European Commission - Daily News Daily News 10 / 07 / 2026 Brussels, 10 July 2026 Commission preliminarily finds the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook in breach of the Digital Services Act Today, the European Commission preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act for the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook. The investigation focuses on features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, pus...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 10 / 07 / 2026 Brussels, 10 July 2026 Commission preliminarily finds the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook in breach of the Digital Services Act Today, the European Commission preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act for the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook. The investigation focuses on features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the platforms' highly personalised recommender systems. The Commission's investigation indicates that Meta did not adequately assess the risks of its addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults. Evidence also shows that Meta's current mitigation measures failed to effectively tackle the risks stemming from its addictive design. Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen stated that: “ protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms. The Digital Services Act provides a clear framework to hold platforms accountable for the addictive design and effects of their services. We are fully committed to enforcing our legislation in Europe." More information can be found in the press release . (For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat — Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17) Hungary joins the European Public Prosecutor's Office, further strengthening protection of EU funds Today, the European Commission adopted a decision confirming Hungary's participation in the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), following Hungary's request to join it in May 2026. With today's decision, Hungary will now be the 25th Member State to join the EPPO, reflecting its renewed commitment to restoring the rule of law in the country. The EPPO will now have a permanent presence in Hungary to protect EU funds from financial crime. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is in charge of investigating and prosecuting financial crimes involving the EU budget. It significantly contributes to a stronger protection of the Union budget. President von der Leyen said: “ Today brings good news for Hungary. This is a welcome step in the fight against fraud and corruption. The people of Hungary will now have a safeguard in place to ensure EU funds work in their interest. Hungary, welcome to the European Public Prosecutor's Office. ” More information can be found in our press release . (For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33) Croatia receives first €255 million payment under SAFE defence instrument Today, Croatia received its first payment of €255 million under the Security Action for Europe ( SAFE ) defence instrument, representing 15% of its total allocation of €1.7 billion. SAFE is a €150 billion financial instrument providing loans to Member States. It primarily funds joint procurement of ammunition, missiles, air defence, 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 allow Croatia to fast-track key defence projects, reinforce its resilience, and upgrade its military capabilities in support of common European objectives. SAFE is intended to facilitate rapid, co-ordinated responses, enhance interoperability among European armed forces, and bolster Europe's defence industrial base through joint procurement initiatives and stronger cross- border collaboration. Andrius Kubilius , Commissioner for Defence and Space said: “Croatia has consistently demonstrated its commitment to European security, and this pre-financing will help turn that commitment into stronger capabilities on the ground. By accelerating key defence investments, Croatia will reinforce its resilience, modernise its armed forces, enhance its defence capabilities in the Mediterranean region, and strengthen its contribution to our collective defence. Every Member State that invests in its own security also makes Europe stronger. SAFE is about enabling countries like Croatia to move faster, invest together and build the capabilities that Europe needs to deter threats and protect its citizens.” 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) 50 years after the Seveso chemical disaster, the EU continues to work on preventing industrial incidents On 10 July 1976, a major industrial accident in Seveso, Italy led to thousands of people and vast areas being exposed to a cloud of toxic dioxin – a persistent environmental pollutant. Following this incident, the EU took decisive steps to prevent and control such accidents by adopting the Seveso Directive , which entered into force in 1982. This groundbreaking law led to a significant reduction of risk of major accidents in the EU , reducing harm to people, property and nature, and inspired similar laws and safety standards worldwide. Today, the Seveso Directive remains the backbone of the EU's industrial safety framework, providing stricter risk assessments, safer land-use planning, stronger safety management and better emergency preparedness. It covers around 11,000 industrial sites across the EU, such as chemical and petrochemical plants as well as oil refineries. Concretely, companies must prevent major accidents and limit their consequences, while authorities ensure oversight and public safety. Despite these positive trends, risks persist. Recent disasters – such as the 2019 Lubrizol fire in Rouen (France) and the 2021 chemical factories explosion in Leverkusen (Germany) – highlight the need for continuous action, constant oversight and robust safety measures. The Commission will continue working with Member States, industry, emergency services, and civil society to ensure that the Seveso framework remains fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving industrial, environmental and security context. The EU's broader Preparedness Strategy reinforces this approach, promoting comprehensive risk assessment across sectors to improve crisis prevention, preparedness and response. Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall , said: “Fifty years after Seveso, the lesson remains clear: prevention saves lives. The Seveso Directive has helped make Europe one of the safest places in the world for industrial activity, but we cannot be complacent. As climate risks intensify and new technologies offer transformation of our societies and economies, we must continue to be consciously alert and anticipate emerging threats, stay agile and strengthen our preparedness. Protecting people, communities and the environment goes hand in hand with building a resilient and competitive European industry.” You can find more information online . (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73) New survey finds Europeans believe vocational education and training leads to good jobs and pay In an era of rapidly changing work environments, Europeans view vocational education and training (VET) as a fast track to attractive and well-remunerated job opportunities. A special Eurobarometer survey reveals that 85% of Europeans agree that VET provides technical skills relevant for jobs. Most respondents also believe VET leads to actual job opportunities (82%) which are well-paid (66%). Over half say the top reason people choose VET is to start working and earning money sooner. VET combines practical and theoretical learning to equip learners with hands-on skills and qualifications needed on the labour market. The survey shows that 73% of Europeans see VET as offering high-quality learning, delivered by competent teachers (79%) and supported by modern infrastructure (78%). Opportunities for progression to higher education (67%) and programmes for studying abroad (64%) further enhance VET's appeal. Europeans choose VET influenced by factors such as job opportunities and potential earnings (53%), family advice (35%) and advice from teachers or counsellors (28%). However, according to the respondents, VET cannot compensate for general skills that are typically acquired in school. Half of respondents believe VET programmes fall short in teaching basic skills, such as literacy and digital literacy, or transversal skills like communication and critical thinking. Gender stereotypes also constrain the potential of VET, as 71% agree women are often encouraged to choose general education over technical subjects. These findings underscore the relevance of the 2020 Council Recommendation on VET . A new report published today highlights VET's role in tackling labour shortages and skills gaps, as well as measures implemented by Member States. It shows the EU has met two key targets: 66% of recent VET graduates have gained work-based learning (exceeding the 60% goal), while 80.2% of VET graduates are employed (close to the 82% target). To fully realise the potential of VET and meet growing demand for VET-trained workers, the report calls for expanding teacher training, deepening business collaboration, increasing learning mobility for VET learners, and addressing skills gaps in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as basic competencies. Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu welcomes the findings: "This survey confirms what we have long known: VET works. Europeans see it as a route to well-paid jobs and future-proof careers - and the data backs them up, with strong employment outcomes for VET graduates. Our upcoming VET Strategy will build on these foundations to drive Europe's competitiveness and open doors for learners across the continent." (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01 ; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Commission's annual report on taxation shows a shift in the EU tax mix The Commission's annual report on taxation , published today, offers a detailed overview of taxation policies in all Member States, assesses recent trends in EU tax systems and identifies ways to enhance compliance. The report shows that over the past decade the tax mix has gradually shifted away from consumption ‑ based taxes towards capital ‑ based taxes, while the share of labour taxes has increased among countries pursuing fiscal consolidation. Looking into specific tax types, corporate income tax and personal income tax have gained weight in the tax mix, while environmental and property taxes have receded. Furthermore, Member States have reported a total of 399 tax reforms for 2025. The report shows that the EU's overall tax-to-GDP ratio increased to 39.4% in 2024, a slight increase from the decade-low dip of 2023, with 22 Member States recording an increase in the ratio. It also shows that labour taxes – including social contributions – remain the main source of revenue, accounting for 51.5% of total tax receipts, followed by consumption taxes (26.8%) and capital taxes (21.6%). The Technical Support Instrument (TSI) supported Member States' efforts to modernise tax administrations and improve compliance, with 22 % of TSI projects focusing on improving tax compliance and 21 % on digitalisation of revenue administration, the report found. At a time when Europe needs to channel resources into new strategic priorities, such as competitiveness and security, the report highlights that tax policy remains central to the EU economic and political agenda. Well-designed tax systems can support employment, guide investment, foster innovation, and contribute to a fairer and more sustainable society. The full report and all its details is available online. (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 229-69776; Bridget Moylan – Tel.: +32 229-82844) Commission approves €2 million Irish State aid for horticulture companies facing increased fuel prices The European Commission has approved a €2 million Irish State aid scheme for horticulture companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis. The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026 . The scheme, which will run until 31 December 2026, aims to mitigate the impact of the increase in fuel prices on companies active in the primary production of agricultural products, in particular growers of fruit and vegetable crops using heated horticultural structures. The aid will take the form of direct grants and will cover the additional fuel costs resulting from the Middle East crisis incurred between 1 March and 31 December 2026. The Commission assessed the scheme 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 subject to certain conditions, as well as Sections 1 and 2.1 of the METSAF. The Commission found that the scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the METSAF. In particular, aid will be granted based on a scheme with a clear estimated budget and will be provided to temporarily support the development of companies active in primary production of agricultural products. The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary , appropriate and proportionate to facilitate the development of an economic activity and does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest. On this basis, the Commission approved the Irish scheme under EU State aid rules. More information on the METSAF is available online. The non-confidential versions of today's decision will be made available under case number SA.123707, in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website . (For more information: Siobhan McGarry - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74) Commission clears acquisition of Intersurgical by Armira and TA Associates The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Intersurgical Aktiengesellschaft AG (‘Intersurgical') of Liechtenstein by Armira Opportunities III GmbH & Co. geschlossene Investment KG (‘Armira') of Germany and funds managed and advised by TA Associates Management L.P. (‘TA Associates') of the US. The transaction relates primarily to the medical device industry. 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.12320 . (For more information: Siobhan McGarry – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) STATEMENTS Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas and Commissioner Kos on the 31 st anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide Tomorrow, Europe pays its tribute to the memory of over 8,300 Bosniak men and boys who were killed in the Srebrenica genocide 31 years ago. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of the genocide. We share the grief of those who endure the anguish of uncertainty about their missing loved ones, and we continue to stand by the survivors whose lives were upended in July 1995. The Srebrenica genocide is among the darkest episodes in Europe's history. It reminds us of our obligation to build peaceful societies, protect human lives and dignity, and to defend the fundamental values upon which the European Union is founded. We honour the victims by upholding historical truth, preserving their memory, and ensuring that the lessons of Srebrenica endure for future generations. This was the intention of the United Nations General Assembly when two years ago it declared the 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. There is no place in Europe for genocide denial, revisionism, or the glorification of convicted war criminals. The statement is available online. (For more information: Anitta Hipper – Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 296 27 16) ANNOUNCEMENTS The EU co-host the second meeting of the Palestine Donor Group On Monday 13 July, the EU and the Palestinian Authority will co-chair the second meeting of the Palestine Donor Group (PDG) in Brussels. Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica will co-chair, alongside Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa. Building on the successful first meeting in November 2025, as well as on the meetings of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee and the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the second meeting of the PDG will showcase the reforms the Palestinian Authority has undertaken since last November and its need for further financial support. As such, the PDG also aims to contribute to coordinating international efforts and support the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and coordinate international efforts for early recovery in Gaza. Ahead of the meeting, the Commission and partners will showcase their support to the Palestinian Authority through a signing ceremony for agreements under PEGASE, the EU's mechanism for financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority. The European Commission will also launch a ‘Team Gaza Initiative' that will bring together EU Member States and like-minded partners to coordinate and leverage ongoing and planned early recovery funding for Gaza. The event will be transmitted on EBS around 16:00 CEST. After the meeting, a press conference with Commissioner Šuica and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mustafa will take place around 18:30. It will be transmitted live on EBS . (For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Luca Dilda – Tel.: +32 2 295 21 53) Executive Vice-President Mînzatu participates in UNESCO meeting on fostering education at global level* Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu , will deliver a speech at the UNESCO hosted Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 High-Level Steering Committee Leaders Meeting, taking place in Paris. Her intervention will focus on education system resilience across three pillars, including the teaching profession, foundational and lifelong learning and inclusive digital transformation. The meetings also aim to give political direction to the post-2030 global education agenda process . The Executive Vice-President's presence reaffirms the European Union commitment to UN SDG which aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Moreover, she will speak at the Transforming Education Summit (TES) +4 which is designed to take stock of achievements four years after the Summit. In the four years since the TES, the EU has continued to invest at scale. Through international partnerships and Global Gateway , the EU is investing around €6 billion in education between 2021 and 2027. 44% of EU education funding is committed to fragile contexts, helping to safeguard learning where it is most under threat. The Executive Vice-President will also have bilateral engagements with UNESCO Director-General, Dr Khaled El-Enany and the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the African Union, Gaspard Banyankimbona. Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu said: “Education and training are a strategic investment in resilience, in skills, and in the social cohesion that holds our societies together. Governments that protect education budgets are not being generous. They are being rational and forward-looking. This also means investing in people, our educators and teachers.” (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - Tel.:+3222957501; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) 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 Updated on 10 July, at 12:05 CEST. MEX/26/1581
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