European Commission - Daily News Daily News 07 / 10 / 2026 Brussels, 7 October 2026 NextGenerationEU shows strong delivery record as implementation reaches finish line Today, the European Commission presents the fifth annual report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). As the EU's flagship recovery instrument under NextGenerationEU , the RRF has now disbursed €450 billion in grants and loans, nearly 80% of t...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 07 / 10 / 2026 Brussels, 7 October 2026 NextGenerationEU shows strong delivery record as implementation reaches finish line Today, the European Commission presents the fifth annual report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). As the EU's flagship recovery instrument under NextGenerationEU , the RRF has now disbursed €450 billion in grants and loans, nearly 80% of the total amount requested by Member States. Created in 2021 as an immediate response to the COVID-19 crisis, the RRF has become a major driver of reforms and investments while strengthening the Union's economic resilience. From boosting research and development in Ireland to supporting family businesses in Greece and modern health facilities in Cyprus, the RRF has a strong record of delivering concrete change. Today's report provides fresh evidence of this. Member States had until 31 August 2026 to complete the milestones and targets reflecting the reforms and investments set out in their recovery and resilience plans. The Commission is now assessing the final 32 payment requests, with the remaining disbursements, amounting to €123 billion (21% of the envelope), to be completed by the end of 2026. Over the lifetime of the programme, Member States have worked to achieve almost 6,000 milestones and targets, delivering reforms and investments that support the green and digital transitions and benefit citizens and businesses on the ground. Of these, 4,082 milestones and targets have already been fulfilled, while 1,899 are currently under assessment. 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) Commission closes two infringement cases against France following changes in the national legislative framework on hydropower The European Commission has decided to close an antitrust infringement case against France, based on Articles 106 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, following changes in the national legislative framework on hydropower. The case concerns the granting, by the French authorities, to the incumbent operator Électricité de France (EDF) of most of the hydroelectric concessions in France for long periods of up to 75 years, without a tendering process and under advantageous financial conditions. Following an agreement in principle reached between the Commission and France in July 2025, France adopted new legislation on hydropower (Law No 2026-554 of 29 June 2026). This law, which has replaced the previous concession regime with an authorisation regime, has introduced a safeguard ensuring that at least 40% of France's hydropower capacity will be accessible to EDF's competitors for the next 20 years. To achieve this, EDF will grant its competitors access to virtual hydropower capacity, by being required to sell products offering a high level of flexibility on the wholesale electricity market. These types of products are increasingly important because they allow market participants to quickly adjust to the short-term variations of electricity prices. Initially, EDF will offer 6 GW of virtual hydropower capacity, which will be reviewed at regular intervals to ensure compliance with the 40% threshold of total hydropower capacity, in case this capacity should decrease or increase, for instance as a result of upgrades to hydroelectric plants. The Commission considers that this new legislative framework on hydropower addresses its competition concerns, by opening the French electricity market to competition to the benefit of French and European businesses and consumers. It has therefore decided to close its infringement case based on Articles 106 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In addition, the Commission has also closed an infringement case under EU internal market rules concerning the same subject matter (case INFR(2018)2378). (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) Commission approves €750,000 Spanish State aid for agricultural companies in the Balearic Islands facing increased fuel prices The European Commission has approved a €750,000 Spanish State aid scheme for farmers in the Balearic Islands 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 the Balearic Islands. The aid will take the form of direct grants equal to €0.10/L and will cover the additional fuel costs resulting from the Middle East crisis incurred between 1 March and 30 June 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, the 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 Spanish 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.124823, in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) Commission clears creation of joint venture by Samsung SRA and GS E&C The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Samsung SRA Asset Management Co. Ltd. (‘Samsung SRA') and GS Engineering & Construction Corp. (‘GS E&C'), both of South Korea. The transaction relates primarily to the operation and rental of a warehouse in Poland. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined 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.12546 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) STATEMENTS Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas and Commissioner Kos on the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina On the occasion of the general elections held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos issued the following statement yesterday: On 4 October 2026, the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina exercised their democratic right to elect their representatives who will decide on the direction of their country for the years ahead. The EU takes note of the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, according to which there was genuine competition and contestants were largely able to reach voters, the election day proceeded in an orderly manner, although technical difficulties in the use of the information and communication technologies (ICT), complex procedures in the voting and counting processes, and issues with secrecy of the vote were observed. Once final results have been certified, the elected representatives should take full responsibility to form the authorities at state, entity and cantonal levels without delay. The EU expects all political leaders to engage in this process constructively, in good faith and with the common interests of all citizens in mind. The EU calls on all leaders to foster trust between peoples and communities and build consensus to advance Bosnia and Herzegovina on its EU path. The full statement is available online. (For more information: Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 2 298 95 59; Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 296 27 16) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Síkela takes EU Arctic Strategy discussions to the Arctic Circle Assembly Tomorrow, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela will participate in the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík, Iceland as part of the Commission's continued engagement with region. Organised by the Arctic Circle organisation, the Assembly is the largest annual gathering dedicated to international dialogue and partnership on the future of the Arctic. It brings together 2,500 participants from more than 70 countries, including political leaders, youth, indigenous representatives, scientists, businesses and civil society to exchange views on key geopolitical, environmental, economic and social issues. The Assembly comes at a key moment for the EU, ahead of the adoption of its new Arctic Strategy later this month. Commissioner Síkela will deliver a speech in the opening of the Assembly about the EU's vision for a secure, prosperous and sustainable future for the Arctic. Commissioner Síkela will meet with Arctic partners, including Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands Beinir Johannesen, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Anita Anand. He will also meet young representatives from the Arctic Indigenous Youth Cohort, whose perspectives on the future of the region will inform the final stages of work on the Arctic Strategy. This Assembly follows a series of high-level EU engagements on the Arctic this year, including President von der Leyen 's and Commissioner Síkela 's most recent visit to Greenland , the EU-Arctic Forum and European Arctic Summit . Audiovisual material of the visit will be available on EBS . (For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Jennifer Sanchez Da Silva – Tel.: +32 2 295 83 16) 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 MEX/26/2096 <@rel_link@>
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