European Commission - Daily News Daily News 11 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 11 March 2026 Commission adopts its March infringement procedures To help citizens and businesses benefit fully from the European Union's legislation, the European Commission maintains a constant dialogue with Member States to ensure compliance with EU law. It can initiate infringement procedures against Member States in the event of non-compliance....
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 11 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 11 March 2026 Commission adopts its March infringement procedures To help citizens and businesses benefit fully from the European Union's legislation, the European Commission maintains a constant dialogue with Member States to ensure compliance with EU law. It can initiate infringement procedures against Member States in the event of non-compliance. The decisions taken today, as part of this infringement package, include 35 letters of formal notice and 16 reasoned opinions. The Commission also decided to refer 2 cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Finally, the Commission decided to close 44 cases in which the Member States concerned, in cooperation with the Commission, have brought an infringement to an end and ensured compliance with EU law. The decisions and the corresponding press releases are available online. More information on the EU infringement procedure can be found in the following questions and answers . (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Kristyna Eeckels – Tel.: +32 2 295 10 65) Commission launches platform to promote women in agriculture The European Commission has launched the Women in Farming Platform , a new initiative designed to empower women in agriculture and promote equal opportunities in rural communities. Announced in the Commission's ‘ Vision for Agriculture and Food' , the platform helps to increase women's participation in farming, encourage mentorship, and share best practices. The launch coincides with the UN declaring 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer . Despite their crucial contribution, women remain underrepresented in EU agriculture, managing just 32% farms. Persistent barriers, such as unequal access to land, finance, and training, continue to limit their potential. The main activity of the platform will be mentoring. Mentors share practical knowledge, create mentoring network to challenge stereotypes, inspire young women, and normalise female leadership in farming. By showcasing role models and fostering mentorship, it aims to boost confidence, improve access to opportunities, and ensure women's contributions are fully recognised. Under EU's agriculture policy, Member States can now introduce targeted measures, including financial incentives, to support women farmers. The Commission is, in addition, improving the data collection to also consider gender, for better policymaking. In 2024 alone, 55,300 young women received support to set up their farming businesses and benefit from additional income support. A fairer, more inclusive agricultural sector is essential for Europe's future. The Commission is committed to shaping Europe's agricultural future that is inclusive, forward-looking and rooted in equal opportunity. More details on Women in Farming Platform , including how to apply, is available online. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10) Commission issues €9 billion in its 3rd syndicated transaction of 2026 Yesterday, the European Commission raised €9 billion of EU-Bonds in its 3rd syndicated transaction for 2026. The single-tranche transaction concerned a €9 billion new EU-Bond maturing on 12 December 2036. The 10-year bond was priced 99.342% with a re-offer yield of 3.325%. Bids received were in excess of €118 billion which equals to an oversubscription rate of approximately 13-times. The transaction marked the first EU syndication using the EU curve as a reference to price the new issuance. This approach reduced pricing risks in a volatile market for participating investors and reflects a natural progression in the EU's funding approach, where the EU Bond curve is now liquid enough to enable such pricing when deemed desirable. The Commission has now issued €45.4 billion of its €90 billion funding target for the first half of 2026 . A full overview of all EU transactions executed to date is available online . A detailed overview of the EU's planned transactions for the first half of 2026 is also available in the EU funding plan . The next transaction in the EU's indicative issuance calendar is an EU-Bill auction on 18 March 2026. A press release is available online . (For further information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Francisca Marçal Santos – Tel.: +32 2 299 72 36) Commission approves €260 million Belgian State aid for carbon capture and storage project The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €260 million Belgian measure in favour of Air Liquide Large Industry NV and BASF Antwerpen NV for a carbon capture and storage (‘CCS') project, Kairos@C. The measure will contribute to Belgium's climate targets by decarbonising the industry through an integrated cross-border CCS value chain, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal . The project aims at capturing greenhouse gas (‘GHG') emissions from the companies' existing plants, located in Antwerp, that produce hydrogen, ammonia and ethylene oxide. The CO2 captured will be transported to a permanent underground storage site in the North Sea. The project aims to create an integrated, cross-border CCS value chain at industrial scale, which will result in around 20 million tonnes of net GHG emissions avoided, over 15 years. This innovative project will allow the beneficiaries to produce low-carbon hydrogen and low-carbon ammonia. The project is a laureate of the first large-scale Innovation Fund call of 2020 and was awarded a grant of over €365 million. However, due to, among others, exceptional inflation over the past years, the project costs have significantly increased and as a result it could not start without additional aid. A press release is available online. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission approves €70 million Spanish State aid scheme to support digitalisation of print media The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €70 million Spanish State aid scheme to support publishers of newspapers and periodical publications in digitalisation. The scheme will promote the digitalisation of printed press in Spain , as the sector currently faces an underinvestment in digital technologies. The goal is to support the modernisation of activities to ensure economic sustainability and improve both resilience and competitiveness. In addition, the scheme aims to elevate content quality and media pluralism while enhancing accessibility for consumers through digitalisation solutions. These solutions include anti-disinformation tools, source traceability and certification and transparency platforms. Under the scheme, vouchers will be granted to eligible printed newspapers and periodical publications to support the acquisition of digitalisation solutions such as editorial management systems, cloud storage and cybersecurity tools. Direct grants will be awarded to eligible publishers of printed newspapers to support advanced digitalisation projects. The scheme will run until 31 December 2028. The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to address the underinvestment in digitalisation of print media in Spain. The Commission also found that the scheme is proportionate as it is limited to the minimum necessary and will have a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Spanish scheme under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of today's decision will be made available under the case number SA.119861 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774) Commission clears acquisition of Lecta by Apollo Funds The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Lecta Paper Industries Intermediate Financing S.à r.l. (‘Lecta') of Luxembourg by Apollo Capital Management, L.P. (‘Apollo Funds') of the US. The transaction relates primarily to the manufacturing and supply of paper and paperboard. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. 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.12333 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears acquisition of Ryan by Neuberger, Ares, Founder and Onex The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Ryan, LLC by NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (‘Neuberger'), Ares Management Corporation (‘Ares'), G. Brint Ryan (‘Founder'), all of the US, and Onex Corporation (‘Onex') of Canada. The transaction relates primarily to tax consultancy and tax software solutions markets. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture has negligible activities in the European Economic Area. 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.12322 . (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 Mînzatu travels to Greece to discuss jobs, social rights and European prosperity Tomorrow, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu , will visit Greece to meet national authorities, students and professors to discuss skills development, labour market participation and social investment in the context of the Union of Skills – the European Commission's initiative to make Europe more competitive. Marking its first anniversary, March 2026, the Union of Skills helps Europe invest in people, address labour shortages, and support the transitions through education, training and lifelong learning. On Thursday, the Executive Vice-President will meet Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to exchange views on the social impact of the future European Budget, as well as employment policies and skills development. She will also meet Minister of Labour and Social Security, Niki Kerameus, to discuss how to improve working conditions and support quality jobs. Furthermore, she will meet Minister of Finance and President of Eurogroup, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, and Minister of Education, Sofia Zacharaki, on social investment, education reforms and policies supporting families and social inclusion. In addition, the Executive Vice-President will visit and engage with students and staff from a vocational training school specialised on the professional integration of people with dissabilities. On Friday, Executive Vice-President Mînzatu, will visit the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), as well as a local community centre, and meet Governor of Central Macedonia region, Athina Athanasiadou-Aidon, in Thessaloniki, to consider the role of vocational education and training and lifelong learning in supporting Europe's labour markets and strengthening the EU's prosperity. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová — Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Commissioner Brunner visits Armenia to strengthen EU partnership and support reforms under visa liberalisation dialogue Tomorrow, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner , will visit Armenia to reaffirm the EU's strong commitment to deepen cooperation with the country, ahead of the first EU- Armenia Summit on 5 May. This visit underscores the close ties and shared determination of the EU and Armenia to build a more democratic and prosperous future, and follows the adoption of a new strategic agenda for the EU- Armenia partnership During the visit, Commissioner Brunner will meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, and Minister of Interior Arpine Sargsyan. The discussions will focus on the progress of Armenia so far to fulfil the benchmarks included in the visa liberalisation action plan , which the Commission presented to the Armenian authorities in November 2025. He will encourage further reform efforts to fulfill all conditions set in the action plan, so that Armenian citizens can make short-term visa-free travels to the EU. The Commissioner will also express the readiness of EU agencies to strengthen their cooperation with their Armenian counterparts. A press conference will take place with Commissioner Brunner and Minister Sargsyan tomorrow at +/- 10:30 CET. The Commissioner will also participate in an event about EU funded projects supporting the reforms under the visa liberalisation dialogue. The EU supports Armenia's visa liberalisation process through the €270 million resilience and growth plan for Armenia , which is strengthening Armenia's socio-economic resilience, including through connectivity, energy diversification and trade. The EU has welcomed the progress in the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process. In line with Armenia's ‘Crossroads of Peace initiative', the EU stands ready to provide support and expertise, and invest in regional connectivity, contributing to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in the region. (For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Elettra Di Massa – Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61) Commissioner Serafin to visit Czechia for his ‘Tour d'Europe' As part of the ‘Tour d'Europe' to consult Member States on the European long-term budget, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin will travel to Czechia this week . As negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) progress between Member States and the European Parliament, the Commissioner continues to engage with national authorities and beneficiaries of EU funding. The Commissioner will notably discuss how EU funding drives innovation, strengthens cohesion and delivers concrete results for citizens. Tomorrow, Commissioner Serafin will start his visit with a debate on the future EU budget with key economic actors, including representatives of business organisations, farmers, academia and public administrations. He will then meet Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to discuss priorities for the next MFF and explore how the future EU budget can support investment while maintaining the flexibility required to respond to evolving priorities. Commissioner Serafin will also visit the Extreme Light Infrastructure , a European research infrastructure consortium that brings together Member States to create and operate world-class laser research facilities of common European interest. During the visit, the Commissioner will see how long- term European and national funding has supported the development of this institution over the past two decades. The visit will conclude the following day, on Friday, with a meeting with Jan Sechter, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade. More information on Commissioner Serafin 's ‘Tour d'Europe' is available on the dedicated website . (For further information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Francisca Marçal Santos – Tel.: +32 2 299 72 36) 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/26/594
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