European Commission - Daily News Daily News 12 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 12 June 2026 EU and Brazil deepen ties through Digital Partnership The European Union and Brazil signed a Digital Partnership in Brasilia today, bringing their digital cooperation to a new strategic level. Building on more than two decades of close collaboration, the partnership will strengthen EU-Brazil cooperation on shared digital priorities, inc...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 12 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 12 June 2026 EU and Brazil deepen ties through Digital Partnership The European Union and Brazil signed a Digital Partnership in Brasilia today, bringing their digital cooperation to a new strategic level. Building on more than two decades of close collaboration, the partnership will strengthen EU-Brazil cooperation on shared digital priorities, including data governance, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and connectivity, online platforms, and digital public goods and services. Digital Partnerships are a core instrument of the EU's external digital policy, enabling structured cooperation with like-minded countries on shared priorities. The agreement was signed by European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen , and Brazil's Secretary for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture, Alex Giacomelli da Silva. Following the signing of the Digital Partnership, an administrative agreement was signed by the Commission's services and Brazil's Agência Nacional de Proteção de Dados, to enhance cooperation on the protection of minors online. Through this partnership, the EU and Brazil will step up joint efforts to promote efficient and resilient global supply chains and contribute to an inclusive, rules-based system of global digital governance. They will aim to ensure that the benefits of technological progress are more equitably shared globally. More information is available in our press release . (For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Nika Blazevic — Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17) Commission proposes €540 million financial relief and other supports for farmers facing fertiliser crisis Today, the European Commission presents strong measures to help farmers facing sharply rising fertiliser costs and to support Europe's food security, delivering on the recently announced Fertiliser Action Plan . In recent months, geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions have pushed prices of fertilisers up across Europe. To address this situation, the Commission is proposing two concrete measures. Firstly, the Commission is providing financial relief to help farmers buy fertilisers to guarantee their next crops. In the coming weeks, the Commission aims to mobilise €540 million in total. Earlier this week, the Commission proposed to boost the agricultural reserve with an additional €300 million from the EU budget 2026 on top of the remaining funds. The Member States will be able to top it up by up to 200% of national funds, bringing it to a potential total of €1.5 billion. Secondly, the Commission proposes targeted adjustments to the Common Agricultural Policy, enabling Member States to provide farmers with faster and more flexible support to access fertilisers. These measures include a new liquidity scheme under rural development for crisis support, the option for Member States to pay direct payments to farmers earlier, and the possibility for Member States to adjust their direct payment budget for calendar year 2027. More information in our press release . (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10) Commission approves €11.9 million Italian State aid for cheese production The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an €11.9 million Italian measure to support an investment project in the dairy sector. The beneficiary of the measure is Zanetti S.p.A. , a company active in the production of traditional Italian cheeses with a focus on Protected Designation of Origin cheeses such as Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano. The aid will support the modernisation of Zanetti's production line and contribute to the economic development of the dairy sector and the area around the facility in the province of Mantua . The investment project will also have a positive environmental impact, because it will lead to lower energy consumption and road transport emissions. The aid will take the form of a direct grant. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State Aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions, and the 2023 Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas . The Commission found that the measure is necessary and appropriate to achieve the objective pursued, while supporting the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy . Furthermore, the Commission concluded that the measure is proportionate , as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade in the EU. On this basis, the Commission approved the Italian measure under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.122079 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 acquisition of DSM's Animal Nutrition and Health business by CVC The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of the Animal Nutrition and Health business of DSM-Firmenich AG (‘DSM') of Switzerland, by CVC Capital Partners plc (‘CVC') of Jersey. The transaction relates primarily to the supply of animal nutrition ingredients. 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.12382 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS President von der Leyen participates in G7 Summit hosted by France President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , and President of the European Council, António Costa, will be in Evian from Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 June, to participate in the G7 Summit hosted by France. On Monday, Presidents von der Leyen and Costa will host a joint press conference in the early afternoon, which you can follow live on EBS. In the evening, they will participate in an informal dinner for G7 Leaders hosted by President of France, Emmanuel Macron. On Tuesday morning, President von der Leyen will participate in a working session on peace and security for Ukraine and Europe, together with G7 Leaders and President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She will then participate in a working session titled ‘Facing crises and guaranteeing stability in the Middle East,' with G7 Leaders, President of Egypt Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, and leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In the afternoon, the President will take part in a working session on new partnerships and international solidarity. This working session will bring together G7 Leaders, leaders of Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya and South Korea, President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, and President of the African Bank for Development, Sidi Ould Tah. On Wednesday, the leaders will attend a working session on balanced and sustainable economic growth for all with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, and Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Mathias Cormann. Throughout the Summit, the President will engage with leaders of the participating countries. More information on the Summit is available on the G7 Summit website . Audiovisual material will be available on EBS . (For more information: Paula Pinho – Tel.: +32 2 292 08 15) Executive Vice-President Ribera to receive Politecnico di Torino Foresight and Innovation Award Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera , will be in Turin today to receive the 2026 Politecnico di Torino Foresight and Innovation International (‘PoliTO Foresight and Innovation') Award. The award recognises individuals who contributed ideas and vision to promote foresight and innovation. The inaugural edition of the award was presented to Mario Draghi in 2025. In her keynote address, Executive Vice-President Ribera will share her views on these challenges and on Europe's long-term transformation and highlight how innovation, clean technologies and artificial intelligence can strengthen Europe's competitiveness while supporting decarbonisation, energy security and social cohesion. She will also reflect on the role of research, innovation and technological leadership in building a more resilient and sovereign Europe, in line with the Commission's efforts to advance the Clean Industrial Deal , accelerate electrification and strengthen Europe's long-term economic security. The award also reflects the ongoing work of the European Commission in fostering innovation as a driver of sustainable prosperity, competitiveness and climate neutrality. More information about the PoliTO Foresight and Innovation award is available on PoliTO's website. You can also follow the Award Ceremony live online. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74) Commissioner Roswall participates in high-level dialogue on PFAS-related pollution challenges On Monday, 15 June, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall , will hold in a high-level dialogue with stakeholders to gather feedback on solutions to the challenges related to PFAS pollution in the EU. Announced in the Chemicals Industry Action Plan, the dialogue will bring together over 20 participants from NGOs, affected communities, researchers, water and waste treatment operators, PFAS producers and users, and users of alternatives to PFAS. During the dialogue, participants will exchange on practical impacts of PFAS pollution and challenges in addressing it. Commissioner Roswall will also explore with participants what can be improved at EU level to speed up both pollution clean-up and the transition away from PFAS. Finally, participants will discuss what stakeholders could do to transition away from PFAS and tackle existing pollution, and the business opportunities that it could create. Minimising PFAS emissions is a key priority for this Commission. After the adoption of the final opinion of its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis, the European Chemicals Agency will submit opinions from the Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees to the Commission. The Commission will then prepare the restriction proposal on this basis and submit it to the REACH Committee. In parallel, the Commission is also developing an EU-wide PFAS monitoring framework, to centralise information, identify pollution hotspots, highlight successful remediation practices and collect data from relevant legislation. Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall , said: “ PFAS pollution is an immense challenge that needs to be addressed collectively. We need to protect our environment, the health of current and future generations but we also need to incentivise innovation and provide our businesses with regulatory clarity.” (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73) 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/26/1349
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