European Commission - Daily News Daily News 06 / 10 / 2026 Brussels, 6 October 2026 Belgium and Czechia receive first payments under SAFE defence instrument Today, Belgium and Czechia received their first payments under the Security Action for Europe ( SAFE ) defence instrument. Belgium received €1.2 billion representing 15% of its total allocation of €8.3 billion. Czechia received €309 million representing 15% of it...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 06 / 10 / 2026 Brussels, 6 October 2026 Belgium and Czechia receive first payments under SAFE defence instrument Today, Belgium and Czechia received their first payments under the Security Action for Europe ( SAFE ) defence instrument. Belgium received €1.2 billion representing 15% of its total allocation of €8.3 billion. Czechia received €309 million representing 15% of its total allocation of €2 billion. Today's geopolitical reality calls for immediate and resolute action, such as the SAFE instrument. This pre-financing will help Belgium and Czechia accelerate priority defence investments, strengthen resilience, and modernise their military capabilities in line with shared European goals. 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. 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. With these two disbursements, the Commission has allocated almost €13,5 billion in prefinancing to eleven Member States. These payments follow the completion of all required procedural steps and reflect 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; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10) Commission adopts proposal to accelerate standards development and improve EU competitiveness The European Commission proposed today to modernise the European standardisation system to make it faster, increase the representation of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and better equipped to support the European Union's strategic interests. Standards are essential to the functioning of the EU economy. They help ensure safety and interoperability, provide legal certainty, and enable market access across sectors ranging from clean technologies and batteries to construction products, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. Harmonised European standards play a central role in helping businesses demonstrate compliance with EU legislation, reducing costs and enhancing quality and consumer trust. However, the current standardisation system faces challenges in keeping pace with rapid innovation and technological developments, which necessitate the timely development of standards. The Commission is therefore proposing a revision of the existing legislation to make standards development more responsive while preserving its core strengths as a public-private partnership involving European standardisation organisations. The proposal introduces clearer deadlines for the development of standards requested by the Commission and clarifies the use of common specifications as a targeted fallback measure. It also puts forward provisions that strengthen the obligations for European and national standardisation organisations to ensure effective participation and representation for all relevant parties, as well as transparency and accountability requirements. Finally, the proposal contributes to stronger Union coordination in international standardisation and pitches the creation of an Expert Centre on European Standardisation. More information is available online in our press release , questions and answers and factsheet . (For more information: Siobhan McGarry - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Rüya Perincek - Tel.: +32 2 299 49 03) Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative for sovereign European AI domains Today, the European Commission registered the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Creation of a European Digital Space (.IA) for Sovereign AI Governance'. The organisers invite the Commission “ to propose a framework for high-trust digital spaces and to take the initiative at European level to negotiate with ISO and ICANN with a view to safeguarding the .IA domain ”. The initiative sets out three objectives: to “ propose an EU framework that promotes ‘High-Trust Digital Spaces' and testing environments (sandboxes) for ethical AI in the EU” ; to “ negotiate with ISO … and ICANN/IANA with a view to the reservation, protection and allocation of the namespace .IA as an asset of European digital sovereignty '; and to “ ensure that the registration and resolution of the .IA domain incorporate the Sovereign Digital Identity (eIDAS 2.0), transparent algorithmic auditing (AI Act) and the protection of personal data (GDPR) ”. As this initiative fulfils the formal conditions established in the relevant legislation the Commission considers it legally admissible under the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation . The Commission has not analysed the substance of the proposals at this stage. More information is available online in the press release . (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33) EU-funded researcher Peter Hegemann wins 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Peter Hegemann, a researcher supported by EU funding, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine , together with Karl Deisseroth and Georg Nagel, for their groundbreaking discoveries in light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Their work has revolutionised neuroscience by making it possible to control nerve cell activity with light, opening up powerful new ways to study the brain and understand its functions. Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva , said: “Congratulations to Peter Hegemann, Karl Deisseroth and Georg Nagel. Their discoveries have transformed our ability to study the brain. The European Union is proud to have supported Professor Hegemann. His achievements show why giving scientists the freedom to pursue bold ideas can open entirely new fields of knowledge and create opportunities for future medical advances.” Professor Hegemann, from Humboldt University of Berlin, has received significant support from the European Union through Horizon Europe , the EU's flagship research and innovation programme. Between 2016 and 2021, he was awarded a €2.4 million European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant for the MERA – Mechanism of Enzyme Rhodopsin Activation project to explore how a light- sensitive protein works, as well as its potential use in optogenetics. He is also involved in the ongoing SOL - Switchable rhodOpsins in Life Sciences project (2022-2028). Supported by an ERC Synergy Grant worth nearly €8 million in total, the project is developing light-controlled molecular switches to provide new tools for investigating cellular functions. Professor Hegemann has also contributed to the STARDUST project (2017-2022) , which received €3.8 million in EU funding, shared between 10 participants, to investigate an ultrasonically powered implant combining optogenetics, electrophysiology and pharmacology for potential applications in Parkinson's disease. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117) Commission clears acquisition of TATRA TRUCKS by NIKA Development, PROMET GROUP and STV The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of TATRA TRUCKS a.s. by NIKA Development a.s., PROMET GROUP a.s. and STV INVEST a.s. (‘STV'), all of Czechia. The transaction relates primarily to the manufacturing and sale of trucks used for military purposes. 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 normal merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12172 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) Commission clears acquisition of IndX and Alfahealth by Accenture The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Industries Excellence S.p.A. of Italy, IT-SOFT USA, Inc of the US (together, ‘IndX') and Alfahealth S.p.A. of Italy by Accenture plc of Ireland. The transaction relates primarily to the IT software and services markets. 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.12528 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) Commission clears acquisition of sole control of DML by VWFS The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Digital Mobility Leasing GmbH (‘DML') by Volkswagen Financial Services AG (‘VWFS'), both of Germany. The transaction relates primarily to the provision of financial services relating to the leasing of movable goods. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the market structure. 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.12483 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) APPOINTMENTS Commission appoints a Director in its Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space The European Commission appointed today Benedikta von Seherr-Thoß as Director for EU-Ukraine Defence Readiness within its Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS). This department leads the European Commission's activities in the European defence industry and European space sectors, implementing the Union's Space Programme and ensuring an innovative, and competitive defence industry. This decision takes effect on 16 October 2026. Drawing on more than 25 years of professional experience, Ms von Seherr-Thoß brings broad expertise in European security and defence, combined with a strong management track record developed through leading large, multidisciplinary teams and steering complex policy and operational files in rapidly evolving geopolitical contexts. Her experience spans strategic direction in defence cooperation, military capability support, crisis management and preparedness, as well as the implementation of financially sound assistance instruments. She has proven experience working closely with Member States, industry, and institutional and international partners, to ensure coherence across instruments and deliver results under pressure. She has also managed significant financial resources and steered complex, cross-cutting policy initiatives, including support to Ukraine. This combination of policy, operational and management expertise makes her particularly well equipped to lead the Directorate for EU-Ukraine Defence Readiness in DG DEFIS. Benedikta von Seherr-Thoß, a German national, is currently Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence at the European External Action Service. Before joining the European institutions in 2022, she held senior positions in Germany's defence administration. For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25) Commission appoints a Director in its Directorate-General for Environment The European Commission appointed today Ion Codescu as Director for Biodiversity within its Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV). This department leads the European Commission's development and delivery of environmental policy that protects, preserves and improves the environment for present and future generations while promoting sustainable development. The date of effect of this decision will be determined later. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Mr Codescu has acquired in-depth knowledge of environmental governance, regulatory implementation and public administration, with a particular focus on nature protection, land use, compliance and sustainability policy. He has contributed to shaping and applying major legislative frameworks, including initiatives under the European Green Deal, while managing multidisciplinary teams and guiding organisational development. His work has also involved embedding environmental priorities into wider policy and financial instruments, bringing together legal, regulatory and administrative considerations. His command of legislative processes and compliance monitoring, coupled with his management credentials, positions him well to take forward the Union's biodiversity agenda as Director for Biodiversity in DG ENV. Ion Codescu, a Romanian national, is currently Head of Unit for Land Use and Management in DG ENV. He previously led the unit responsible for environmental implementation in the Directorate-General. He entered the European Commission in 2008, initially focusing on telecommunications markets, following a career in Romania's public justice. For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Tzitzikostas in New Delhi to launch the EU-India High-Level Aviation Dialogue Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas , has travelled to New Delhi to advance EU-India cooperation on transport and tourism. Building on the January 2026 EU- India Summit , the Commissioner will take forward the shared agenda by holding the first High-Level Aviation Dialogue with India. India is a strategic partner for the EU and has one of the world's fastest growing air transport markets. The Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda , endorsed at the EU-India Summit, called for the establishment of a regular Aviation Dialogue to deepen market cooperation, expand direct connectivity, and strengthen the sector's sustainability. Geopolitical developments, such as the Middle East crisis, have disrupted global traffic flows and further highlighted the value of direct connectivity between the EU and India, as well as the importance of the clean transition in the transport sector. Today, Commissioner Tzitzikostas and Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation of India, are turning political commitments into concrete action by establishing the EU-India High-Level Aviation Dialogue. As part of the broader EU-India strategic partnership, the Dialogue supports shared objectives on connectivity, safety and sustainability in the aviation sector. It complements existing EU-India cooperation, including on sustainable aviation fuels and the aviation safety partnership between the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Commissioner Tzitzikostas ' visit to India will also include meetings on rail, maritime transport and tourism. He will meet, among others, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, to discuss shared interests and the EU's upcoming Sustainable Tourism Strategy, as well as Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, to engage on EU-India maritime cooperation, green shipping corridors and sustainable maritime fuels. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anni Juusola - Tel.: +32 2 296 09 86) 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/26/2088 <@rel_link@>
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