European Commission - Daily News Daily News 12 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 12 March 2026 EU brings over 8,000 European citizens home amid Middle East escalation Two repatriation flights chartered directly by the European Commission have just landed in Warsaw, Poland, bringing back 303 European citizens that were stranded in the Middle East. This adds to the more than 70 flights coordinated by the EU's Emergency Response Co...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 12 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 12 March 2026 EU brings over 8,000 European citizens home amid Middle East escalation Two repatriation flights chartered directly by the European Commission have just landed in Warsaw, Poland, bringing back 303 European citizens that were stranded in the Middle East. This adds to the more than 70 flights coordinated by the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). Over 8,000 European citizens are home today thanks to the EU mobilisation, bringing them safely back to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden. Departing from Saudi Arabia and Oman, the latest two flights to Warsaw transported 227 Polish nationals and 76 citizens from other European countries who had been stranded in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. For the second time , the Commission mobilised its own transport capacity under rescEU , following a request from the Polish authorities. “ The EU solidarity in full action. Thanks to EU repatriation flights, more than 8,000 people have already returned safely from the Middle East. Today, we chartered two additional flights landing in Poland, bringing families, children, and people who simply wanted to return home,” said Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib. “ We will continue to protect our citizens wherever they are, stepping in to help when challenges are too great for any one country to face alone ”. The EU plays a key role in supporting repatriation flights. Following a request for assistance, the ERCC promptly coordinates the demand and offers of transport capacities between countries. These transport operations can be co-financed by the EU. The Centre can also charter planes itself if no country is able to offer assistance at a given moment. More repatriation flights, including with rescEU planes, are planned in the coming days, as a total of 23 countries have requested EU assistance in repatriating their citizens from the Middle East. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35) Commission disburses €21.2 million to Cyprus under NextGenerationEU Today, the European Commission disbursed €21.2 million in grants to Cyprus as the fifth payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The Facility is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU – the Commission's post-pandemic programme to support Member States' recovery, economic growth, and competitiveness. Measures linked to this payment include reforms and investments in the areas of public administration, justice, transport, tourism, education, healthcare, and energy efficiency renovations. On 1 August 2025, Cyprus submitted to the Commission its fifth request for a total payment of €70.5 million under the RRF. This request includes 19 milestones and targets covering 8 reforms and 11 investments. The Commission partially greenlighted Cyprus's fifth payment request on 19 December 2025 . Cyprus still needs to implement one outstanding milestone as part of this payment request, which relates to the reform of green taxation (Milestone 19). The Commission will consider the disbursement of the rest of the funds once Cyprus has addressed this non-fulfilled milestone. Cyprus's recovery and resilience plan is backed by €1.02 billion in grants. An interactive map showcasing examples of reforms and investments supported by the RRF is available online. Further details on the RRF payment claim process are also available online. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki — Tel.: + 32 2 2996 64 83; Anna Wartberger – Tel: +32 2 28 20 54) Commission approves €440 million Spanish State aid scheme to support renewable hydrogen production The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €440 million Spanish State aid scheme to support the production of renewable hydrogen. This will be done through the European Hydrogen Bank 's ‘ Auctions-as-a-Service ' tool for the auction that closed in February 2026. The scheme will contribute to the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal to accelerate the decarbonisation of EU industry while strengthening its competitiveness. Spain estimates that the approved scheme will support the construction of up to 382 MW of electrolysis capacity. It should also incentivise the production of up to 243 800 tonnes of renewable hydrogen, resulting in up to 1 790 000 tonnes of CO 2 avoided. The scheme will help Spain achieve its national objective to install 12 GW of electrolyser capacity by 2030, as well as the targets for the share of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) consumed in transport and in industry that are set in the Renewable Energy Directive . Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of a direct grant per kilogram of renewable hydrogen produced. Spain can grant the aid in the next 12 months. Once the aid is granted, beneficiaries are eligible for payments over a 10-year period. The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, specifically Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the 2022 Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy . The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to facilitate the production of renewable hydrogen. In addition, the Commission found that the scheme has an incentive effect and a limited impact on competition and trade within the EU. Finally, the aid will bring about positive effects , especially on the environment, that outweigh any possible negative effects in terms of distortions to competition. On this basis, the Commission approved the Spanish scheme under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.121244 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 ABB Robotics by SoftBank The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of ABB Robotics Holdco 1 Ltd. (‘ABB Robotics') of Switzerland by SoftBank Group Corp. (‘SoftBank') of Japan. The transaction relates primarily to the manufacturing and servicing of robotic technologies. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined market position 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.12248 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commission launches new generation of Europe Direct centres to strengthen local engagement and democratic resilience Representatives from over 400 Europe Direct centres are gathering in Brussels today to exchange best practices on how to foster local engagement and democratic spaces, and to align their local strategies for the years ahead. The event marks the launch of the new generation of Europe Direct, a network of centres supported by the European Commission that promotes local engagement. The aim of the centres is to act as a focal point for discussion and engagement, empowering people to take part in discussions about how European policies shape everyday life. The network will focus strongly on democracy. Europe Direct centres will increasingly serve as local hosts for conversations about Europe, creating spaces for people to meet, debate and talk about European matters. Through participatory formats and direct dialogue, the centres will support citizens' involvement in discussions and strengthen their involvement in democratic life. This work supports the Commission's efforts to strengthen democratic resilience across Europe, working together with partners across society, including through the European Democracy Shield and the Citizens' Panels . For the 2026–2030 period, 315 centres have been renewed, and 85 new centres have joined the network. Public authorities, universities and civil society organisations host many of the centres. Every year, Europe Direct centres across the EU provide guidance and organise thousands of activities, such as information sessions and debates, to help citizens engage with the EU. For example, citizens can debate EU topics over coffee in Austria, students can experience the European Parliament in a simulation in Romania, and people can engage in a public conversation on how European policies affect local communities in Spain. One centre will operate fully online in Luxembourg. Citizens can find their nearest centre on the online map . (For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Nika Blazevic — Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17) 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/26/600
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