European Commission - Daily News Daily News 19 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 19 March 2026 EU to invest €330 million to accelerate fusion energy and support nuclear technologies and skills The European Commission has adopted Work Programme for the 2026 and 2027 Euratom Research and Training Programme , allocating €330 million to advance nuclear research, innovation, and training. By covering nuclear research and innovation, ...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 19 / 03 / 2026 Brussels, 19 March 2026 EU to invest €330 million to accelerate fusion energy and support nuclear technologies and skills The European Commission has adopted Work Programme for the 2026 and 2027 Euratom Research and Training Programme , allocating €330 million to advance nuclear research, innovation, and training. By covering nuclear research and innovation, the Programme offers complementary funding to Horizon Europe, and it aims to strengthen the EU's energy independence, competitiveness, and technological leadership while supporting the transition to carbon neutrality by 2050. The Programme will contribute to the upcoming EU Fusion Strategy and respond to growing interest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). A major focus is the development of fusion energy , with €222 million dedicated to bringing fusion technologies from laboratories to the power grid. This includes establishing a new European public-private partnership for fusion, supporting emerging fusion start- ups through European Innovation Council instruments, and investing in fundamental research and specialised talent. The remaining €108 million will support innovation and safety in nuclear fission, including research on the long-term operation of current nuclear power plants, advanced reactors, nuclear fuels, radiation protection, and the safe management of radioactive waste. The Programme will also fund advances in nuclear medicine and strengthen the EU's autonomy in producing medical isotopes. Finally, the initiative aims to develop nuclear skills and attract talent through programs such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie grants , while ensuring open access to more than 230 nuclear research facilities across the EU. It will also support the integration of Ukrainian nuclear researchers into the European Research Area . Please find more information on the Euratom Research and Training Programme online. A press release is available online. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki — Tel: +32 2 296 64 83; Isabel Arriaga E Cunha – Tel: +32 2 295 21 17) Main messages from the Tripartite Social Summit EU leaders and social partners met in Brussels yesterday for the Tripartite Social Summit, a twice- yearly forum for dialogue that brings together the leaders of the EU institutions and the European social partners . The discussions focused on ‘Investment for a vibrant European economy and quality jobs' , and in particular on how to close the investment gaps and reduce strategic dependencies. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , said: “Our social market economy is what protects Europe's social fabric in these volatile times. And we must strengthen it even further. As the war in the Gulf drives energy prices up again, our immediate focus has to be on protecting our most vulnerable consumers and businesses. With short-term relief for those who urgently need it. And by strengthening our independence thanks to the phase-out of unstable fossil fuel imports. As we design solutions, it is vital to engage closely with the social partners and I'm thankful for our cooperation. ” More details are available in the press release. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 460 76 57 13) Commission clears acquisition of Danzas and CTT Expresso by CTT and Deutsche Post The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Danzas, S.L.U. of Spain and CTT Expresso – Serviços Postais e de Logística, S.A. (‘CTT Expresso') by CTT Correios de Portugal S.A. (‘CTT'), both of Portugal, and Deutsche Post AG of Germany. The transaction relates primarily to the small parcel delivery market in Portugal and Spain. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given its limited impact on competition in the markets where the companies are active. In particular, the Commission found that the activities of CTT and Deutsche Post are largely complementary and rely on different business models and logistics networks. The parties will continue to face effective competition from several established operators and the related markets are characterised by a certain degree of entry, expansion and buyer power. The notified transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.11942 . (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 SOLIT Group by MKS PAMP The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of SOLIT Group AG of Switzerland by MKS PAMP Group Limited (‘MKS PAMP') of Guernsey. The transaction relates primarily to the physical and financial trading and distribution of precious metals. 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.12351 . (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 Segula by Eiffel and Eurazeo The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Segula Holdings SAS (‘Segula') by Eiffel Investment Group SAS (‘Eiffel') and Eurazeo SE, all of France. The transaction relates primarily to the provision of industrial engineering services. 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.12309 . (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 Aunde AS, Isringhausen Oto and Aunde C&S by Aunde The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Aunde Teknik Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (‘Aunde AS'), Isringhausen Oto Yan Sanai Yedek Parça ve Koltuk Sistemleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (‘Isringhausen Oto'), both of Türkiye, and Aunde C&S GmbH by Aunde Group SE (‘Aunde'), both of Germany. The transaction relates primarily to the supply of textiles, seat covers and complete seats for the automotive industry. 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.12153 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commission invites 150 EU citizens to help shape future preparedness actions Tomorrow, the first session of the European Citizens' Panel on Preparedness will start in Brussels and run until Sunday. 150 randomly selected citizens from across Europe will discuss recommendations on how to implement the Preparedness Union Strategy , which emphasises active citizen engagement for effective crisis preparedness. Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis management, Hadja Lahbib , will open the session on Friday. One year after the adoption of its Preparedness Strategy , the Commission has already delivered on key commitments. The EU Stockpiling and Medical Countermeasures Strategies ensure the availability of essential goods and medical items when crises strike. A new EU Stockpiling Network brings together national stockpiling authorities for the first time, to ensure that Member States can coordinate assistance and deliver essential goods where they are needed in case of emergencies. The Commission also proposed a revision of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to improve the coordinated response to emergencies and strengthen the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre . This includes the creation of the EU Crisis Coordination Hub and consolidating existing emergency rescEU reserves. And a new Water Resilience Strategy aims to enhance water security. The EU and Member States are also preparing people for emergencies by raising awareness, giving guidance for 72-hour household self-sufficiency, and integrating preparedness into school programmes for early childhood and primary education. This will be the eighth Citizens' panel the Commission organises since their launch in 2022. The Commissioner and three panel participants will also join the EU Preparedness Conference on 23-24 March, bringing together public authorities, academia, private sector, and civil society to assess progress and set priorities for responding to future crises. Journalists wishing to attend should contact COMM-CITIZENS-PANELS@ec.europa.eu . Plenary sessions on Friday and Sunday will be streamed on the Citizens' Engagement Platform , where a parallel online discussion open to all EU citizens is also feeding into the panel's work. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35) Commissioner Lahbib participates in Youth Policy Dialogue on disability rights Today and tomorrow, Commissioner for Equality, Hajda Lahbib , will host a Youth Policy Dialogue in Brussels dedicated to the rights of persons with disabilities. In line with the principle ‘Nothing about us, without us', a key tenet of promoting disability rights worldwide, the discussion will focus on the lived experiences, priorities and concerns of young persons with disabilities. The dialogue will take place in Brussels' Comic Art Museum and will bring together 20 young people with diverse disabilities from 13 Member States. The Commissioner will hear the views of participants on how to ensure that young persons with disabilities can develop their full potential, live independently and participate in society, including through better access to inclusive education, employment, and democratic life. Across the European Union, young persons with disabilities continue to face barriers that limit their opportunities, independence and full participation in society. The Youth Policy Dialogue discussion will inform the upcoming Communication to enhance the EU's Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities up to 2030 , planned for adoption later this year. The exchange will also complement the broader consultation process already launched by the Commission, with a call for evidence and an open public consultation which closed in February 2026. Youth Policy Dialogues are part of the European Commission's commitment to mainstream the voice of young people in EU policymaking, as set out in President von der Leyen 's Political Guidelines for 2024-2029 . These dialogues are important to ensure that young people's voice is heard and engages them in EU policymaking. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73 ) Commissioner Zaharieva participates in Science is Wonderful! science fair Today, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva will participate in the ‘ Science is Wonderful!' science fair, taking place from 18 to 20 March at the Maison de la Poste in Brussels . This annual science fair is organised by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) , the EU's flagship programme for researcher training, mobility and career development, with the aim of bringing EU-funded research closer to the public. During her visit, Commissioner Zaharieva will meet researchers presenting projects funded by the MSCA and the European Research Council (ERC). More than 150 researchers from over 30 nationalities will showcase their work through hands-on experiments, demonstrations, games and science activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire young people to explore scientific careers. The Commissioner will also have a detailed exchange with researchers on how Europe can strengthen its position as a global hub for science and innovation, including how to attract and retain top research talent and support mobility and career opportunities for researchers across Europe. Since its launch in 2015, Science is Wonderful! has welcomed over 4,500 pupils from schools across Belgium every year, free of charge and open to everyone. As part of its efforts to connect researchers with schools and society, the MSCA also fund initiatives such as the European Researchers Night and Researchers at Schools. More information on the event can be found online. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 460 76 57 13) 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/26/654
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