European Commission - Daily News Daily News 13 / 05 / 2026 Brussels, 13 May 2026 Commission welcomes political agreement on the rights of adults in need of protection in cross-border situations The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached yesterday between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the Commission's proposal for a Regulation on the protection of adults in cross-border sit...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 13 / 05 / 2026 Brussels, 13 May 2026 Commission welcomes political agreement on the rights of adults in need of protection in cross-border situations The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached yesterday between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the Commission's proposal for a Regulation on the protection of adults in cross-border situations. The Regulation will safeguard adults who, due to a disability or health-related limitations, are not in a position to fully protect their own interests in a cross-border situation. It will ensure that the protection of adults in need of support and their right to individual autonomy is maintained when they move or reside across Member States. The Regulation introduces a set of rules that will apply within the EU, notably establishing which court has jurisdiction, which law is applicable, the recognition of a measure of protection or the acceptance of a power of representation in another Member State, and cooperation among authorities. It also introduces a European Certificate of Support and Representation, simplifying the process for representatives to prove their powers in another Member State. The text will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for formal adoption. Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen , said: " EU law works for everyone. This Regulation is an excellent example of the real benefits it can bring to everyday life. It will ensure that adults who need protection and support have their rights respected, no matter where they live in the EU. Concretely, it will lighten the administrative burden in cross- border cases for those in need and those that protect them. " Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath , said: " We have a duty to ensure that the Law protects and supports people that are not in a position to fully protect their own interests. This Regulation also empowers their representatives, including carers, by removing unnecessary uncertainty from their everyday lives. Today, we bring them clarity and security, and I thank the European Parliament and Council for their dedication in reaching this agreement. " (For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Antoine Lomba - Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33) Commission invites stakeholders to join the European Housing Alliance The European Commission opened a call for expression of interest to join the first-ever European Housing Alliance, a pioneering initiative to rally stakeholders around efforts to address the housing crisis, which is impacting millions of Europeans. The Alliance will help implement on the ground and in an inclusive manner the European Affordable Housing Plan , which the Commission put forward last December. It will bring together national, regional, and local authorities, as well as housing stakeholders and EU institutions. It will facilitate cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices to tackle together the challenges of the housing affordability crisis across the EU. Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen , launched the call yesterday at the informal meeting of ministers responsible for housing in the EU, in Nicosia, Cyprus. He said: "At a time when the housing crisis is affecting communities across Europe, collaboration is more important than ever. The launch of the European Housing Alliance marks a crucial step in building a shared response to this fundamental challenge. By bringing together housing experts, cities, regions, local leaders and our Member States, we are creating a common platform to shape together the future of housing in Europe. Through this Alliance, we can turn shared insight into real action and help ensure access to affordable and sustainable housing for all across Europe.” Those interested can learn more and register to express interest in becoming a member of the European Housing Alliance online. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25) Commission issues €10 billion in its fifth syndicated transaction of 2026 Yesterday, the European Commission raised €10 billion of EU-Bonds in its 5 th syndicated transaction for 2026. The Commission is empowered by the EU Treaties to borrow from the international capital markets on behalf of the European Union to finance selected EU policy programmes. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €6 billion new 7-year EU-Bond, maturing on 12 October 2033, and a €4 billion tap of the 30-year EU-Bond, maturing on 12 October 2055. Building on the pricing of the March and April syndications against the EU Bond curve, both maturities were priced against reference points in the EU Bond curve. This approach helped mitigate pricing risks for participating investors and is reflecting the growing liquidity of the EU Bond curve, which can be used as a reliable reference point pricing of syndicated issuances when deemed desirable. The transaction is part of the Commission's €100 billion funding target for the first half of 2026 , with €77.3 billion issued since January 2026. These funds will be used to support the European Union's political priorities, including support for a stronger, more competitive and resilient Europe, support to Ukraine and crucial investments in European defence. For more information on this, see the dedicated press release . (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25) Commission declines referral request to assess the acquisition of Siemens Logistics by Vanderlande The European Commission has decided not to accept a referral request under Article 22 of the EU Merger Regulation (‘EUMR') submitted by Portugal, which was later joined by Spain and Italy, to assess the acquisition of Siemens Logistics GmbH of Germany by Vanderlande Industries B.V. (‘Vanderlande') of the Netherlands. The transaction concerns airport logistics services, in particular baggage handling. The acquisition does not meet the notification thresholds set out in the EUMR. Although the transaction was initially submitted for regulatory approval to the German competition authority in 2024, a subsequent restructuring of the transaction meant that Germany no longer had jurisdiction. The transaction was subsequently notified to the national competition authorities of Spain and Portugal on 6 March 2026 and 20 March 2026, respectively. Based on the information available to the Commission, the transaction appears to affect trade between Member States. While it remains uncertain whether the transaction threatens to significantly impact competition in Portugal, the Member State which referred the case to the Commission, the Commission considers that a referral under Article 22 of the EUMR would not be appropriate. The reason is that the transaction has already been implemented for more than a year. The competition authorities of Portugal and Spain will therefore continue their review of the transaction, and the Commission considers they are well equipped to do so. This transaction relates to markets in a traditional industry that National Competition Authorities handle regularly. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears creation of joint venture by Messer and Ambrian Energy The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Messer SE & CO KGaA (‘Messer') and Ambrian Energy GmbH, both of Germany. The transaction relates primarily to the intermediate storage of carbon dioxide. 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 and the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets. 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.12311 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears creation of joint venture by KKCG and Rockaway The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by KKCG Real Estate Group a.s. (‘KKCG') and Rockaway Group a.s. (‘Rockaway'), both of Czechia. The transaction relates primarily to industrial real estate development. 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.12313 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) APPOINTMENTS Commission appoints a new Director in its Directorate-General for Translation The European Commission appointed today Marcin Stryjecki as Director for Translation within its Directorate-General for Translation (DGT). This department provides the European Commission with high-quality translations of written texts and other language services in the EU's 24 official languages. The date of effect will be determined later. With over 30 years of professional experience, Mr Stryjecki has built a strong track record in managing large multilingual operational services and coordinating high volumes of complex translation files. He combines extensive expertise in quality management with strong strategic and organisational capabilities, notably through the development and implementation of quality assurance and quality enhancement frameworks within the European Commission. He has played a central role in defining and delivering service-wide strategies and action plans, while demonstrating proven management skills in workforce planning, talent development, performance management and the efficient allocation of resources across teams with differing workloads and linguistic demands. He also brings substantial experience in interinstitutional coordination and stakeholder engagement, including close cooperation with the translation services of other EU institutions and sustained collaboration with national language authorities, universities and professional associations. His career path reflects a strong ability to combine strategic direction with operational execution, providing a solid foundation for heading the Directorate for Translation. Marcin Stryjecki, a Polish national, is currently Head of Department for English Translation and Editing Services in DGT. Previously, he served as Head of the Polish Language Department and Head of the Portuguese Language Department within the same Directorate-General. Earlier in his career, he also held the position of Head of Unit in charge of translation services in various EU policy areas in DGT. Before joining the European Commission in 2003, he worked in both the private sector and academia. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25) ANNOUNCEMENTS Executive Vice-President Fitto in Czechia for talks on implementation of cohesion policy Today and tomorrow, 13-14 May, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto , will be in Prague, Czechia, for discussions on the current implementation of EU cohesion policy and its future development within the next EU budget. During his visit, he will meet with President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel; Prime Minister Andrej Babiš; Minister for Regional Development, Zuzana Mrázová; and Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová. He will also meet Mayor of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda, and regional and local representatives. Discussions will focus on the state-of-play of the current EU funds' implementation, the National and Regional Partnership Plans in the next EU budget and the role that regional and local authorities will play in the future setup. The Executive Vice-President will also exchange on recent EU initiatives such as the Agenda for Cities and the forthcoming Right to Stay strategy, as well as the shared commitment of the EU and Czechia to security, democracy and the rule of law. He will also visit the ‘Thomayer University Hospital', which has benefited from EU funds supporting a robotic surgery centre and the advancement of medical imaging techniques, and the EU funded Dvorecky bridge, which significantly improves transport in the southern part of Prague. In the period of 2021-2027, Czechia is receiving more than €21 billion in cohesion policy funds. In the recent Cohesion Policy mid-term review , Czechia reallocated €197 million to reinforce the EU strategic priorities linked to competitiveness and water resilience. (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 2 295 21 17) Commissioners Šuica and Brunner discuss migration and border management with EU Mediterranean countries On Monday 18 May Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica , and Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner , will attend the MED9 Interior Ministers' Conference in Rovinj, Croatia. The Conference will focus on migration, external border management, and the fight against drug trafficking. The MED9 group, consisting of Cyprus, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Slovenia, was established in 2013 to promote cooperation between EU Member States on general Mediterranean issues. On Monday, discussions will focus on combating illegal migration and protecting the EU's external border in the Mediterranean region. In particular, the participants will exchange views on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum , including the Solidarity Pool , as well as the Commission proposal for a Common European System for Returns and increased cooperation with our partner countries under the third pillar of the Pact for the Mediterranean, focused on security and preparedness. Readmission cooperation and strengthened external border management, with a revised Frontex mandate, will also be discussed. A press conference with Commissioner Šuica and Commissioner Brunner will take place on Monday afternoon at +/- 15:00 CEST. It will be livestreamed on EBS. (For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Elettra Di Massa – Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61) Commissioner Kos visits Kosovo to reiterate support for its EU perspective On Friday, 15 May, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos will be in Pristina on her first official visit to Kosovo. The visit underscores the EU's unwavering support for Kosovo's European perspective and the need for swift, decisive reforms to advance its path of European integration. During the visit, Commissioner Kos will meet with Acting President, Albulena Haxhiu and Caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti to discuss the need for accelerated EU reforms, as well as making the most of the opportunities offered by the Growth Plan for the Westen Balkans. The Commissioner will also engage with civil society representatives, including with women leaders from across different industries. By reinforcing the EU's steadfast support, this visit aims to encourage further progress on Kosovo's path of European integration and strengthen mutual engagement on shared priorities. (For more information: Guillaume Mercier — Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel: +32 2 296 27 16) Commissioner Tzitzikostas meets young Europeans to discuss the future of European tourism On Friday, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas will host a Youth Policy Dialogue focused on European tourism in Athens, one of Europe's leading tourism destinations and a gateway to the Mediterranean region. The dialogue will bring together 20 young participants from across the EU to exchange on the future of tourism in Europe and contribute to the first ever European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. Participants from diverse backgrounds will explore how to build a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive European tourism ecosystem, while meeting the priorities and expectations of young travellers. The event will be livestreamed at 10:30 local time. Youth Policy Dialogues form part of the Commission's broader effort to integrate the views of young people in the EU's political agenda, as set out in President von der Leyen 's Political Guidelines for 2024-2029 . By focusing on pressing policy issues and through open and constructive discussions, these dialogues aim to strengthen youth participation and foster engagement in democratic life. More information on the Youth Policy Dialogues can be found on the dedicated webpage . (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anni Juusola - Tel.: +32 2 296 09 86) 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/26/1076
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