European Commission - Daily News Daily News 29 / 09 / 2026 Brussels, 29 September 2026 Commission proposes 5-point plan to strengthen resilience and security of EU external borders Today, the European Commission is proposing a 5-point plan to prevent, anticipate and respond to sudden, mass illegal arrivals. It will strengthen the resilience and security of EU external borders. The EU has a comprehensive and resilient...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 29 / 09 / 2026 Brussels, 29 September 2026 Commission proposes 5-point plan to strengthen resilience and security of EU external borders Today, the European Commission is proposing a 5-point plan to prevent, anticipate and respond to sudden, mass illegal arrivals. It will strengthen the resilience and security of EU external borders. The EU has a comprehensive and resilient framework in place to manage migration – and one which has shown clear results, with illegal border crossings at their lowest level since 2021. However, recent events have put the EU's borders to the test, from the Eastern borders to the shores of the Mediterranean. This summer's crisis in Ceuta showed how quickly sudden, massive arrivals can build up at the EU's external borders and lead to emergency situations. As the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , underlined in her State of the Union speech , the events of this summer show that our tools need to evolve – especially for emergency situations. Such situations threaten our common security and unity, and lead to an unacceptable loss of lives. The protection of the EU's external borders is a shared European responsibility. A common European response, united action and solidarity are essential. In reply to the events in Ceuta, President von der Leyen has set out five key areas to guide EU action. Building on the European Strategy on Asylum and Migration of January 2026, the Commission sets out now the way forward in these five areas with key actions for different actors, expanding the existing tools and frameworks and creating new ones as needed. More information is available in the press release . You can rewatch the press conference by Commissioner Brunner online. (For more information: Markus Lammert - Tel: +32 2 296 75 33; Elettra Di Massa - Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61) EU support to research and innovation increases with additional €500 million for research programme Horizon Europe Today, the European Commission allocated an additional €500 million to Horizon Europe , the EU's flagship research and innovation programme, for 2026 and 2027. With this additional amount, the total budget reaches now around €14.8 billion for the two years. In addition, the Commission will also extend the scope of Horizon Europe by including two new cross- cutting calls to tackle major research and innovation challenges, such as next-generation AI-driven digital platforms for a more affordable, secure and sustainable European energy system; skills for innovative SMEs; addressing the biodiversity benefits and impacts of the clean and digital industries and accelerate transformative change for biodiversity. Horizon Europe helps researchers choose Europe, as confirmed by two monitoring reports published today by the Commission. They show that Horizon Europe remains highly attractive for researchers, innovators and companies from across Europe and beyond. More information is available in the press release online. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117) European Innovative Teaching Awards celebrate best teachers of ‘Skills for Life' edition Today, the Commission announced the winners of the 2026 European Innovative Teaching Award . 112 Erasmus+ projects from the 27 member-states and third countries participating in Erasmus+ are among those that were awarded. This year's edition, ‘Skills for Life', celebrates Erasmus+ projects that support young children, pupils, VET learners and adults in gaining the basic skills needed to thrive in their life, such as literacy, mathematics, and science. Launched in 2021, the Award celebrates the achievements of teachers, trainers, educators and their organisations involved in Erasmus+ projects. In cooperation with the Erasmus+ National Agencies, the selected projects are divided into five categories: early childhood education and care (16 winners), school education (28 winners), vocational education and training (23 winners), adult education (22 winners) and the European Language Label (23 winners) for projects focusing on multilingualism. In March 2025 the European Commission adopted the Action Plan on Basic Skills , which highlights how literacy, mathematics, science, digital and citizenship skills are key pillars of lifelong learning. It calls for educational institutions to prioritise the development of these competences to prepare young people for the future. Later this year the Commission will present the Education package, which will include concrete measures in support of Member States' efforts to improve education in the EU. Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu , said: “This year's award winners show how teachers can make a difference. Our upcoming Education Package will support teachers and help Member States improve basic skills, so that more learners benefit from excellent teaching.” More information on the winners and the initiative can be found on the European Innovative Teaching Award website , as well as on the European Education Area portal and the European School Education Platform . (For more information: Eva Hrncirova - Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Commission hosts hackathon to develop modern tools aimed at addressing antisemitism online Today and tomorrow, the European Commission is hosting ‘TikkunTech', a two-day hackathon event for experts to develop innovative solutions to combat antisemitism and foster Jewish life online. This event will bring together more than 120 participants, including government officials, civil society organisations, and tech specialists. They will work in teams to develop tools to, for example, address antisemitism in content moderation and remove antisemitic bias in AI models, among other things. The final projects will be assessed by a jury, presided by Katharina von Schnurbein, Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, and composed of Commission and civil society experts. Commissioner Brunner will deliver the awards to the winning teams for each category. In parallel, a team of AI ethics experts will test AI models to identify risks of antisemitic bias and present their findings during the event. Commissioner Brunner said: “ TikkunTech follows the Jewish principle of ‘Tikkun Olam' —repairing the world— by offering solutions to repair digital spaces to stem hate where it proliferates. It shows how technology can serve the common good by addressing the challenges of our time. I look forward to the outcome of the Hackathon.” ‘TikkunTech' is a follow-up deliverable of the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021–2030). The award ceremony will be publicly livestreamed at around 16:15 CEST. (For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Cristina Torres Castillo – Tel.: +32 2 299 06 79) Commission seeks feedback on challenges and way forward in copyright The European Commission is gathering feedback on challenges and options for potential future measures to support the effective copyright protection amid market and technology developments. The targeted consultation focuses specifically on the use of copyright-protected content in artificial intelligence; the fight against online piracy of time-sensitive copyright-protected content such as live events; the application of the single equitable remuneration right of music performers and producers; and copyright and scientific research. While the EU already benefits from a robust copyright framework , emerging challenges and market developments raise the question of whether the framework should be reinforced through potential additional measures. The consultation builds on feedback received in the context of the Call for evidence conducted earlier this year, and evidence gathered in previous relevant studies and assessments. Feedback is invited from a range of stakeholders, including copyright and related rights holders, generative AI providers and other relevant actors in the AI value chain, intermediaries, collective management organisations, sports and other live events organisers, research organisations, national authorities, consumer organisations, and non-governmental organisations. The consultation remains open until 3 November 2026. (For more information: Thomas Re gnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat — Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17) EU welcomes common solutions to water challenges at second Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting Yesterday, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall , attended the second meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Rome, Italy. At a moment when the increasingly urgent issues of water scarcity and climate pressure are reshaping priorities across the region, the EU welcomes the common solution to water challenges found during the meeting of the 43 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean. In particular, Ministers and high-level representatives responsible for water endorsed the second UfM Ministerial Declaration on Water, setting out the region's ambition and priorities for achieving water- related Sustainable Development Goals from 2026 to 2030. They also launched the Rome Initiative on Water as the Mediterranean's contribution to the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi this December. Building on existing structures and frameworks, such as the EU Water Resilience Strategy and the Pact for the Mediterranean , this initiative will help turn national goals into practical projects, which will benefit Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica , will continue this work on Friday at the Euro- Mediterranean Water Forum, where she will present the Pact for the Mediterranean's initiative to strengthen water resilience across the region. Commissioner Roswall said: “The Mediterranean region is one of the regions in the world most vulnerable to water scarcity and the impacts of climate change. By setting out the priorities for national action and regional cooperation on sustainable water management, building a water-smart economy, climate adaptation and mitigation, financing and infrastructure, I am convinced that today's meeting will significantly contribute to enhanced water resilience in the region.” You can find more information on the second meeting of the UfM online. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73) Commission approves new geographical indication from Spain The European Commission has approved the registration of Aceite Valle del Tiétar from Spain as a Protected geographical indication (PGI). Aceite Valle del Tiétar is an extra virgin olive oil, originating from south Ávila, located in the centre of Spain. The olive oil is obtained from the fruit of the olive tree, growing in the terraces in the Tiétar Valley. The olive oil is distinctive by its complex sensory profile, dominated by bitterness, fruitiness and pungency. Environmental markers show that the cultivation of olive trees in this area dates back to the second century. Ordinances from the area, dating back to 1611, record prohibitions against removing local trees, to reinforce varietal inbreeding for olive trees. The harvest of these olives remains a century old tradition for this land. This new designation joins the more than 3,900 protected names already listed in the eAmbrosia database. More information is available on the Quality Policy pages. (For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 229-69776; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) EU-funded civil protection exercise brings together 235 first responders from six countries in Romania A large-scale EU civil protection exercise is bringing together 235 first responders from Austria, Czechia, Estonia, France, Romania and Ukraine, from 28 September to 2 October. Alongside academic institutions, the teams are testing their ability to work together in a complex scenario combining floods, contamination and conflict-related hazards. Known as “CROSSFLOOD”, the exercise is organised under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and takes place in Suceava County, Romania. The EU is providing almost €1 million to cover 90% of its cost. Regular EU exercises are one of the actions set out in the Preparedness Union Strategy to strengthen Europe's readiness for complex crises. CROSSFLOOD also reflects the Strategy's all-hazards approach, preparing for situations where different risks can interact and compound one another. The political importance of preparedness was underlined again by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address earlier this month, when she stressed that Europe needs to “ step up dramatically on preparedness ”. The exercise will be followed by a evaluation to draw lessons for future emergency response operations. (For more information: Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortes - Tel: +32 2 291 32 83) Commission launches targeted consultation on fair access to financial services for cancer survivors Today, the European Commission has launched a targeted consultation on fair access to financial services for cancer survivors. The aim is to ensure that, after a defined period following the end of active treatment, a past cancer diagnosis can no longer be used when setting the price or conditions of access to a financial service, such as life and health insurance or mortgages. Recent progress in science and medicine is delivering better diagnosis and treatment outcomes for cancer patients. Survival rates have increased markedly over the past twenty years. Yet, people with a history of cancer can still face specific obstacles in accessing financial services, even years after the end of their treatment. Europe's Beating Cancer Plan , adopted in 2021, has played a crucial role in placing the Right to be Forgotten high on the agenda. At present, protection under the Right to be Forgotten is still not available in all Member States. Under the Beating Cancer Plan, the Commission brought cancer organisations, the medical community and the insurance sector together and supported work on an EU code of conduct on the Right to be Forgotten. While agreement has not yet been reached, this work has helped to advance the discussion at European level. Building on this work, the Commission is launching today a public consultation aimed at gathering practical insights on how to implement an effective Right to be Forgotten approach in EU Member States. All EU and national stakeholders, including cancer survivors and representative organisations, the medical community, and the insurance and banking sectors, are invited to contribute. The consultation is open until 27 October and accessible online. Stakeholders' feedback will inform the Commission's next steps on the Right to be Forgotten. (For more information: Siobhan McGarry - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Rüya Perincek - Tel.: +32 2 299 49 03) Commission approves €25 million French State aid for fishing companies facing increased fuel prices The European Commission has approved a €25 million French State aid scheme to support companies active in the primary production of fishery products 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 aims to mitigate the impact of the increase in fuel prices resulting from the Middle East crisis. The aid will take the form of direct grants, based on the volume of fuel purchased between 1 June 2026 and 31 October 2026 and the monthly price difference with the pre-crisis benchmark of February 2026. The aid amount of €0.25/L will cover 70% of the additional fuel costs. The scheme will run until 31 March 2027. 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 fishery 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 French scheme under EU State aid rules. More information on the METSAF can be found online. The non-confidential version of today's decision will be made available under case number SA.124553, 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; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) Commission clears acquisition of Rheinmetall Automotive by Aequita The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Rheinmetall Automotive AG by AEQUITA Management SE (‘Aequita'), both of Germany. The transaction relates primarily to the automotive sector. 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.12524 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) ANNOUNCEMENTS President von der Leyen heads to the Western Balkans as EU accession preparations continue Tomorrow, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , will travel to the Western Balkans for her sixth annual tour of the region. During the tour, she will visit Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Her engagements will focus on the next steps needed for advancing on our partners' EU path and ongoing process of gradual integration, assisted by the EU's €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. President von der Leyen will begin the annual tour in Tirana on Wednesday, where she will hold talks with President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama. On Thursday, President von der Leyen will head to Pristina, where she will meet with Acting President Albulena Haxhiu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Later that day, in Podgorica, the President will meet President Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The visit will conclude on Friday in Skopje, where President von der Leyen will hold meetings with President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. President von der Leyen will also visit EU-funded projects in the region: the Emin Duraku school in Tirana rebuilt after suffering damage in the 2019 earthquake, new premises of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in Pristina, and railway corridor VIII in North Macedonia. In Podgorica, she will take part in the inauguration of the National Coordination Centre, a new operational hub strengthening Montenegro's border management and enabling better information exchange with EU Member States and Frontex. Throughout the tour, the President will hold press conferences, which will be broadcast on EBS . In light of the upcoming parliamentary and general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in Serbia, the President intends to visit these countries at a later date. On multiple occasions this year, including her 2026 State of the Union address and her speech at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat , President von der Leyen has emphasised the importance of the region, as well as that of completing our Union with the joining of our Western Balkans partners. This year's visit by the President to the Western Balkans follows those of 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 2 298 70 24; Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 296 27 16) Executive Vice-President Fitto hosts implementation dialogue on the Right to Stay Today, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto , is hosting an implementation dialogue on the 'Right to Stay', in Brussels, bringing together representatives from Member States, regions, organisations representing regional interests, and EU cross-industry social partners. Participants will discuss the key challenges affecting local prosperity and competitiveness, as well as the actions needed to deliver simpler, more effective and more inclusive EU initiatives, better tailored to the needs of the regions concerned and supportive of the Right to Stay. The discussion will contribute to the upcoming Right to Stay Strategy aiming to strengthen the competitiveness and attractiveness of all European territories. In line with the Union's priorities for 2024-2029, the Strategy will help make the Right to Stay a reality, ensuring that every European has the possibility to choose to remain in the place they call home, instead of being forced to leave due to a lack of opportunities locally. 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: Maciej Berestecki - Tel: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117) 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/26/2003 <@rel_link@>
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