European Commission - Daily News Daily News 26 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 26 June 2026 EU deploys emergency assistance to Venezuela following earthquakes The European Commission is deploying rescue teams and other emergency assistance to Venezuela after the occurrence of two strong earthquakes which caused numerous casualties on 24 June. So far, eight Member States - Czechia, Spain, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Por...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 26 / 06 / 2026 Brussels, 26 June 2026 EU deploys emergency assistance to Venezuela following earthquakes The European Commission is deploying rescue teams and other emergency assistance to Venezuela after the occurrence of two strong earthquakes which caused numerous casualties on 24 June. So far, eight Member States - Czechia, Spain, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands - are sending assistance through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism . President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We stand with the people of Venezuela at this time of great tragedy and catastrophe. I thank all the Member States for their solidarity and speed - sending firefighters, rescue dogs, medical staff and other forms of assistance. Venezuela is not alone.” More than 520 responders from the eight member states have mobilised so far as part of the deployment. Italy is also sending a medical team, and Luxembourg is mobilising telecommunication, shelter and energy equipment. To support this response, the EU's Copernicus satellite service has been activated in emergency mapping mode. The Mapping component of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS Mapping) uses satellite imagery and other geospatial data to provide free of charge mapping service in cases of natural hazards and man-made disasters throughout the world. The EU stands ready to provide further assistance as needs evolve on the ground. In October 2001, the Commission established the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to improve the prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters worldwide. Any country hit by a disaster, in Europe and beyond, can request emergency assistance through the mechanism. The Commission plays a key role in coordinating the disaster response and contributing to the transport and/or operational costs of deployments. Venezuela is one of the main recipients of European humanitarian aid in Latin America. This year, the EU allocated up to €52 million to respond to the humanitarian consequences of the socio-economic crisis in Venezuela. EU humanitarian aid is solely channelled through humanitarian partners such as UN agencies and international NGOs, which work with local partners. (For more information: Eva Hrncirova - Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) EU strengthens its foreign investment screening framework The EU has today published its updated rules on foreign investment screening, strengthening its ability to identify and collectively address risks stemming from foreign investments to the Union's security and public order. The updated framework will enhance the protection of critical sectors, assets and technologies in a coherent way, while maintaining the EU's general openness to foreign investment. The updated rules introduce mandatory screening mechanisms in all Member States, ensuring a more robust approach to screening foreign investments. The Regulation broadens the coverage and now includes, among others, indirect foreign investment. It also extends screening to EU-based investors that are ultimately controlled by an individual or entity from a non-EU country. It introduces a minimum scope for national screening mechanisms, including investments in sensitive and strategic areas such as dual-use items, critical technologies, critical raw materials, financial services, transport, energy, and electoral infrastructure. The updated framework also sets a common minimum level of harmonisation on procedural aspects, such as timelines for national screening processes. It also establishes a filtering criteria to ensure that only cases that present high risks to security and public order are notified under the EU cooperation mechanism and reinforces transparency through better information-sharing on the outcomes of national screening procedures. The updated Foreign Investment Screening Regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication today in the Official Journal . EU Member States will have 18 months to implement the Regulation's minimum requirements. Maros Šefčovič , EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, said: “ The revised foreign investment screening framework is another significant step in the EU's efforts to further reinforce our economic security toolbox. It allows the EU and its Member States to identify and address risks stemming from foreign investments that may affect security or public order, while safeguarding critical technologies, infrastructure and the resilience of supply chains. At the same time, it preserves the EU's openness to foreign investment and helps keep it a safe and attractive place to do business.” (For more information: Olof Gill - Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Saul Louis Goulding - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35) EU agri-food trade surplus holds firm in first four months of 2026 The latest EU agri-food trade report published by the European Commission shows that, in the first four months of 2026, the EU agri-food trade surplus reached €15.6 billion, which is €233 million higher than the same period in 2025. EU agri-food exports totalled €77.6 billion in January–April 2026, down by 3% compared with 2025. The UK remained the top export destination. Exports to Egypt surged by 49%, driven by wheat. Exports to Ukraine also grew by 7%, with the largest increase in spirits. However, trade disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz led to a 25% drop in exports to the United Arab Emirates. Due to reduced imports of cocoa products, cereals, as well as oilseeds and protein crops, cumulative imports fell by 7% to €62 billion compared to last year, reinforcing the EU's positive trade balance. Imports values from Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon and Guinea all decreased as cocoa prices continued to fall. Ukrainian wheat imports dropped by 71%. However, imports from Viet Nam rose by 16%, supported by higher coffee volumes. Imports grew the most in the category fruit and nuts (+6%), with increases spread across different products, particularly avocados and hazelnuts. On balance, EU agri-food trade remains resilient, with a solid surplus offsetting softer performance in key sectors. The full report , including detailed tables, is available online. (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10) Commission publishes annual report on food safety alerts showing strong food and feed controls to protect citizens Today, the European Commission published its annual report on Member States' cooperation and information exchange on official controls in the agri-food chain. The report reviews the Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) , which is the EU-wide framework through which the Commission and Member States work together to protect food safety by sharing alerts and notifications of non- compliance, as well as investigating issues swiftly. This year's report reveals an 11% increase in the overall number of notifications (10,490) in 2025 compared to the previous year. Notifications on food safety risks, via the Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed , rose by 2% last year , reaching 5,344. This increase shows the vigilance of EU control authorities in detecting food and feed safety issues and the added value of coordination at the EU level. As in previous years, fruits and vegetables accounted for the largest number of non-compliance notifications (18%). The report also covers two new networks on pet animals and animal welfare. The Animal Welfare Network, in its first full year of operation, has shown dynamism, particularly in addressing cross- border transport issues. The Pet Animals Network has a particular focus on protecting the welfare of dogs and cats. In the context of the new EU rules on dog and cat welfare , this network will be a key tool to combat illegal trade, document fraud and public health risks associated with these pets. The ACN's crucial role in the monitoring of the safety of the EU's food chain is expected to grow even stronger in years to come following the successful launch of TraceMap in 2026. This tool will enhance traceability, by using AI to connect large volumes of data and enable earlier detection of risks where they emerge. Further information on the Commission's food safety policies is available online. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73) Commission opens investigation into possible anticompetitive conduct by Sanofi regarding the promotion of a flu vaccine for vulnerable patients The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation to assess whether Sanofi has breached EU competition rules by carrying out a communication campaign that disparages the only rival flu vaccine recommended for vulnerable patients with risk factors. Sanofi , headquartered in France, is a multinational company active in the research, development, and manufacturing of innovative prescription medicines, vaccines, and healthcare solutions. One of the vaccines currently offered by Sanofi is an enhanced flu vaccine, which is specifically designed to provide greater protection against influenza for people over 60. In the EU, this vaccine is marketed under the brand name ‘Efluelda' and competes with another enhanced flu vaccine marketed by the company CSL Seqirus under the brand name ‘Fluad'. The Commission is concerned that Sanofi pursued a misleading communication campaign to disparage Fluad by portraying it as inferior to Efluelda, going against national vaccination recommendations in several Member States. The campaign primarily targeted healthcare professionals in Germany and France . In both of these markets, the Commission considers that Sanofi holds a dominant position. If proven, the practices under investigation may breach EU competition rules that prohibit the abuse of a dominant position ( Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union). Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera , said: “Scientific progress, unbiased scientific evaluations, and trust in independent scientific authorities are key for public health policies. Flu vaccines help protect tens of thousands of Europeans every year. Today's decision to open a formal investigation shows the Commission's determination to address disparagement practices that can unduly damage competition and informed choices by consumers.” The opening of a formal investigation does not prejudge its outcome. A press release is available online. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission approves State aid for Romania's investment and development bank The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Romanian measures for the national investment and development bank Banca de Investi ț ii ș i Dezvoltare S.A. (‘BID') . The measures consist of a capital increase of €1 billion, partly funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility , as well as a three-year extension of the State guarantee backing BID's operations. The Commission has also approved an extension of the scope of the bank's activities beyond those authorised in 2023, to expand its activities to support scale-up companies and projects in strategic sectors, including defence, high-tech manufacturing, high-tech knowledge-intensive industries and cybersecurity. The Commission assessed the measures under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions. In particular, the Commission found that the measures facilitate the development of economic activities across a range of sectors that continue to face financing gaps and difficulties in obtaining sufficient funding from the market. They are necessary and appropriate to improve access to finance for companies that encounter difficulties in securing adequate financing from private investors. The measures are proportionate , as BID's interventions remain limited to areas where market failures have been identified and the financing provided will not exceed what is necessary to achieve the intended policy objectives. Finally, they contain sufficient safeguards to avoid undue negative effects on competition and trade in the EU . A press release is available online. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74) 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/26/1469
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