European Commission - Daily News Daily News 09 / 07 / 2026 Brussels, 9 July 2026 Commission and High Representative propose new sanctions regime to counter threats from migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and other forms of organised crime Today, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, proposed a new EU sanctions regime to tackle migrant smuggling, t...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 09 / 07 / 2026 Brussels, 9 July 2026 Commission and High Representative propose new sanctions regime to counter threats from migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and other forms of organised crime Today, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, proposed a new EU sanctions regime to tackle migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, and other serious forms of organised crime, including trafficking in firearms and illicit drugs as well as money laundering. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said : “Today, we are presenting a new sanctions regime against migrant smugglers and traffickers. We all have a common goal. To drive them out of business. And to save the lives of thousands of people who dream of a better life. We in Europe must be the ones to decide who comes to us and in what circumstances.” Organised criminals destabilise societies, undermine the rule of law and democracy, and weaken economic stability and security. The initiative was announced by President von der Leyen during the 2025 State of the Union , and aims to disrupt the business model of smugglers, restrict their movements, and cut off their profits. Today's proposals target illicit activities originating outside the Union which, conduct related to migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, trafficking and other activities linked to illicit drugs, illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms and money laundering, and identified individuals and entities involved in these activities. The proposed restrictive measures are asset freezes and prohibitions on making funds or other economic resources available to listed persons or entities, and travel bans to prevent entry into, or transit through, EU Member States by listed persons. A press release and questions and answers are available online. (For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Saul Louis Goulding – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35) Europe's innovation performance strengthens amidst global competition Europe's innovation performance continues to improve, with the EU's overall score rising by 11.6 percentage points since 2019, according to the 2026 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), just released by the European Commission. This result marks nearly a decade of steady growth, highlighting the resilience of Europe's innovation ecosystem in an increasingly competitive global environment. Between 2025 and 2026, the EU's innovation performance improved by 1.7 percentage points, following a more modest increase of 0.5 percentage points in the previous year. While all EU Member States have shown progress, performance varies significantly from country to country. Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands once again lead the ranking, outperforming the EU average and retaining their status as ‘innovation leaders'. Finland maintains a strong stable fourth position, while Malta has made remarkable progress, crossing the threshold to become a ‘strong innovator' (achieving 100–125% of the EU average). More details are available in a press release online. (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229- 52117 ) Commission and International Labour Organization set renewed strategic agenda for social justice, quality jobs and a human-centred future of work The European Commission and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have agreed to further strengthen their cooperation to ensure that major global transitions – such as the shift towards digital and clean technologies – lead to more and better jobs, stronger labour market institutions and greater social cohesion. This was the main conclusion during the 17 th high level meeting that took place in Brussels this week. Co-chaired by Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu , and Gilbert F. Houngbo, ILO Director-General. the Commission and ILO reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism, international labour standards and decent work, and identified a set of strategic priorities to guide the next phase of their partnership. They emphasised that AI governance in the world of work must be human-centred and support the preservation and creation of decent jobs. The meeting also confirmed the enduring importance of the EU-ILO partnership in addressing global labour market challenges. Executive Vice-President Mînzatu said: “In a challenging multilateral context, the EU-ILO partnership matters more than ever. Social justice, decent work and fundamental rights at work are the foundation of resilient and competitive societies. From AI to global supply chains, change must work for people. This is the choice we need to make, and Europe will defend a model where competitiveness goes hand in hand with fairness and dignity at work.” More details on the Commission's renewed cooperation with ILO are available online. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - Tel.:+3222957501; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Commission signs joint procurement contract for vaccines to strengthen protection ahead of the 2026-2027 winter season The European Commission has signed, on the request of 6 countries, a joint procurement framework contract with Moderna to access up to 24 million doses of the mRNA-based RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine mRESVIA®, with no minimum number of doses to be bought. This vaccine protects against diseases of the lungs, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, caused by RSV in adults. The contract will run for a period of up to four years. RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. While most people usually recover in around a week without the need for medical treatment, RSV can cause severe illness and death in more vulnerable groups such as older adults, leading to hospitalisation in Europe of over 156,000 adults each year. By protecting citizens through greater access to and availability of RSV vaccines, this contract can help lessen the burden on healthcare services during the winter season, when public health systems are often under greater pressure due to seasonal viruses. It can also reduce antibiotic consumption by preventing RSV infections, thereby lowering the number of patients who are prescribed antibiotics unnecessarily or as a precaution. As of July 2026, 39 countries have signed the Joint Procurement Agreement , a mechanism at EU level to jointly procure medical countermeasures on a voluntary and flexible basis. This mechanism contributes to EU-level preparedness for public health crises or pandemics. Hadja Lahbib , Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said: “ With today's joint procurement for a RSV vaccine, we are helping Member States to enhance their preparedness against this serious virus before the upcoming winter season. This will protect the most vulnerable and reduce the pressure that respiratory infections place on our hospitals during the winter months. Being prepared today means saving lives when the next peak season arrives.” More information can be found online. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anna Gray - Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73 ) Commission report shows EU competition rules make markets fairer and more resilient for farmers Today, the European Commission published a report demonstrating how EU competition rules support fair market conditions and economic resilience for EU farmers. The report covering the period from July 2017 to July 2025 EU competition rules in the agricultural sector . It focuses on exclusions from competition rules in the common market organisation (CMO) and on antitrust investigations. It also illustrates how the current framework supports the Vision for Agriculture and Food by maintaining a market-oriented agricultural sector while strengthening farmers' position in the food supply chain. EU legislation recognises specific challenges faced by farmers and provides the necessary exemptions from EU competition rules. For example, specific competition rules help farmers improve their bargaining position, manage risks and respond more effectively to market challenges. The report shows that these rules give farmers more opportunities to work together, strengthen their position in the agri-food supply chain and contribute to fairer and more resilient agri-food markets, while ensuring benefits for consumers. Among other things, EU rules allow producers and operators in the agri-food supply chain to cooperate on agreements that pursue higher sustainability standards than those required by EU or national legislation. While these options are available, the report shows that their potential is not yet fully exploited by farmers. Nonetheless, as shown in the report, enforcement of EU competition rules is essential to allow farmers to operate on an equal footing. This is mainly done through effective coordination between the Commission and the national competition authorities. Between July 2017 and July 2025, the Commission and national competition authorities in the EU concluded around 110 investigations in the agricultural sector. These investigations helped address concerns in the agri-food supply chain, prevented anti-competitive practices and, where necessary, required companies to change their behaviour or pay fines. Farmers were the largest source of investigations by submitting complaints to competition authorities. Other complaints were submitted by manufacturers and retailers. The Commission must report every seven years to the European Parliament and to the Council on the application of the competition rules in the agricultural sector, in line with CMO regulation. More information is available online. (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission accepts binding commitments by SAP to address competition concerns about services for its popular business management software The European Commission has accepted commitments from SAP to address EU competition concerns relating to its aftermarket support services for on-premises Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. These commitments are now legally binding under EU antitrust rules. In September 2025 , the Commission opened a formal investigation and preliminarily found that SAP has been engaging in four practices that could restrict competition in the EEA-wide market for maintenance and support (M&S) services for SAP's on-premises ERP software. In response to the Commission's concerns, SAP offered commitments. Between November 2025 and December 2025 the Commission market-tested those commitments and consulted all interested third parties to verify whether they would remove competition concerns. In light of the outcome of this market test, SAP adjusted the initial proposal. SAP will clarify the conditions for splitting customers' SAP landscape into separate parts, allow customers to terminate their licences and the respective M&S fees in some specific scenarios, give wider access to single-metric contracts, clarify its contractual provisions regarding the initial licence term and refrain from restarting a new term for every additional licence purchase, abolish reinstatement fees and reduce back maintenance fees charged to customers who return to SAP's support after a period of absence, and create an internal clearing structure customers can turn to when they consider that SAP is not applying the commitments correctly. The Commission concluded that the final commitments adequately address its preliminary competition concerns and has decided to make them legally binding on SAP. Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera , said: “ SAP's software is critical to businesses across Europe, and indeed globally. Today's decision gives customers using SAP's popular on-premises business management software more freedom to choose maintenance and support services without unfair restrictions that raised their costs and stifled competition. The legally binding commitments secured by the Commission set a benchmark for the industry more broadly and should serve as a warning against similar practices in the cloud markets, where customers are increasingly moving. This decision sends a strong message: dominant firms in digital markets and beyond should not abuse their power to lock in users at the expense of choice and innovation. " A press release is available online. (For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears acquisition of Teréga by Enagás Internacional and SNAM The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Teréga S.A.S. of France by Enagás Internacional, S.L.U. of Spain and SNAM, S.p.A. of Italy. The transaction relates primarily to the transmission and storage of natural gas. 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. This summary approval is an example of the Commission reducing the regulatory burden on companies and quickly approving a transaction that will clearly not harm competition in Europe, and which rather aims to support the EU's internal market. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12438 . (For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears creation of joint venture by EWE and Verbund Green Hydrogen The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by EWE Hydrogen GmbH (‘EWE') of Germany and Verbund Green Hydrogen GmbH of Austria. The transaction relates primarily to the production and sale of green hydrogen. 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. This summary approval is an example of the Commission reducing the regulatory burden on companies and quickly approving a transaction that will clearly not harm competition in Europe, and which rather aims to support the EU's decarbonisation efforts and the clean energy transition. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12458 . (For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears acquisition of Forvia Automotive Interiors Business by Apollo Funds The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Faurecia Interiors Holding SAS of France, Faurecia Automotive Interior System (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. of China and Faurecia Interior Systems USA Holdings, LLC. of the US (together the ‘Forvia Automotive Interiors Business') by investment funds managed by Apollo Capital Management, L.P. and other indirect subsidiaries of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (together ‘Apollo Funds') of the US. The transaction relates primarily to the automotive interior parts sector. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' 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.12460 . (For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears acquisition of PowerGEM by GA Group and TA The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of PowerGEM Topco, L.P. (‘PowerGEM') by General Atlantic (PWG), L.P. (together with its affiliated investment funds ‘GA Group') and TA Associates Management, L.P. (‘TA'), all of the US. The transaction relates primarily to power grid and energy simulation software, and related consulting services. 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.12450 . (For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Kos in Montenegro to support path to EU accession Today and tomorrow, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is in Montenegro to discuss the country's progress on its EU accession path. Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 16. Last week, the European Commission presented a financial package for Montenegro, setting out the budgetary arrangements that would apply to Montenegro upon its accession to the European Union. This followed the recent agreement by Member States to start drafting the Accession Treaty with the country. Today in Podgorica, Commissioner Kos will take part in the celebrations marking Montenegro's Statehood Day with President Jakov Milatović. Tomorrow, Commissioner Kos will meet Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to take stock of recent progress on reforms related to Montenegro's EU path and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans . She will underline the need to maintain reform momentum to keep Montenegro on track with its ambitious timeline for negotiation. The Commissioner will also meet the Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament, Andrija Mandić, and opposition representatives, to underline the importance of the sustained political commitment and cross-party unity to advance the country's EU agenda. In Kotor, Commissioner Kos will visit the Institute of Marine Biology and take part in the Great Kotor Bay seabed clean-up event with Prime Minister Spajić. The visit will provide an opportunity to discuss the nature protection reforms Montenegro is required to carry out to make progress towards provisionally closing further negotiating chapters. (For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 296 27 16) Commissioner Lahbib hosts implementation dialogue on preparing EU for the next health crisis Tomorrow, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib , will host an Implementation Dialogue in Brussels on the Medical Countermeasures Strategy , to discuss how best to prepare the EU for the next health crisis. The Dialogue will bring together representatives from industry, healthcare, academia, patients and civil society to discuss practical challenges in ensuring the availability of medical countermeasures and strengthening preparedness across the European Union. Recent health threats, including COVID-19, mpox, Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks, have highlighted the importance of preparedness, surveillance and rapid response capacities. The discussion will focus on identifying barriers and gathering stakeholders' feedback to support the implementation of the EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy. Medical countermeasures are strategic assets. Their rapid development, production and distribution can save millions of lives and mitigate the impact of health emergencies on the economy and the society. Implementation dialogues are an opportunity to align implementation with realities on the ground. President von der Leyen tasked all Commissioners with organising two Implementation Dialogues per year. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anna Gray - Tel.: +32 2 298 08 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/26/1571
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