European Commission - Daily News Daily News 18 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 18 March 2026 Commission approves new geographical indications from Germany and Slovakia The European Commission has approved today the addition of ‘ Kräuterhefe ' from Germany in the register of Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) as well as ‘ Liptovská bryndza ' from Slovakia to the register of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). German ‘Kr...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 18 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 18 March 2026 Commission approves new geographical indications from Germany and Slovakia The European Commission has approved today the addition of ‘ Kräuterhefe ' from Germany in the register of Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) as well as ‘ Liptovská bryndza ' from Slovakia to the register of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). German ‘Kräuterhefe' is a yeast preparation produced in biological processes with fermented herbal and other plant extracts. It is more digestible and suitable for consumption due to the breakdown of the yeast cell walls. The herbal yeast is a liquid source of proteins, traditionally produced in three steps - from fermentation of vegetable raw materials, cultivation of herbal yeast to yeast cell disruption. This method has been used unchanged for more than 50 years. Slovak ‘Liptovská bryndza' is a soft sheep's cheese with a delicate, slightly sour taste, made using traditional methods in the Liptov region in northern Slovakia. Produced from freshly extracted, unheated sheep's milk, it is aged and then crushed, ground, and mixed with salt. Its characteristics are shaped by the natural microflora of the lump cheese, originating from sheep that graze in high mountain meadows. The diverse flora of the meadows adds a rich array of nutrients, aromatic substances, and minerals to the sheep's milk, enhancing its taste, aroma, and nutritional value with beneficial fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. Additionally, mountain herbs provide essential oils and antioxidants, enriching the sheep's milk with a sweet, creamy flavour and a slight sourness that create 'Liptovská bryndza'. The new denominations will be added to the list of 95 traditional specialities guaranteed and already protected as well as to the list of more than 3,900 protected names already listed in the eAmbrosia database. More information is available on the ‘ Quality Policy' pages . (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10) Commission clears acquisition of Desotec by EFMS The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of David Topco S.à r.l. (‘Desotec') by EQT Fund Management S.à.r.l. (‘EFMS'), both of Luxembourg. The transaction relates primarily to the supply of industrial water, air, gas and liquid purification solutions. 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.12272 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) STATEMENTS Joint statement by High Representative/Vice President Kallas and Commissioner Lahbib on Kabul rehabilitation centre strike Following the strike on Kabul's Omid rehabilitation centre point, High Representative/Vice President Kallas and Commissioner Lahbib issued a joint statement yesterday, reaffirming EU's commitment to the protection of civilians and calling for an immediate ceasefire: “The strike on a medical facility in Kabul is another deadly escalation in a conflict that needs to end as soon as possible. Civilian and medical facilities must never be targeted as they are protected under International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions. All parties engaged in military operations have the obligation to respect these provisions under all circumstances. We call on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take all feasible measures to minimise the risk of harming civilians. The EU joins calls by the international community for an immediate ceasefire and a resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan's de facto authorities.” The joint statement is available online. (For more information: Anouar El Anouni – Tel. +32 2 291 35 80; Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Kos visits Armenia to reinforce the EU's partnership with Armenia On Thursday and Friday, Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos is in Armenia to further reinforce cooperation between the EU and Armenia, and advance regional connectivity. On Thursday in Yerevan, the Commissioner will meet Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. Discussions will focus on the preparation of the upcoming EU-Armenia Summit, as well as strengthening transport, digital, energy and trade links, in line with the EU Connectivity Agenda. They will also exchange on the regional situation as well as the democratic resilience of Armenia. Commissioner Kos will also meet Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, Mher Grigoryan to review progress on the EU's €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia . A joint press conference will follow their meeting and will be transmitted live on EBS + at +/- 16:30 CEST. The Commissioner will also meet Foreign Minister of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, to exchange on the latest regional developments. On Friday in Gyumri, Commissioner Kos will visit EU-funded enterprises supporting social inclusion, local economic growth and job creation. In 2024 alone, EU programmes supported more than 7,000 Armenian businesses, creating more than 20,000 jobs. The Commissioner will also visit Gyumri's historic marketplace, currently under EU-funded restoration, as well as an innovation hub promoting youth skills in technology and design. Commissioner Kos will deliver a speech at Shirak State University. She is then set to meet with Young European Ambassadors , as well as with the local civil society representatives and journalists involved in EU-funded projects to exchange views on their work and discuss their role in in safeguarding Armenia's democratic resilience. Audiovisual material of the visit will be available on EBS . (For more information: Guillaume Mercier — Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel: +32 2 296 27 16) Riga wins European Mobility Week Award for promoting active and sustainable transport Last night, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas , awarded Riga, Latvia, the European Mobility Week Award and the autonomous province of Bolzano/Bozen, in Italy, the Mobility Action Award, recognising leadership in sustainable urban mobility during 2025. Riga stood out for promoting sustainable urban transport through initiatives like the 'Tweed Ride' and 'Riga Rolls', engaging schools, families, and residents in walking, cycling, and rollerblading challenges. Riga has also expanded bicycle infrastructure and 30 km/h zones, ensuring safer, people-centred streets in the city. Bolzano/Bozen advanced sustainable tourism through the Südtirol/Alto Adige guest pass, offering unlimited access to public transport and certain cable cars. The pass encourages visitors to leave their cars behind, reducing congestion and emissions, beneficial to residents and visitors alike. In addition, Braga in Portugal received special mention for walking, cycling, and shared transport initiatives. Commissioner Tzitzikostas said: “The winners show that mobility can be fair, inclusive and truly people-centered. When cities and regions put citizens first, transport becomes more than just a way to move. It connects communities and improves everyday life. This is the future we want for transport in Europe, more sustainable and accessible for everyone.” European Mobility Week is the European Commission's flagship campaign on sustainable urban mobility, running annually from 16–22 September. In 2025, over 2,700 towns and cities in 46 countries participated in the campaign, with more than 900 organisations registering mobility actions to promote sustainable transport. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anni Juusola - Tel.: +32 2 296 09 86) APPOINTMENTS Commission appoints a new Director in its Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union The European Commission appointed today David Mueller as the Director for Resources and General Affairs within its Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD). This department works to ensure that taxation and customs deliver on the Union's priorities and provide the revenues needed to fund European investment and growth. The date of effect will be determined later. With almost 20 years of experience in the European Commission, Mr Mueller brings a strong track record in budgetary policy, interinstitutional relations and management. He has demonstrated extensive expertise in delivering key EU initiatives, notably contributing to the development, negotiation and implementation of the Commission's HR strategy, as well as major financial instruments such as NextGenerationEU. His proven management experience includes coordinating the work of several Directorates-General on cross-cutting files and overseeing the design and implementation of key HR measures during the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring business continuity and staff well-being across the institution. These experiences, combined with his strong strategic and organisational capabilities, provide him with the perspective required to head the Directorate for Resources and General Affairs in DG TAXUD. David Mueller, an Austrian national, is currently Director at the Commission's advisory service Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action (IDEA). He previously served as Principal Adviser for strategic foresight and innovation in the Directorate-General for Human Resources (DG HR) and as Head of Cabinet to Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn, following an earlier role as Cabinet expert to the same Commissioner in charge of Neighbourhood and Enlargement. Before joining the Commission in 2007, he worked in the Austrian public administration. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki — Tel.: + 32 2 2996 64 83 ; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25) Commission appoints a new Director in its Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety The European Commission appointed today Eric Thévenard as the Director for Health and Food Audits and Analysis within its Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE). This department is responsible for protecting the health of EU citizens, as well as animal health and welfare, plant health and food safety, through a One Health approach. The date of effect will be determined later. With over 30 years of experience in health and food policy, Mr Thévenard brings extensive expertise in regulatory frameworks, food safety and crisis response. He has a strong track record in designing and implementing EU food safety rules, including measures to combat food fraud, and has played a key role in strengthening the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed to support its increased use by Member State authorities. His proven management experience includes leading multidisciplinary teams, coordinating complex regulatory processes, and delivering results in a fast-evolving policy environment. Taken together, these experiences equip him with the strategic, organisational and operational perspective required to strengthen health and food audits, promote transparency, and ensure the safety and quality of food across the Union. Eric Thévenard, a French national, is currently serving as Head of Unit for Trade-related controls, residues and feed safety in DG SANTE. He previously held several Head of Unit positions within the same Directorate-General, including for pesticides and biocides, food hygiene, feed and fraud, as well as institutional relations, planning and impact assessment. Prior to joining the Commission in 1995, he worked as a veterinarian in border inspection services for the French Ministry of Agriculture. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki — Tel.: + 32 2 2996 64 83 ; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25) 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/26/640
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