European Commission - Daily News Daily News 18 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 18 June 2026 Cyprus receives first € 177.2 million payment under SAFE Today, Cyprus received its first payment of €177.2 million under the Security Action for Europe ( SAFE ) defence financing instrument, representing 15% of its total allocation of €1.2 billion. SAFE is a €150 billion financial instrument providing loans to Member States. It primari...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 18 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 18 June 2026 Cyprus receives first € 177.2 million payment under SAFE Today, Cyprus received its first payment of €177.2 million under the Security Action for Europe ( SAFE ) defence financing instrument, representing 15% of its total allocation of €1.2 billion. SAFE is a €150 billion financial instrument providing loans to Member States. It primarily funds joint procurement of ammunition, missiles, air defense, and ground combat systems produced within the EU. It is part of the European Commission's ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan , which aims to unlock over €800 billion in defence investment across the European Union. The pre-financing will enable Cyprus to advance key defence investments, reinforce resilience, and upgrade its military capabilities in line with common European objectives. SAFE is designed to enable swift, co-ordinated action, improve the ability of European forces to work together, and strengthen Europe's defence industry, including through joint procurement and closer cross-border co-operation. Andrius Kubilius , Commissioner for Defence and Space, said: “Today's pre-financing for Cyprus under SAFE shows Europe's commitment to strengthening our common security and defence. This support will help Cyprus invest faster in the capabilities it needs, while contributing to our common European objectives of a stronger, more resilient and more connected defence industry. SAFE is about solidarity, readiness and ensuring that Member States can deliver for Europe's security together.” This pre-financing payment follows the completion of all required procedural steps and reflects the EU's commitment to providing timely, practical support through SAFE. Further payments will follow, as agreed milestones and implementation are met. The SAFE instrument is financed by EU borrowing on the financial markets. This enables competitively priced and attractively structured long-duration loans to requesting Member States. The terms of the SAFE loans benefit from the EU's strong credit rating. All SAFE loans will be repaid by the beneficiary Member States. (For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel: +32 2 299 10 99; Marine Strauss – Tel: +32 2 298 91 03) Commission presents AI Literacy Framework with the OECD to prepare learners for the age of artificial intelligence The European Commission, together with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), presented today an ‘AI Literacy Framework' for primary and secondary education. The Framework offers teachers, education leaders and policymakers in the field of education a shared understanding of the competences students need to understand and use AI responsibly and ethically. It provides guidance and examples of activities for the classroom and is organised around four domains - engage with AI, create with AI, manage AI, and shape AI. The Framework also supports the European Union's ambition to deliver high-quality, inclusive and future-oriented digital education. Part of the Union of Skills , the Education Package, which will be presented later this year, will further support the adaptation of education systems to the digital and AI transformation. The initiative is developed with the support of CodeAI and international expertise. Roxana Mînzatu , Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, said: “ AI literacy is a foundational competence for our young people. Understanding and using AI responsibly is essential for Europe's competitiveness, as well as for protecting our democracy and social cohesion, and it starts in our classrooms. With the launch of this Framework we are taking an important step to support AI literacy education across Europe .” More information is available on the AI Literacy Framework's website and on the European Digital Education Hub (EDEH) event webpage. (For more information: Eva Hrncirova - Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Applications open for awards recognising cities that make life easier to persons with disabilities Cities across the EU are invited to apply for the 2027 Access City Award , which recognises outstanding efforts to make urban life more accessible for persons with disabilities. Organised by the European Commission in partnership with the European Disability Forum , the award is open to cities with over 50,000 inhabitants. The 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd place winners will receive financial rewards in recognition of the success of the work done so far and to support further improvements on accessibility. A city is accessible when persons with disabilities can move around safely and independently, access public spaces and buildings without obstacles, use public transport, communicate with local authorities, and obtain information in accessible formats. As part of its wider efforts to promote their full participation in society, the Commission intends to award a special mention for ‘Accessible Community-Based Services' in the 2027 edition. This award will recognise a city that supports independent living through local services that enable persons with disabilities to participate fully in urban life, avoiding institutionalisation and segregation. Additional special mentions may be awarded to cities demonstrating exceptional achievements in areas such as the built environment and public spaces, mobility and transport, information and communication technologies, public services, smart city solutions, access to cultural heritage, or accessibility for persons with intellectual disabilities. Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Equality said: “ The quality of a city is measured by whether everyone can use it. Accessibility is freedom. Freedom to go to school, get to work, visit friends, use public services, and participate fully in society. Local authorities have the power to turn that freedom into reality for millions of Europeans with disabilities by removing barriers from everyday life.” The winners will be announced during the European Day of Persons with Disabilities conference in Brussels on 4 December 2026. Cities can submit their applications until 4 September 2026 at 12:00 CEST. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73) EU commits over €338 million for global ocean protection at Our Ocean Conference in Kenya The European Union has yesterday committed €338.35 million to support ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries and maritime security at the Our Ocean Conference 2026 . Costas Kadis , Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, announced the news at the event, taking place today and tomorrow in Mombasa, Kenya. The EU's funding will contribute to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainably managed ocean at the global level. This year's conference, held under the theme 'Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future' , gathers governments, civil society, and industry representatives from all around the world to support the heritage, cultures, and coastal communities shaped by the sea, while calling for a shared commitment to secure a resilient, just, and thriving ocean for future generations. The theme aligns with the Coastal Communities Strategy , recently adopted by the European Commission, which aims to balance environmental protection with economic and social sustainability in coastal regions. EU funding is designed to enhance global ocean sustainability and maritime security through a series of targeted initiatives. These include strengthening the Global Ocean Observing System and improving evidence-based decision-making for marine policies via the Commission's OceanEye initiative; boosting maritime security by addressing piracy and unsafe navigation in the Southern Red Sea, Horn of Africa, and Gulf of Aden; and advancing Africa's sustainable ocean and coastal economy through investor-entrepreneur partnerships and the scaling of high-impact projects under BlueInvest Africa . Additional measures financed by the EU will combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; support the implementation of the UN Ocean Conference's Political Declaration ; and promote sustainable coastal and marine resource management. The EU funds announced today will also tackle marine pollution—reducing plastics, chemicals, and nutrient runoff while restoring vulnerable ecosystems—as well as expand marine protected areas, deepen scientific understanding of deep-sea biodiversity, and reinforce global conservation targets. 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) Commission clears acquisition of KNDS by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and the German Federal Ministry of Defence, and by GIAT The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of KNDS of the Netherlands by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau of Germany, acting on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and the German Federal Ministry of Defence, and GIAT Industries S.A.S. (‘GIAT') of France, ultimately controlled by the French state. The transaction relates primarily to the development and manufacturing of defence products. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns. The parties are not active on the same markets and, while KNDS is a supplier of the German Federal Ministry of Defence, this relationship does not give rise to a relevant vertical link. 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.12440 . (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 Mecaer by FII and PAI Partners The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Mecaer Aviation Group S.p.A. (‘Mecaer') by Fondo Italiano d'Investimento SGR S.p.A. (‘FII'), both of Italy, and PAI Partners S.à r.l. of France. The transaction relates primarily to the manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft and related machinery. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that 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.12467 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Brunner hosts implementation dialogue with EU Home Affairs agencies Tomorrow, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner , will host an Implementation Dialogue with representatives of the six EU Home Affairs agencies: the European Border and Coast Guard Agency ( Frontex ), the European Union Agency for Asylum ( EUAA ), the European Union Drugs Agency ( EUDA ), the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice ( eu-LISA ), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation ( Europol ) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training ( CEPOL ). The dialogue will take place online and focus on how to implement EU Home Affairs policies more easily and faster on the ground. Participants will discuss the agencies' practical experiences in carrying out their expanding roles in border management, asylum, law enforcement cooperation, large-scale IT systems and combating drug trafficking. They will share best practices, identify remaining challenges in inter-agency cooperation, and explore ways to simplify procedures and reduce administrative burden by leveraging digital solutions. A readout of the event will be available online after the meeting and will inform the Commission's ongoing work to strengthen the Home Affairs agencies. Implementation dialogues are high-level consultations launched by the Commission to improve how EU policies are implemented on the ground, in close cooperation with Member States and stakeholders. (For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Elettra Di Massa – Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61) Commissioner Hansen visits Poland to engage with young farmers and support agricultural innovation Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen , will be in Warsaw, Szepietowo and Wysokie Mazowieckie, in Poland, today and tomorrow, 18 and 19 June, to support rural innovation and young farmers. The Commissioner will meet with representatives of the agriculture sector, notably the youth, and discuss with public authorities how to support them and incentivise innovation in agriculture and rural development. 25% of young farmers in the EU come from Poland. Today, Commissioner Hansen will meet Minister of Finance Andrzej Domański. After the meeting, he will open a conference in Warsaw called ‘Boosting generational renewal in EU agriculture – improving access to finance for young farmers', co-organised by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. The conference will focus on improving access to finance for young farmers. Creating opportunities for young people is at the heart of Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food . Later in the day, he will meet Minister of Agriculture Stefan Krajewski, and will join a joint meeting of European Union Affairs and Agriculture and Rural Development Committee in the Sejm, the Polish Parliament. Tomorrow, Commissioner Hansen will take part in the 7th National Field Days Szepietowo 2026 and the Young Farmer's Day in Podlasie. He will visit the exhibition stands to explore Polish culinary heritage and engage again with young farmers participating. Alongside with Minister Krajewski, he will participate in a debate with agricultural school students. The programme concludes in Wysokie Mazowieckie with a meeting with dairy industry representatives. (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10) 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/26/1384
Speech Brief