EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 16 July 2025
Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative on air passenger rights
Today, the European Commission registered the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Save your right, save your flight!'.
The aim of the initiative is to call for the reversal of changes that undermine passenger's rights and the preservation of the ‘current compensation eligibility thresholds' for air passengers.
Following a thorough legal analysis, the Commission considered the initiative admissible for registration under the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation. The Commission has not yet reviewed the details of this initiative. The registration does not influence the Commission's final decision on its merits, or any potential action it may take. The Commission will make its decision after the ECI has collected at least 1 million signatures from EU citizens, if it reaches that threshold.
More information is available in a press release online.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Saul Goulding – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commission adopts assessment report on readmission cooperation and proposes temporary visa measures for Guinea to improve such cooperation
Yesterday, the Commission adopted its sixth assessment report to the Council on third countries' level of readmission cooperation under Article 25a of the Visa Code. Together with the report, the Commission is presenting a proposal for visa measures in relation to Guinea to foster readmission cooperation. This decision is based on the results of a Commission report assessing 29 third countries' cooperation on readmission. The report finds that, despite the Commission's efforts to improve cooperation, the level of readmission cooperation of Guinea is insufficient. The Commission will transmit its report and proposal to the Council, where Member States will decide on the next steps. In parallel, the Commission will continue to intensify engagement with Guinea to improve this cooperation.
The Commission previously proposed Visa measures under Article 25a of the Visa Code in relation to Bangladesh, Iraq, The Gambia, Senegal, Ethiopia and Somalia. This year's report acknowledges substantial and sustained improvements in readmission cooperation for Bangladesh and Iraq. For these countries, the Commission considers withdrawing its proposals for visa measures tabled in 2021. For Ethiopia, the report notes substantial improvements. The Commission will continue to monitor cooperation with Ethiopia to be in a position to determine its sustainability, also in view of the next Joint Working Group meeting. The proposals for Senegal (2022) and Somalia (2024), remain with the Council, with the objective of further improving readmission cooperation. For The Gambia, first stage measures remain in place, after the increased visa fee was revoked in April 2024.
The EU's short-stay visa policy requires that third countries readmit their nationals who do not have the right to stay in the EU. The Commission annually assesses readmission cooperation of visa bound third countries, reports to the Council and actively engages in dialogue to improve readmission cooperation with partners. Commission proposals to the Council on visa measures consider the Union's overall relations with the countries concerned. The Commission will continue its active engagement with third countries to improve cooperation on readmission.
(For more information: Markus Lammert - Tel.: + 32 2 29 67533, Cristina Dumitrescu - Tel.: + 32 2 296 60 91)
Commission proposes to sign and ratify the UN Convention against Cybercrime
Today, the European Commission proposed to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. The Convention covers both substantive criminal law and judicial cooperation. For the first time, a global instrument will criminalise conduct related to child sexual abuse material, the grooming of children for sexual purposes, and the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images. The Convention also includes measures for international cooperation, including the extradition of suspects and the exchange of electronic evidence. This will strengthen the EU's abilities to combat offences on the rise, such as online fraud and ransomware attacks, where criminals often target persons and businesses in the EU from faraway third countries. Under the Convention, cooperation is grounded in respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights to data protection and privacy.
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said: "With the signature of the UN Cybercrime Convention, we take a major step in protecting people online, especially vulnerable groups like children. The agreement will boost international cooperation to combat cybercrime and criminalize harmful acts such as child sexual abuse material and grooming, in line with our Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU."
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, said: “Cybercrime knows no borders, and our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable remains unwavering. By signing the UN Cybercrime Convention, a key deliverable of our Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU, we strengthen global cooperation to uphold human rights and bring cybercriminals to justice.”
It is now for the Council to adopt the Decisions authorizing the Commission, on behalf of the EU, to sign and, with the consent of the European Parliament, conclude the Convention. Member States will also have to sign and ratify the Convention, in accordance with their national procedures.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Elettra Di Massa – Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)
President von der Leyen travels to Iceland to discuss security, geopolitics, and the Arctic
President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Iceland tomorrow where she will discuss the geopolitical role of the Arctic, security and preparedness, and climate action with Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir.
A press point will be organised at 16:30 (local time, 14:30 CEST), which will be live on EBS.
The President's visit starts with a tour over the Sólheimajökull Glacier, which has been affected by rising temperatures in the past years. The President and the Prime Minister will then travel to Grindavík, where she will meet with representatives of the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue.
In the afternoon, they will visit the specialised protective barriers constructed to safeguard the Blue Lagoon and the Svartsengi power plant – a symbol of the country's preparedness against active volcanos and potential lava flows. Later, President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Frostadóttir will meet Icelandic and NATO officials at the Naval Air Station in Keflavik for a discussion on security and operational defence tasks, including submarine and air defence systems, and civil protection.
The visit will conclude with a working dinner with Prime Minister Frostadóttir and the Foreign Affairs Minister of Iceland, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.
More information on EU relations with Iceland is available online.
(For more information: Paula Pinho – Tel.: +32 2 292 08 15)
Commissioner McGrath in Berlin to discuss rule of law, justice and consumer protection
Tomorrow, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath is in Berlin, Germany to exchange with government officials and civil society representatives on the rule of law, democracy, justice and consumer protection and how to protect democracies.
Commissioner McGrath will meet with Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, Stefanie Hubig and State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Lilian Tschan. The discussions will focus on the forthcoming proposals, including the Consumer Agenda 2030, the Digital Fairness Act and the 28th Regime for companies, as well as on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, presented by the Commission as part of the Omnibus I package. The Commissioner will also meet members of the German Judges' Association to discuss the findings of the 2025 Rule of Law Report and efforts to enhance societal resilience against misinformation and disinformation.
During the visit, Commissioner McGrath will also engage with representatives from the Committee for Justice and Consumer Protection and the EU Affairs Committee, including with the Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee, Anton Hofreiter, to discuss the upcoming European Democracy Shield and the Consumer Agenda 2030, as well as the 2025 Rule of Law Report. Additionally, the Commissioner is set to participate in a panel discussion on protecting democracies in Europe, alongside civil society representatives at the European House.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Cristina Torres Castillo — Tel.: + 32 2 299 06 79; Yuliya Matsyk - Tel.: +32 2 226 27 16)
The European Commission transfers a new Deputy Director-General to its Reform and Investment Task Force
The European Commission has decided to transfer, in the interest of the service, Declan Costello as Deputy Director-General to its Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM). The Secretariat-General is responsible for the overall coherence of the Commission's work – both in shaping new policies, and in steering them through the other EU institutions. It supports the whole Commission. The date of effect will be determined later.
With more than 30 years of experience at the European Commission, Mr Costello has built a solid track record in steering complex policy files, including the Greek economic and financial crisis in 2015, where he played a pivotal role in the Commission's assistance to this Member State in restoring financial and economic stability. He has also been a crucial element in the negotiation and implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which aims to support Member States in emerging stronger and more resilient from the Covid-19 crisis. He has developed a deep understanding of the EU institutional landscape and has consistently engaged in high-level negotiations across the institutions and with Member States. Mr Costello combines a strong economic background with expertise across a wide range of policy areas, including fiscal policy, competitiveness, structural reforms and social affairs, along with robust political acumen. These skills make him exceptionally well-suited for his new role, where he will oversee the implementation of the RRF and ensure its completion by the end of 2026. In addition, strategic insight and coordination skills are essential for this role, as he will contribute to ensuring continued close cooperation with Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) on common policy areas.
Mr Costello, an Irish national, brings a wealth of experience to his role. He is currently Deputy Director-General at the DG ECFIN. Before this, he served as Principal Adviser and Mission Chief for Greece, following a long career within DG ECFIN where he held several senior positions, including Director for Economies of the Member States and Mission Chief for Greece, Acting Director for Resources and Communication, and Acting Director for Structural Reforms and Competitiveness. Mr Costello joined the Commission in 1991.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)
The European Commission appoints a new Director for its Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
The European Commission has decided today to appoint Antoine Kasel as Director for ‘Labour Mobility and International Affairs' in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). This Directorate-General is responsible for EU policy on employment, social affairs, skills, labour mobility, inclusion, and the related EU funding programmes as well as the promotion of the external dimension of EU employment and social policies. The date of effect will be determined later.
With more than 23 years of experience at senior level in European and national institutions, Mr Kasel brings thorough knowledge of EU legal, financial and budgetary processes. He also has strong expertise in social and employment policies, and extensive experience in steering high-level negotiations with Member States, international and social partners. Throughout his career, he has successfully coordinated strategic planning and policy implementation on many complex files, ranging from multilateral negotiations and inter-institutional matters to senior personnel issues. These experiences have allowed him to develop sound political judgement combined with excellent communication, diplomatic and consensus-building skills. These attributes will be essential in his forthcoming role at DG EMPL.
Mr Kasel, a Luxembourgish national, served as Head of Cabinet of Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights from 2019 to 2024. Previously, he was a Member of the Cabinet of the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker as well the EU Sherpa to the G20 between 2015 and 2019. Prior to joining the Commission in 2014, he was the personal representative of then President of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker and represented Luxembourg in major negotiations about EU budgetary and economic matters , including talks on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 and the 2012 intergovernmental conference on the Treaty on stability, coordination and governance.
The European Commission has decided today to appoint Jeroen Jutte as Director for ‘Employment and Social Governance, Analysis' in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). This Directorate-General is responsible for EU policy on employment, social affairs, skills, labour mobility, inclusion, and the related EU funding programmes. The date of effect will be determined later.
Mr Jutte brings nearly three decades of experience at the European Commission, including more than 20 years at DG EMPL. Throughout this time, Mr Jutte has demonstrated strong leadership, in guiding complex negotiations with Member States and fostering stronger engagement with social partners and civil society organisations as part of the European Semester process. He has built a particularly strong track record in shaping social policy, having stood at the basis of the present Employment Guidelines and the Social Scoreboard. He has also coordinated the process to ensure respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights within the context of Cohesion Policy. His solid grasp of Commission procedures, combined with his proven ability to manage teams and bring stakeholders together, puts him in an excellent position to succeed in his new role.
Mr Jutte, a Dutch national, is currently Deputy Director and Head of Unit in DG EMPL, where he is in charge of coordinating the implementation of the European Social Fund. Earlier in his career, he served in the same DG as Head of Unit dealing with Bulgaria and Romania, for European Semester coordination, and for relations with the European Court of Auditors. Mr Jutte joined the Commission in 1995.
The European Commission appoints a new Director for its Directorate-General for Translation
The European Commission has decided today to appoint Athanasios Maraslis as Director for ‘Resources' at the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT). This Directorate-General provides the European Commission with high-quality translations of written texts and other language services in the 24 official EU languages. The date of effect will be determined later.
Mr Maraslis' nearly 15 years of service at the European Commission have provided him with extensive and highly relevant expertise for this new role. Over the course of his career, he has developed strong skills in strategic planning, corporate governance, contracts, projects and risk management. He has demonstrated proven leadership by managing multiple teams within the Commission, notably establishing a digital transformation framework to elevate digital dexterity in DG EMPL and streamline the entire portfolio of digital solutions across all business areas. His ability to build consensus and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders has enabled him to consolidate a robust cooperation between the Secretariat-General and DIGIT on IT governance matters. His experience and commitment to efficiency will be key assets in leading a directorate that is essential for providing human and financial resources, and for managing information and knowledge resources across DGT.
Mr Maraslis, a Greek national, is currently Head of Unit for IT Strategy and Solutions at the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). He has previously served in various roles within the Directorate-General for Informatics (DIGIT), including as Deputy Head of Unit responsible for corporate IT governance, customer relationship management and communication. Before joining the Commission in 2010, he gained valuable experience in the private sector, in the telecoms industry.