European Commission - Daily News Daily News 09 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 9 June 2026 European Union and Australia successfully conclude Horizon Europe negotiations Today, the European Commission and Australia have successfully concluded negotiations on Australia's association to Horizon Europe , the EU's flagship €93.5 billion research and innovation funding programme. Australia will associate to Pillar II of Horizon Eur...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 09 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 9 June 2026 European Union and Australia successfully conclude Horizon Europe negotiations Today, the European Commission and Australia have successfully concluded negotiations on Australia's association to Horizon Europe , the EU's flagship €93.5 billion research and innovation funding programme. Australia will associate to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which addresses societal challenges in the digital, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food, bioeconomy and agriculture fields. Ekaterina Zaharieva , European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation said: "We can tackle the challenges of tomorrow only together. That is why the future of science and technology depends on strong international partnerships, like the one between the EU and Australia. Together, we've already delivered breakthroughs such as the Square Kilometre Array, one of the world's most advanced radio telescopes. By combining our strengths in industry, space, climate action, and the bioeconomy, we will drive the next generation of transformative innovations." This milestone formalises an already thriving scientific partnership. To date under Horizon Europe, Australian organisations have participated in 239 projects. Highlighting the world-class calibre and exceptional quality of its research ecosystem, nearly one in four individual applications from Australia is selected for participation in the programme - resulting in an impressive 24.39% success rate. From January 2027, under a transitional arrangement, Australian entities will transition from third- country rules - where they typically had to self-fund or rely on narrow exceptions for funding - to being treated as 'eligible entities' from an associated country. This will grant them direct, routine access to EU funding under Pillar II on equal terms with EU Member States, such as allowing them to lead project consortia. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Isabel Arriaga E Cunha - Tel.: +32 2 295 21 17) EU increases support to contain Ebola outbreak Commissioner for crisis management Hadja Lahbib has announced € 16.5 million in additional EU support to stop the Ebola outbreak, after visiting frontline responders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and engaging with the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Ethiopia. This includes €6.5 million to strengthen the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative, to help equip frontline teams train healthcare workers and improve surveillance through diagnostics; €5 million to the World Health Organization to strengthen surveillance and access to supplies (e.g. PPE); and in kind contribution of €5 million worth of testing equipment, including rapid diagnostic devices and lab test kits, to be deployed quickly where they are most needed. This additional support is subject to the approval of the budgetary authority. In Bunia, DRC, Commissioner Lahbib met frontline health workers and humanitarian partners working on Ebola treatment, infection prevention and control, community engagement, and logistics. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she held meetings with the African Union and Africa CDC to strengthen coordination and accelerate action across borders. Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said: “ Health security is a shared responsibility: viruses do not stop at borders; they do not care about politics. Europe will continue to stand with Africa CDC, with WHO, and with the communities on the front line of this outbreak. This is about more than containing a virus. It is about proving that when lives are at stake, the world can still come together and act.” In May, the European Commission had already allocated €15 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for the Ebola response in the DRC and Uganda. In 2026, over €115 million in total has been allocated for emergency humanitarian support in the Great Lakes Region and Uganda. An EU Humanitarian Air Bridge, together with UNICEF, has delivered nearly 100 tonnes of supplies to eastern DRC — including medicines, protective equipment, infection-control materials and tents — and the EU is organising five more flights to the DRC. ( For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35) Commission updates EU Air Safety List: Air Express Algeria added, air carriers from Kyrgyzstan removed The Commission published its 48th update of the EU Air Safety List yesterday. First released in 2006, the EU Air Safety List informs passengers of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union because they do not meet international safety standards. All air carriers certified in Kyrgyzstan have now been removed from the List, in recognition of the country's progress in strengthening its aviation safety oversight over the past 20 years. At the same time, Air Express Algeria has been included in the List and can no longer operate in the EU. This decision is based on serious safety concerns identified during assessments conducted by EU aviation safety experts, which revealed shortcomings in the airlines' compliance with international safety standards. The update of the EU Air Safety List coincides with the publication of a new Eurobarometer survey showing strong passenger trust in the List. The survey finds that seven in ten Europeans consider the EU Air Safety List an effective tool in protecting passengers from unsafe airlines. A large majority (75%) trust the EU to update the List based on safety criteria, without political or economic influence. The survey also reveals that air safety-related information reaches a majority of EU travellers (66%), although direct consultation of the List remains limited, with only 12% checking it prior to flying. However, half of Europeans (50%) report being aware of the list. The EU Air Safety List has a clear impact on behaviour – when an airline is listed, only 8% of Europeans say they would proceed with booking a flight with it. These results are consistent across the EU. More information is available in a press release and questions and answers online. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anni Juusola - Tel.: +32 2 296 09 86) EU advances zero-emission truck corridors and autonomous vehicle testbeds The European Commission and Member States are stepping up efforts to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in clean and digital transport. At yesterday's Transport Council in Luxembourg , the EU launched new initiatives to accelerate the rollout of innovative, zero-emission and automated transport solutions, supporting Europe's industrial leadership and climate objectives. EU ministers from 9 Member States, together with Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas , endorsed the first two roadmaps under the Clean Transport Corridor Initiative. These roadmaps aim to accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure for zero- emission trucks along the Scandinavian–Mediterranean and North Sea–Baltic corridors . By identifying key infrastructure gaps and investment needs, the roadmaps contribute to reaching zero-emission freight operations by 2030. Furthermore, 18 Member States and the Commissioner signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on cross- border testbeds for autonomous vehicles , advancing coordinated deployment and commercial testing across Europe. The autonomous vehicle testbeds will also strengthen cooperation on interoperability, regulation, and cross-border roll-out. As highlighted in the European Automotive Industrial Action Plan , the Commission is committed to presenting concrete actions that will ensure a robust and sustainable automotive sector and help unleash its innovative power. Both new initiatives will contribute to this goal. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anni Juusola - Tel.: +32 2 296 09 86) Commission publishes first Joint Clinical Assessment on innovative medicine The European Commission has published the first joint clinical assessment (JCA) report under the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Regulation , marking a major milestone in strengthening cooperation on the assessment of innovative medicines across the EU. Joint clinical assessments allow EU Member States to work together to evaluate the clinical benefits of new medicines and certain medical devices by reducing duplication, saving time and resources, and giving companies a clearer and more predictable process. By supporting more consistent, evidence- based healthcare decisions throughout the EU, patients gain faster access to innovative treatments. The report published today was endorsed by all Member States, showcasing the effectiveness of the new EU HTA framework. It assesses the relative effectiveness and relative safety of Ojemda (tovorafenib), an orphan medicine to treat paediatric low-grade glioma – the most common type of brain tumour in children. The Commission granted a one-year conditional marketing authorisation for Ojemda, a product of Ipsen Pharma, on 20 April 2026, based on the scientific assessment of the European Medicine's Agency. Olivér Várhelyi , Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare said: "This first Joint Clinical Assessment report marks a turning point for patients, healthcare systems and innovation in Europe. With the EU Health Technology Assessment framework, we are ensuring that high-quality scientific assessments are available to all Member States. This will help national authorities take timely and informed decisions on which new treatments to make available to patients. The robust, high-quality and uniform data contained in Joint Clinical Assessments will also support Member States in accelerating their decision-making on pricing and reimbursement. It is now up to Member States to effectively put these assessments to use – without adding additional requirements, so that innovation can reach patients faster.” Since the start of the application of the HTA Regulation in January 2025, 18 JCAs have been initiated for new cancer medicines and advanced therapy medicinal products. Further joint clinical assessment reports will be completed in the coming months and published by the Commission . (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73) Commission approves €10 million Austrian State aid scheme to support cleantech manufacturing capacity The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €10 million Austrian scheme to support clean technology (cleantech) manufacturing capacity, in line with the Clean Industrial Deal objectives. This scheme will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025 . The scheme will be open to all companies that carry out investments which add manufacturing capacity for the production of net-zero technologies, as well as the production of the main specific components of these technologies, listed in Annex II of the CISAF , with the exclusion of nuclear technologies. It also includes aid to produce new or recovered related critical raw materials necessary for the final products or main specific components. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants , financed by the Austrian national budget. The aid may be granted until 31 January 2027. The Commission found that the scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the CISAF. In particular, the aid will incentivise the production of clean technologies, as well as their main specific components and related critical raw materials. The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to accelerate the transition towards a net-zero economy and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal. Finally, the Commission found that the scheme is proportionate , as the aid is limited to the minimum necessary and has a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules. More information on the CISAF can be found online. The non-confidential version of today's decision will be made available under the case number SA.122597 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 2 299 47 74) Commission clears creation of joint venture by VLK and KBCS The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Van Lanschot Kempen N.V. (‘VLK') of the Netherlands and KBC Securities NV (‘KBCS') of Belgium. The transaction relates primarily to services covering equity capital markets, equity sales and trading, and equity research. 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 have 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.12294 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS EU to host 11 th EU-Republic of Korea Summit in Brussels On 10 June, the 11 th EU–Republic of Korea Summit will take place in Brussels. The Summit will bring together Ursula von der Leyen , President of the European Commission, and António Costa , President of the European Council, representing the EU, alongside the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae-Mung. EU High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will also participate, as well as Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Šefčovič , and Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo. At the Summit, the EU and the Republic of Korea will reaffirm their shared commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order. The leaders will focus on bilateral cooperation under the EU-Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership as well as on global and regional issues, such as the clean transition, energy security and accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement. On competitiveness, the leaders will discuss ways to deepen economic ties, including through the EU– Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement. Recognising the deep interconnection between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the leaders will also exchange views on regional security dynamics and opportunities to enhance cooperation in the Indo- Pacific and under the EU-Republic of Korea Security and Defence Partnership. President von der Leyen and President Costa , together with President Lee, will deliver joint press remarks following the Summit. The event will be broadcast live on EBS . The EU-Republic of Korea partnership is underpinned by the Framework Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement . The EU and the Republic of Korea have also concluded a Green Partnership , a Digital Partnership as well as a Security and Defence Partnership . (For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Anitta Hipper – Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Xavier Cifre Quatresols – Tel.: +32 2 297 35 82; Sophie Lai – Tel.: +32 2 296 92 82) ‘Life. Spaces. Buildings.', the New European Bauhaus Festival kicks off Today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , European Council President António Costa, and Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education at European Parliament Nela Riehl will open the third edition of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Festival . The event takes place at 18:00 CEST and will be broadcast live on EBS . Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto , Commissioners Jessika Roswall , Dan Jørgensen and Ekaterina Zaharieva will also take part in the Festival. Industry leaders and members of civil society from the fields of architecture, art, design, sustainability, innovation and more will participate in the event. Under the theme ‘Life. Spaces. Buildings.', this edition focuses on democratic engagement and affordable housing, echoing the actions proposed under the first-ever European Affordable Housing Action Plan . It explores how fostering innovation, sustainability and circularity when building homes and public spaces can support Europe's resilience and competitiveness, and highlights the central role of citizens in this transformation. The main activities will take place in Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark and the Art & History Museum in Brussels from 9 to 13 June 2026. The Festival offers visitors a diverse programme with four types of activities: the Forum discussing New European Bauhaus topics, the Fair showcasing projects and solutions, the Fest offering cultural performances and activities, and satellite events organised independently in Brussels, across Europe and beyond. Launched in 2021 following President von der Leyen 's 2020 State of the Union address , the NEB has grown into a vibrant community of over 2,000 members across Europe and beyond, and over 700 NEB projects supported to date. With the NEB Council Recommendation and Commission Communication , the initiative is moving from vision to implementation – supporting tangible change on the ground and contributing to better living environments for people across Europe. The Festival will provide an opportunity to discuss the future development of this initiative and its contribution to Europe's clean and fair transition. The programme also features discussions on the next phase of the NEB Academy , the New European Bauhaus core infrastructure boosting skills, knowledge and innovation across Europe. For the first time, the programme includes guided visits across Brussels to discover innovative neighbourhoods and local initiatives, film screenings organised in partnership with BOZAR, networking events for start-ups and innovators, as well as activities for families and children . Visitors will also be invited to vote for the best design as part of the NEB Trophy , with the winning design to be announced during the Festival on Friday 12 June. You can find the Festival's detailed programme and a press pack on the NEB website. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73) Executive Vice-President Mînzatu in Geneva for International Labour Conference and G7 Labour and Employment Ministerial meeting Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu will represent the EU at the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) today in Geneva, Switzerland. She will also participate in the G7 Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting. At the ILC, the decision-making body of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Executive Vice- President Mînzatu will deliver a keynote speech focusing on the EU's human-centred approach to artificial intelligence in the world of work, ensuring technological progress benefits workers while protecting their rights. She will meet with ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo to discuss ILO reform and EU-ILO cooperation in promoting decent work worldwide. At the G7 meeting, she will join discussions on promoting quality jobs, strengthening decent work and upholding a level playing field. She will also meet with the Canadian Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu, the Japanese Deputy Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Yasumasa Nagasaka and the Minister of Employment and Labour of the Republic of Korea Kim Young-Hoon to strengthen cooperation on skills development and decent work. The Executive Vice-President said: " The future of work must be fair, inclusive and sustainable. The EU is leading by example with strong labour protections, investments in skills, and policies that leave no one behind in the digital transition. At the ILC and G7, we will push for global action to ensure decent work remains the foundation of social justice and economic resilience. " (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová — Tel.: +32 229-88433; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 460- 765713) Commissioner Várhelyi to host Implementation Dialogue on the European Health Data Space Tomorrow, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi , will host an Implementation Dialogue on the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation in Brussels. The meeting will bring together key representatives from the health industry, such as medical professionals, researchers and pharmaceutical companies, to discuss practical steps for delivering the EHDS and to take stock of the digital health landscape across the Union. Scheduled at a critical moment in the regulation's rollout, this Dialogue reflects the European Commission's commitment to an inclusive and evidence-based approach to implementation and to supporting our partners in this process. The EHDS is one of the EU's most ambitious health initiatives, enabling citizens to access their health data quickly and easily, wherever they are in the EU. This will mean better access to care for patients and a significant reduction of paperwork for health professionals. In addition, the EHDS will give access to valuable datasets to drive innovation and research and support better policy making, while ensuring the highest level of data protection and security. During the Dialogue, participants will discuss the progress, benefits and challenges encountered in the implementation of the EHDS. Participants will also have the opportunity to share best practices and flag emerging needs ahead of the regulation's key implementation milestones. This event is part of the Commission's continuous dialogue with the healthcare industry, which is recognised as a sector of strategic importance for Europe. Implementation Dialogues are a consultation tool to gather feedback from stakeholders on EU policies. They underscore the Commission's efforts to create a patient-centred framework for electronic health data, support innovation and promote the EU's competitiveness by directly engaging stakeholders in policy implementation. Insights from tomorrow's discussions will shape the effective rollout of the EHDS. Further information is available online. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73) Commission hosts 20th edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week This week, the European Commission is hosting the 20 th edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) . Since its launch in 2006, EUSEW has become Europe's biggest annual event on the clean energy transition, attracting around 10,000 participants each year. Taking place both onsite and online, this year's anniversary edition has the theme ‘A clean, secure and competitive Energy Union'. Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen , opened the EUSEW with a keynote speech this morning. He participated in a special panel discussion, which featured all former EU Energy Commissioners since 2007 - notably, Andris Piebalgs, Günther Oettinger, Miguel Arias Cañete and Kadri Simson. Together, they discussed on the evolution of Europe's energy priorities and future challenges in a shifting geopolitical and economic landscape. Later this afternoon, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica , together with Commissioner Jørgensen , will launch the T-MED initiative , a project under the Pact for the Mediterranean aimed at accelerating renewable energy and clean tech cooperation between the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partners. The Commissioners will present this initiative in a joint press point which you can follow live on EBS at 15:00 CEST. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07) 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/26/1309
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