanded their relationship. (For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Fiorella Boigner – Tel.: +32 2) Commission publishes guidelines to support teachers in key digital education priorities Today, the European Commission has released four sets of guidelines – two new, and two updated editions - to help teachers engage in the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data in education, promote digital literacy, select high-quality digital education content, and teach informatics. These guidelines fall under the Digital Education Action Plan , which was designed to support schoolteachers with practical tools and resources. The updated guidelines on the ethical use of AI and data in teaching and learning address key ethical and legal considerations, building teachers' confidence in using AI while fostering responsible adoption among students. As announced in the European Democracy Shield , the guidelines on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy now also address the impact of generative AI on disinformation practices, social media reliance, and the role of influencers, to strengthen the pedagogical expertise of teachers and the critical thinking skills of young people, to promote the responsible use of digital technologies and to support informed choices online. Schools and educational institutions play a key role in developing citizenship skills to enable people to act responsibly, by fostering critical thinking, inclusivity, freedom of speech and active civic engagement. By nurturing these skills, educational entities at all levels empower informed and engaged citizens, thereby building more resilient democratic societies. The new guidelines on digital education content (DEC) introduce the EU's first-ever definition of DEC and offer clear criteria for identifying high-quality digital teaching materials. The guidelines for teaching informatics provide practical strategies for delivering and assessing inclusive, high-quality informatics education across different settings. Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu , stated: "Teachers are key to ensuring every student has the opportunity to understand, engage with, and shape the digital world. Teachers are now, in a sense, like 'digital guardians' for our young people. Our goal is to equip educators with the skills and confidence they need not just to adapt, but to lead in an ever-evolving educational landscape. These guidelines reflect our commitment under the Union of Skills, empowering teachers in their professional lives with the knowledge and expertise they need." Later this year, the Commission will adopt an Education Package, designed to empower learners, support teachers, and modernise schools. It will include a 2030 Roadmap on the future of digital education and skills to further strengthen digital learning across the EU. The guidelines are now available on the European Education Area website . (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová — Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Commission seeks views on territorial supply constraints The European Commission has published a call for evidence to seek stakeholder feedback on a planned action to tackle territorial supply constraints. Territorial supply constraints are practices by certain large manufacturers that restrict retailers or wholesalers from purchasing goods in one Member State and reselling them in another, without objective justification. These barriers may limit consumer choice and contribute to price differences for daily consumer goods across the EU. The Single Market Strategy , adopted on 21 May 2025, identifies territorial supply constraints in retail and wholesale as one of the ‘Terrible Ten' – the ten most harmful barriers to the Single Market. In the Strategy, the Commission commits to developing tools to address unjustified territorial supply constraints in situations that fall outside the scope of competition law. The call for evidence invites stakeholders – including public authorities, businesses, consumers, civil society, social partners, and academia - to share their views and experiences regarding territorial supply constraints. Stakeholders can submit their contributions via the Have your say portal. The call for evidence will be available in English and once published in all languages it will remain open for 4 weeks. (For more information: Siobhan McGarry - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Rüya Perincek - Tel.: +32 2 299 49 03) Commission approves €200 million Spanish State aid for manufacturing capacity in the EV value chain The European Commission has approved a €200 million Spanish State aid scheme to support strategic investments that add manufacturing capacity for the electric vehicle (EV) value chain, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal . This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net- zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025 . The purpose of the scheme is to grant aid for investments that add manufacturing capacity for the production, including with secondary raw materials, of battery and energy storage technologies and hydrogen technologies, for use in electric vehicles . The scheme will also grant support for the production of the main specific components for these technologies and for the production or recovery of the needed critical raw materials. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants . The measure will be open to companies in the whole territory of Spain and aid may be granted until 30 June 2026. The Commission concluded that the Spanish scheme is necessary , appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the transition towards a net-zero economy and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal . Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera , said: “Spain's new €200 million scheme will accelerate the production of batteries and energy storage for electric vehicles, as well as hydrogen technologies. Through direct grants, this measure strengthens Europe's clean industrial transition while securing strategic supply chains. At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, Europe's energy autonomy, reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels, is more important than ever. Investing in batteries, storage and hydrogen is not only about competitiveness; it is about resilience and sovereignty. The funds will be deployed quickly so the battery industry can move ahead with this transition”. A press release is available online (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774) Commission clears acquisition of Oaktree by Brookfield The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, LLC (together with its affiliates, ‘Oaktree') of the US by Brookfield Corporation (together with its affiliates, ‘Brookfield') of Canada. The transaction relates primarily to fund management. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the market structure. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12284 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Executive Vice-President Ribera holds implementation dialogue on the impact of mergers on productivity, sustainability and cost of living Today, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera , is hosting an implementation dialogue in Brussels on the impact of mergers on productivity, sustainability and cost of living. The dialogue forms part of the Commission's review of the Merger Guidelines . The goal is for the revised framework to provide enough flexibility to support mergers that promote competition, scale, innovation and investments, while tackling those that are harmful for the competitiveness of the European economy. Participants will have the opportunity to share their views and insights on three topics: the impact of mergers in innovation and productivity within the Single Market, the role of EU merger control in achieving the EU's sustainability goals, and the impact of mergers on the cost of living for EU citizens. A diverse and balanced group of stakeholders from different EU Member States will participate in the debate, including representatives from major organisations directly involved with EU merger control, national competition authorities and civil society organisations. Implementation dialogues are part of the Commission's commitment to seek feedback from stakeholders for the implementation and simplification of EU policies. As outlined in the Commission's Communication on Implementation and Simplification for the 2024-2029 mandate, President von der Leyen tasked all Members of the College of Commissioners to host at least two such dialogues per year. This is Executive Vice-President Ribera's first implementation dialogue of 2026. More information on this dialogue will be available online. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Executive Vice-President Séjourné and Commissioner Hansen launch first Food Dialogue on local and seasonal products Today, the European Commission launches its Food Dialogues with a first session on ‘ Reestablishing the essential link between farming, territory and food'. The Dialogue will explore how local, seasonal and sustainably produced food can be better promoted across the EU. Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné and Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen will discuss with the participating stakeholders how public procurement and partnerships with local authorities can create healthier and more sustainable food choices. This discussion will focus on quality, sustainability, and regional resilience. Their ‘best- value' approach can improve food quality, boost regional economies, and make supply chains more resilient by prioritising seasonal, locally sourced, and high-standard products. Later, the participants will explore possible incentives to encourage the consumption of local and seasonal products, to promote food produced with high environmental and social standards (including organic products), and to strengthen shorter supply chains. A technical workshop in the afternoon will showcase best practices from cities like Milan and Copenhagen, or regions such as the Portuguese Alto Minho. The next session of the Food Dialogues is planned later this year on the ‘Competitiveness of the food industry'. These Dialogues, announced in the Vision for Agriculture and Food , aim to build sustainable, resilient and competitive food systems in Europe through dialogue with actors from across the food system, including consumers, primary producers, industry, retailers, public authorities and civil society. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10) Commissioner Kubilius continues ‘Missile tour' with visit to Poland Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius , will be in Poland tomorrow as part of his ‘missile tour' to fast-track European defence production and ensure the rapid rearming of Ukraine. The Commissioner's visit will focus on a clear mandate: a strong Ukraine means a safer European Union, and meeting today's urgent security needs requires the full mobilization of the European defence industry. The visit will start with a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to discuss the implementation of the Ukraine Support Loan (USL) and the SAFE instrument, focusing on how Poland and the EU can expand industrial ramp-up, as well as deepen cooperation with Ukrainian partners. Discussions will also touch on the Commission's Defence Omnibus and Military Mobility package proposals. A press conference will follow. A trilateral meeting will follow with Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and the president of the management board of MESKO, a Polish defence manufacturing company, before touring its production facility in Skarżysko-Kamienna and a second press conference. At the plant, the Commissioner will engage directly with industry leaders to address the practicalities of the USL, and MESKO's capacity to meet Ukraine's immediate needs for ammunition and missiles. A key priority of the visit is identifying and clearing supply chain bottlenecks that affect delivery speeds and pricing. By leveraging EU financial tools like EDIRPA and the Ukraine Support Loan, the Commission is working to ensure that industry has the backing it needs to scale up. In the face of shifting global dynamics, the Commission is acting as a bridge between Member States, Ukraine and the defence industry. The goal is to ensure that rearming Ukraine happens in a timely manner while simultaneously helping Member States like Poland boost their own restocking efforts and strengthen their economies. This mission is about ensuring that European defence production is not just ready for the future, but delivering for the front lines today. (For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel: +32 2 299 10 99; Marine Strauss – Tel: +32 2 298 91 03) Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings Note that these items can be subject to changes. Upcoming events of the European Commission Eurostat press releases Calendar items of the President and Commissioners Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners MEX/26/545
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