European Commission - Daily News Daily News 29 / 04 / 2026 Brussels, 29 April 2026 Commission urges Member States to rollout EU age verification app Today, the Commission adopted a recommendation urging Member States to accelerate the rollout of the EU age verification app and make it available by the end of the year. The secure, safe, and privacy-preserving EU age verification app is a key step in protecting childre...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 29 / 04 / 2026 Brussels, 29 April 2026 Commission urges Member States to rollout EU age verification app Today, the Commission adopted a recommendation urging Member States to accelerate the rollout of the EU age verification app and make it available by the end of the year. The secure, safe, and privacy-preserving EU age verification app is a key step in protecting children from harmful and inappropriate online content. The Member States can roll-out the EU age verification as a standalone app or integrate it into a European Digital Identity Wallet . The recommendation also specifies the actions that Member States should take to ensure the swift availability and interoperability of the EU age verification solution. The Commission has developed a blueprint of the EU age verification app , which enables users to prove they meet a required age threshold without revealing their exact age, identity or any other personal details. It is now for the Member States to customise and produce the app for their citizens. Protecting children online is a priority for the Commission. Under the EU's Digital Services Act , online platforms must ensure a high level of privacy, security and safety for minors online. Henna Virkkunen , Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy said: “ Effective and privacy-preserving age verification is the next piece of the puzzle that we are getting closer to completing, as we work towards an online space where our children are safe and empowered to use positively and responsibly without restricting the rights of adults.” (For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat - Tel.: +32 2 298 04 85) Commission preliminarily finds Meta in breach of Digital Services Act for failing to prevent minors under 13 from using Instagram and Facebook The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta's Instagram and Facebook in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for failing to diligently identify, assess and mitigate the risks of minors under 13 years old accessing their services. Despite Meta's own terms and conditions setting the minimum age to access Instagram and Facebook safely at 13, the measures put in place by the company to enforce these restrictions do not seem to be effective. The measures do not adequately prevent minors under the age of 13 from accessing their services nor promptly identify and remove them, if they already gained access. Henna Virkkunen , Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: Meta's own general conditions indicate their services are not intended for minors under 13. Yet, our preliminary findings show that that Instagram and Facebook are doing very little to prevent children below this age from accessing their services. The DSA requires platforms to enforce their own rules: terms and conditions should not be mere written statements, but rather the basis for concrete action to protect users – including children.” 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 adopts its April infringement procedures To help citizens and businesses benefit fully from the European Union's legislation, the 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 20 letters of formal notice and 26 reasoned opinions. The Commission also decided to refer 14 cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Finally, the Commission decided to close 70 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 greenlights Italy's ninth payment request for €12.8 billion under NextGenerationEU Today, the Commission positively assessed Italy's ninth payment request of €12.8 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility , the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. The RRF, the cornerstone of NextGenerationEU , is the Commission's flagship post-pandemic programme supporting Member States' recovery, economic growth, and competitiveness. Following its assessment of the payment request, the Commission found that Italy has satisfactorily completed all 16 milestones and 34 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision. The reforms and investments tied to this payment request will drive positive change for citizens and businesses in Italy - covering public administration, tax modernisation, judicial efficiency, and procurement transparency. Other positive impacts will include strengthening education and research, improving healthcare, boosting tourism and cultural development, and fostering innovation in the energy transition, agriculture, and the circular economy. Italy submitted its ninth payment request on 30 December 2025. The Italian recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investments and reforms. The plan will be financed by €194.4 billion - €71.8 billion in grants and €122.6 billion in loans. This payment request will bring the funds paid out to Italy under the RRF to about €166 billion, corresponding to 85% of all the funds in its national plan, with 72% of all milestones and targets now fulfilled. With a view to the closure of the Facility at the end of 2026, Members States must implement all outstanding milestones and targets by August 2026 and submit their last payment requests by the end of September 2026. An interactive map showcasing examples of reforms and investments supported by the RRF, and further details on the RRF payment claim process are available online. A press release is available online. (For further information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 28 20 54) Commission proposes adjustment to EU rules to continue exports of municipal waste to Switzerland for an efficient waste treatment Today, the European Commission proposed a targeted and limited amendment to the EU Waste Shipment Regulation to allow the export of mixed municipal waste for recovery (such as recycling or energy recovery) to Switzerland to continue. This amendment supports the EU's simplification agenda and circular economy goals, ensuring that waste management remains efficient and sustainable. Under current EU waste shipment rules , from 21 May 2026, the export of mixed municipal waste for recovery to countries outside the European Economic Area will be banned. The originally foreseen ban will apply to Switzerland as the country is part of the European Free Trade Association, but not of the European Economic Area. This would disrupt long-standing, sustainable waste management practices in border regions, particularly in Austria, France, Germany and Italy, where around 200,000 tonnes of such waste are sent to Switzerland each year. Many EU communities rely on nearby Swiss facilities for efficient waste treatment, in line with the EU's principle that waste should be handled as close as possible to where it is produced. A ban would force waste to be transported over longer distances within the EU, in some cases shifting transport from rail to road. This would increase greenhouse gas emissions, while offering little economic or environmental benefit. The Commission's proposal provides a practical solution to avoid unnecessary burden on local authorities and waste operators, while maintaining high environmental standards. The export of waste for landfilling or incineration without energy recovery will continue to be prohibited, as under current rules. The Commission proposal will now be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council in view of a rapid agreement to avoid disruption of mixed municipal waste shipments to Switzerland. You can find more information on the Commission proposal for a targeted and limited amendment of EU waste shipment rules online . (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73) Europe's warming accelerates beyond global trend, new Copernicus data shows Europe recorded widespread warm conditions with above-average temperatures across at least 95% of the continent, according to the 2025 European State of the Climate report. The report, published today by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and produced by the European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts , shows Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth. The latest Copernicus data also outlines Europe's rising temperatures are speeding up the loss of snow and ice, alongside more frequent and severe extreme conditions such as heatwaves, drought and record sea temperatures from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. In 2025, seas around Europe recorded their highest average surface temperature on record, the fourth year in a row to set a new high. The report again underlines the urgency for Europe to cut emissions to net zero, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, and speed up the shift to clean energy through more renewables and better energy efficiency. Andrius Kubilius , Commissioner for Defence and Space said: “ The European State of the Climate Report shows, once again, that climate change is a reality for Europe, underlining the importance of an independent, world-class Earth observation system. Copernicus provides the information we need to guide the decisions that will shape a more resilient, more sustainable and stronger future for Europe.'' Wopke Hoekstra , Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth “Copernicus data provides a sobering report and confirms once again that Europe is the fastest-warming continent. Today's European State of the Climate report shows the devastating and far-reaching impact of climate change on our societies, economies and the environment. This has a price tag that keeps going up, and it's another reminder that clean energy is the best and only way forward for Europe.” Today's report again underlines the urgency for Europe to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero , strengthen resilience to climate impacts , and speed up the shift to clean energy through more renewables and better energy efficiency. The EU has committed to becoming climate- neutral by 2050 and has adopted targets and legislation to reduce net GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The EU's net GHG emissions fell a further 2.5% between 2023 and 2024, bringing the EU's total emission reductions to 39% below 1990 levels, as indicated in the 2025 State of the Energy Union Report . In 2025, renewable energy supplied nearly half of Europe's electricity, with solar power reaching a new contribution record of 12.5%. More information is available online. (For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel: +32 2 299 10 99; Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Marine Strauss – Tel: +32 2 298 91 03; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25) BraveTechEU, a new combat testing platform to support Ukraine and boost military innovation The European Commission has launched a new testing platform to evaluate military technology under real combat scenarios, marking the next phase of BraveTech EU , a joint initiative to fast-track military technology for Ukraine's defence industry. Backed by a budget of €35 million, the platform is designed to fast-track high-priority innovations directly to the Ukrainian battlefield. Implementation is already underway, with the first selection events scheduled for June 2026, followed by initial field testing and evaluation campaigns in autumn 2026, in close cooperation with Ukraine. By bridging the gap between European laboratories and urgent frontline requirements, the initiative strengthens the EU's defence sector while providing immediate, tangible support to Ukraine. This phase follows the first stage of BraveTechEU, which was awarded to a consortium of companies formed by Civitta, Starburst Accelerator, and Darkstar. It identified and filtered the most promising solutions from innovators across Europe. The newly launched testing platform will now put these technologies through rigorous trials that mimic the specific operational conditions found in the war in Ukraine. BraveTechEU was first announced in July 2025 by Commissioner Kubilius and Ukrainian Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. It operates in close cooperation with the Ukrainian innovation cluster Brave1, Ukraine's governmental defence-technology platform, to ensure that European technological development meets the reality of modern warfare. (For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel: +32 2 299 10 99; Marine Strauss – Tel: +32 2 298 91 03) ‘Choose Europe for Science': 16 Commission-funded projects to boost long-term scientific careers The European Commission has today unveiled the first 16 projects selected under the ‘Choose Europe for Science' initiative, a groundbreaking pilot scheme designed to attract and retain world-class researchers in the EU in key areas for Europe such as AI, biomedicine, robotics, genomics, climate, energy and advanced materials. Funded with €20 million from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under the EU's multibillion research programme Horizon Europe , the initiative will provide postdoctoral researchers with stable career paths, better working conditions, and long-term opportunities, reinforcing Europe's reputation as a global leader in science and innovation. The pilot call received 58 proposals, with 49 eligible for evaluation , coordinated by organisations based in 9 countries. The first funded positions will be advertised on EURAXESS from September 2026, with recruitment continuing into early 2027. Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu , said: “With the MSCA ‘Choose Europe for Science', we are putting the Union of Skills into practice by creating better jobs and stronger career prospects for researchers across Europe. By supporting organisations that commit to stable employment and high-quality working conditions, we are helping talent to develop, stay and thrive in Europe.” Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva , said: “'Choose Europe for Science' is a clear message to researchers worldwide: make Europe your research destination. We are creating the conditions for excellent science, attractive careers and long-term opportunities. I congratulate the successful applicants of the MSCA ‘Choose Europe for Science' 2025 pilot call. Your work will help reinforce Europe's position as a leading destination for research and innovation.” The pilot introduces a new funding model whereby participating organisations, such as universities, receive EU support to select and recruit postdoctoral researchers. They will employ and train them throughout their project. This guarantees more stable career pathways while promoting high standards in recruitment, supervision, training and working conditions. It also ensures that Europe not only attracts the best researchers but also keeps them, fostering a thriving, sustainable research ecosystem. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki — Tel.: + 32 2 296 64 83; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117) Commission clears acquisition of Rayner by GBL and CVC The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Rayner Surgical Group (‘Rayner') of the UK by Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA (‘GBL') of Belgium and CVC Capital Partners (‘CVC') of Jersey. The transaction relates primarily to the manufacturing and supply of ophthalmic surgical products. 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.12363 . (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 Heidemark by Boparan The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Heidemark GmbH and Altmärkische Putenmastgesellschaft mbH (together ‘Heidemark') of Germany by Boparan Private Office Limited (‘Boparan') of the UK. The transaction relates primarily to poultry slaughtering and processing in Germany. 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.12337 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Várhelyi visits Italy to discuss public health, food safety and competitiveness of EU producers Today and tomorrow, Commissioner for health and animal welfare, Olivér Várhelyi , will be in Italy to meet national authorities and key stakeholders from both the health and agri-food sectors. This morning, the Commissioner is in Parma to visit the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). He will discuss EFSA's work to ensure the highest standards of food safety and the recent Food and Feed Safety Omnibus package . This afternoon, Commissioner Várhelyi will travel to Rome to meet with Orazio Schillaci, Minister for health of Italy. They will discuss, among other issues, cooperation on public health and the resilience of health systems in the EU. The Commissioner will then meet with Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, for a broader exchange including EU efforts to strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary controls at ports and airports. On Thursday, Commissioner Várhelyi will meet with Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister for Agriculture, Food, Sovereignty and Forests of Italy. The two will discuss, among other topics, shared priorities related to food and feed safety, as well as the competitiveness of EU farmers and producers. The Commissioner will then attend a conference organised by Coldiretti, a large association of the Italian agricultural sector, to discuss the importance of healthy diets and the impact of so-called ultra- processed foods, particularly in light of the Safe Hearts Plan adopted last December. The Commissioner will subsequently visit Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital, before heading to the Italian Parliament and Senate for a hearing on EU, health and agricultural topics. He will then meet with Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy. Later in the evening, he will meet with Confindustria, the confederation of Italian industry, to exchange on competitiveness in the pharmaceutical, medtech and health sectors. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73) Commissioner Síkela participates in G7 meeting to reaffirm EU strong commitment to win- win development partnerships Today, Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela , will represent the European Union at the G7 Development Ministers meeting in Paris where he will present the EU's approach to international partnerships based on mutual benefits under Global Gateway , the EU's strategy for investments in sustainable development. At the meeting, Commissioner Síkela will also support the G7's focus on investment, endorse the renewed vision of international partnerships for mutual benefits and welcome the declaration on the OECD's Development Aid Committee review. Furthermore, Commissioner Síkela will present key infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and trade, like the Lobito Corridor . The EU has already hit the initial target of mobilising €300 billion in five years through Global Gateway, with more than €306 billion since its launch four years ago. The EU's objective is now to surpass €400 billion in investment by 2027. Tomorrow, during the second day of the G7 meeting, Commissioner Síkela will present the Global Green Bond Initiative Fund , an innovative public-private partnership that the European Commission presented last week, designed to mobilise private capital at scale for sustainable infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries, while strengthening local green bond markets. The fund will help mobilise up to €20 billion in investments. Then, Commissioner Síkela will exchange on how to build more resilience to natural disasters in vulnerable countries, for example with early warning systems . (For more information: Guillaume Mercier — Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Jennifer Sanchez da Silva – Tel: +32 2 295 83 16) Commission to discuss sanctions implementation with Member States and international partners Today, Maria Luís Albuquerque , Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, will host the ninth meeting of the ‘'High-Level Group on Union Restrictive Measures' , i.e., sanctions . The meeting aims to strengthen cooperation between Member States, EU institutions and international partners to close loopholes and ensure the effective, uniform enforcement of EU restrictive measures. The EU's commitment to a free and sovereign Ukraine is unwavering. Last week, the EU adopted the 20th package of sanctions against Russia . This package puts further pressure on Russia to engage in negotiations and to do so on terms acceptable for Ukraine. The impact of EU sanctions on the Russian economy has been severe. The Russian economy has entered a period of stagnation as the growth push from military spending begins to fade. After a 4.9% growth in 2024, Russian GDP grew by only 1% in 2025, according to the World Bank . According to the latest IMF World Economic Outlook , Russian GDP growth will remain low in 2026 (1.1%) and 2027 (1.1%). Russia's primary source of income has always been energy. However, in 2025 oil and gas revenues were 24% lower than in 2024. Proper implementation remains key for sanctions effectiveness, and joint work is crucial to ensure that our measures are not jeopardised by the attempts of enablers and profiteers of Russia's war of aggression. During the morning session, Member States will have the opportunity to engage in an exchange on the implementation and enforcement of EU restrictive measures and discuss best practices. In the afternoon session, EU Sanctions Envoy David O'Sullivan will convene the seventh Sanctions Coordinators Forum, gathering Member States and international partners including the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, as well as Ukraine. Discussions in this session will focus on common efforts to continue constraining Russia's financing, via payment networks in third countries, analysing circumvention trends and patterns in the Russian military industrial complex, as well as examining Russia's energy exports and the operations of the shadow fleet. Careful cooperation between the EU and key partners is essential to ensure that sanctions policies, implementation, and enforcement efforts are mutually reinforcing. This is why the EU brings together a broad coalition of countries to align with its measures in this important bi-annual event. (For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Saul Louis Goulding – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35) 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/26/925
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