DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 18 July 2025
Commission puts forward an adjustment to the fee for a travel authorisation under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System
The Commission has put forward an adjustment to the fee to obtain a travel authorisation under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt non-EU nationals travelling to the EU. ETIAS is part of the new IT architecture of the EU that aims to strengthen security within our Union, while facilitating travelling of non-EU nationals.
The ETIAS Regulation, adopted in 2018, had established a fee of €7. Taking into account the rise in inflation since 2018 and additional operational costs related e.g. to new technical features integrated into the system, the fee will be adjusted to €20 per application, valid for a period of three years. It will also bring the cost for a travel authorisation to the EU in line with similar travel authorisation programmes such as the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
The adjustment of the fee will now undergo the two-month review period of the Council and the European Parliament (renewable once). It will enter into effect as soon as ETIAS is operational, which is expected for the last quarter of 2026. Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 years of age at the time of application are exempt from this fee. Also exempt are family members of EU citizens and family members of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union.
Once ETIAS is operational, non-EU nationals who can travel to the EU without a visa will have to fill out an online application before their trip, providing personal information such as their names, date of birth and travel document number, in line with the ETIAS regulation. The application will be processed automatically, and the traveller will receive a decision within minutes.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Elettra Di Massa – Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)
Commission disburses first €1.6 billion payment to Sweden under NextGenerationEU
Today, the Commission disbursed €1.6 billion in grants to Sweden, marking the first payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU.
On December 20, 2024, Sweden submitted to the Commission its initial payment request under the RRF. This request encompasses 27 milestones and targets concerning 10 reforms, including those related to the housing market, labour market integration, taxation, and combating money laundering. The request also encompasses 9 investments in areas such as housing, training, the green transition, railway infrastructure, and broadband expansion.
On June 5, 2025, the Commission issued a positive preliminary assessment of Sweden's request. With the favourable opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council, the Commission was able to proceed with the final decision to disburse the funds.
Sweden's comprehensive recovery and resilience plan is supported by €3.5 billion in grants. As with all Member States, payments to Sweden under the RRF are performance-based, contingent upon the successful implementation of its recovery and resilience plan. An interactive map showcasing examples of reforms and investments supported by the RRF is available online. Further details on the RRF payment claim process is equally available online,
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha +32 229-52117)
Commission improves protection of workers with new chemical exposure limits
The European Commission has proposed strengthened protections for workers against hazardous chemicals. This is expected to prevent about 1,700 lung cancer cases and 19,000 other illnesses, including restrictive lung disease and damage to the liver and kidneys, over the next 40 years. In the sixth revision of the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic substances Directive (CMRD), the Commission recommends setting exposure limits for cobalt and inorganic cobalt compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (‘PAHs') and 1,4-dioxane. Welding fumes are also added under the scope of the CMRD.
These new measures could save up to €1.16 billion in healthcare costs and significantly improve the quality of life for workers and their families.
This revision to the CMRD reflects the latest scientific data and benefits from input provided by the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, composed of representatives of workers, employers and governments.
Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, said: “This revision of the Carcinogens, Mutagens, and Reprotoxic Substances Directive reflects our commitment to safe and healthy European workplace, the backbone of quality jobs, and our dedication to science-based policy. By introducing exposure limits on hazardous chemicals such as cobalt, PAHs, and 1,4-dioxane, we are not only protecting workers today but investing in their long-term wellbeing.”
More information is available in our press release.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Quentin Cortès - Tel.: +32 2 291 32 83)
Commission publishes guidelines for providers of general-purpose AI models
Today, the European Commission has published guidelines to assist providers of general-purpose AI models in meeting the AI Act's obligations kicking in on 2 August 2025. The guidelines clarify these obligations, providing legal certainty for all actors across the AI value chain, and complement the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: “With today's guidelines, the Commission supports the smooth and effective application of the AI Act. By providing legal certainty on the scope of the AI Act obligations for general-purpose AI providers, we are helping AI actors, from start-ups to major developers, to innovate with confidence, while ensuring their models are safe, transparent, and aligned with European values.”
The guidelines define general-purpose AI models as those trained with computational resources exceeding 1023floating point operations and capable of generating language (text or audio), text-to-image or text-to-video. They outline what constitutes a ‘provider' and ‘placing on the market', and clarify exemptions for models released under a free and open-source license that meet transparency conditions. The guidelines also explain the implications of adhering to the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice and outline Commission's expectations for compliance.
Finally, the guidelines clarify specific obligations for providers of the most advanced or impactful general-purpose AI models, particularly those posing systemic risks, such as risks to fundamental rights, safety, and potential loss of control over model, who must assess and mitigate these risks.
More information is available online, including questions and answers.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Nika Blazevic — Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17)
First sweep under new product safety rules shows that while basic requirements are broadly met, more needs to be done to ensure that consumers and relevant authorities get all relevant safety information
Today, the European Commission and national market surveillance authorities presented the results of the first ever product safety sweep since the new product safety rules entered into force. The sweep targeted childcare products sold online in the EU, such as baby carriers and pacifiers. While the sweep found that online marketplaces respect basic requirements (95% provided the right product identification with, for example, pictures or barcodes), it also showed that more is needed to ensure that consumers receive all the necessary safety information, for example, on the manufacturer or responsible contact person in the EU. Only 53% of marketplaces designated the required point of contact for the relevant market surveillance authorities and registered with the Safety Gate Portal. Market surveillance authorities also reported that when dangerous products are removed following a takedown order, some of them re-appeared in the marketplaces.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, said: “Europeans deserve safe products, whether purchased online or offline. Thanks to this sweep, we have a clear idea of how our online marketplaces are doing in practice to ensure that the goods we let into our home are safe. While we see a general compliance, we can also see some room for improvement. We now call on national authorities to ensure the correct follow-up to these findings”
Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection said: “This sweep is one of the new tools introduced under our new product safety rules. It proves to be a valuable instrument for checking compliance across online marketplaces and will directly inform our future actions. Our goal remains clear: to ensure that only safe products make their way into the hands of European consumers - whether bought online or offline.”
The aim of the sweep was to verify whether traders offering these products and online marketplaces intermediating their sale were adhering to the General Product Safety Regulation. Consumer authorities checked over 1,700 offers of childcare articles from 47 online marketplaces from 1 April to 15 May 2025, including the designated Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs): AliExpress, Amazon, Shein, Temu and Zalando. As a follow-up to these findings, national authorities sent 252 orders and other requests to online marketplaces to screen their responses (79% were replied to). The Consumer Safety Network, together with the Commission, will continue monitoring the compliance of products sold in the EU market, both online and offline, and take the relevant enforcement measures where necessary, including in cases where dangerous products reappear on marketplaces after their removal. The Commission will also report on the findings of the sweep as part of the evaluation of the actions and initiatives announced in its e-commerce Communication. The Commission will continue to engage with businesses and companies in the EU, including with the signatories of the Product Safety Pledge+ to identify and remedy any potential issues. More information on the findings can be found online.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Cristina Torres Castillo — Tel.: + 32 2 299 06 79)
Commission launches consultation on future measures to safeguard EU steel sector from unfair trade practices
The European Commission has launched a targeted consultation to help identify future measures to continue safeguarding the EU steel sector from unfair trade practices and the negative effects of global steel overcapacities.
The intention is to gather expertise from sectoral stakeholders with a view to finding an effective replacement for the current EU safeguard on steel, due to expire on 30 June 2026. Stakeholders have until 18 August 2025 to express their views on several potential scenarios prepared by the Commission. Through this consultation, the Commission aims to gather input from across the steel value chain. These valuable insights will directly shape the Commission's legislative proposal.
In its Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP), the Commission committed to presenting said legislative proposal by the third quarter of 2025.
The consultation launched today is comprised of a Call for Evidence and a Questionnaire, available at EU Survey, which outlines different scenarios upon which stakeholders can express their views.
More information available in a news item online.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Saul Goulding - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commission seeks feedback for review of insurance sector rules
The Commission has opened a consultation on the review of the Solvency II Delegated Regulation. The aim of this review is to remove deterrents for insurers to support the long-term financing of the European economy, while preserving financial stability and ensuring policyholder protection. With trillions of assets under management, the insurance sector remains a key European institutional investor, which can contribute to the objectives of the Savings and Investments Union (SIU).
In particular, the Commission is seeking feedback regarding changes to technical rules governing the valuation of insurers' liabilities, the calculation of solvency requirements, reporting and disclosure obligations, group supervision, and other related areas.
The review proposes a dedicated treatment for long-term equity investments by insurers to encourage equity financing of European firms and facilitate their access to stable, long-term capital. In line with the securitisation package presented on 17 June 2025, some draft provisions of the Solvency II Delegated act aim to remove barriers to investments in securitisation by insurers, by reducing risk factors on both simple, transparent and standardised (STS) and non-STS securitisation. Some amendments would also simplify supervisory reporting and disclosure requirements, especially for smaller insurers with low-risk business models, by extending reporting deadlines and introducing greater proportionality to reduce administrative burdens.
In addition, the draft proposes a recalibration of capital requirements for natural catastrophe risks to reflect the latest scientific insights related to climate change. It also recognises the role insurers can play in mobilising additional private capital to support key Union objectives, including investments made in the real economy alongside public funds, notably where public guarantees or subsidies are involved.
The Commission invites all stakeholders, including civil society, consumers, businesses, financial market participants and Member State authorities, to submit their views on the Have your Say Portal by 5th September. The contributions will be taken into account when finalising the delegated act, expected for the third quarter of 2025.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Marta Perez-Cejuela Romero - Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)
Commission approves new geographical indication from Hungary
The European Commission has approved the addition of ‘Kőszeg / Kőszegi' from Hungary as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
‘Kőszeg / Kőszegi' wines are shaped by the influence of the Alps, the area's rock formations, and a cool but balanced climate with significant temperature differences between day and night. These conditions, combined with late harvesting and traditional winemaking know-how, result in light-bodied, fruity wines with fresh acidity, as well as elegant white and red wines with a long finish and good ageing potential. The wines are known for their salty minerality, derived from the bedrock, and a structure built on natural acidity.
Winemaking practices combine moderate barrel ageing with tank-ageing to preserve freshness and prevent tannins from dominating the final product. The production area of Kőszeg town is one of the oldest wine regions in Hungary, with a long-standing cultural and economic tradition of viticulture. The choice of grape varieties, the know-how passed down through generations, and the combination of traditional and modern winemaking techniques all contribute to the distinctive character of ‘Kőszeg / Kőszegi' wines.
This new designation joins the more than 3,669 protected names already listed in eAmbrosia, the database and Union register of agricultural geographical indications. More information is available on the Quality Policy pages.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Thérèse Lerebours - Tel.: +32 2 296 33 03)
Commission eases state-owned companies reporting obligations for Member States
The European Commission has eased the reporting obligations for Member States on their financial relations with state-owned companies. With this change, the Commission stops the obligation for Member States to provide annual reports with financial information relating to certain companies in the manufacturing sector. This way it relieves administrative burdens for the Member States and those companies. The change is implemented through a Directive amending Directive 2006/111/EC on the transparency of financial relations between Member States and state-owned companies, in order to reduce unnecessary reporting obligations.
This move contributes to the Commission's target of reducing burdens associated with reporting requirements by 25%, without undermining policy objectives. The ongoing action to simplify the EU regulatory framework is outlined in the Commission's Communication on Implementation and Simplification. The Communication sets out the Commission's approach to tackle all sources of regulatory burdens, such as reporting obligations, recurring administrative costs or compliance costs more generally.
The updated rules continue to ensure the transparency of financial relations between Member States and state-owned companies, by maintaining the conditions set to ensure the transparency of financial transactions.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commission approves €300 million Slovak State aid scheme to support the rail sector
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €300 million Slovak scheme to support the purchase of rail freight rolling stock. The measure will promote a shift from road to rail transport – a greener mode of freight transport.
Under the scheme, the support will take the form of direct grants to finance part of the costs of new rail freight wagons. Eligible beneficiaries are railway undertakings or owners of rolling stock wanting to purchase new rail freight wagons. The aid can cover up to 50% of the cost for the acquisition of new rail freight wagons, with a maximum amount of aid of €200 million per applicant.
The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union regarding transport coordination. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and proportionate to promote the use of rail freight transport, which is less polluting than road transport and reduces road congestion. Furthermore, the Commission found that the aid will have an 'incentive effect' as the beneficiaries would not carry out the investments in the absence of the public support. The Commission therefore concluded that the measure will contribute to transport coordination and facilitate the shift of freight transport from road to rail, without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.118317 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
Commission clears creation of joint venture by PIC and Wanhua
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (‘PIC') of Kuwait and Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd. (‘Wanhua') of China.
The transaction relates primarily to the supply of petrochemicals.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture has negligible activities in the European Economic Area. 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.12021.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
President von der Leyen heads to Japan for 30th EU-Japan Summit
On 22–23 July, President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will travel to Japan for the 30th EU–Japan Summit, joined by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas. Together with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, they will reaffirm the strength and strategic importance of EU–Japan relations in a world of shifting trade relationships and increasing volatility. The Summit will focus on deepening cooperation in competitiveness and economic security, as well as security and defence.
On competitiveness, the leaders will discuss enhanced trade building on the success of the Economic Partnership Agreement, closer work for robust supply chains and more cooperation on innovation and the green and digital transition.
Recognising the deep interconnection between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the leaders will also advance work under the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership, including on foreign information manipulation and interference, maritime security, and defence industry cooperation.
President von der Leyen and President Costa, together with Prime Minister Ishiba, will deliver statements at the start of the Summit, followed by joint press remarks at the end. The event will be broadcast live on EBS.
On 22 July, the two Presidents and the High Representative will visit the Osaka World Expo 2025, in particular the Japanese, EU, and Ukrainian pavilions.
The EU-Japan partnership is underpinned by the Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreement signed in 2018. Japan is the first partner country with which the EU has concluded a Connectivity Partnership, a Green Alliance and a Digital Partnership. In November 2024, the EU and Japan concluded a Security and Defence Partnership, the first with an Indo-Pacific partner.
(For more information: Paula Pinho – Tel.: +32 2 292 08 15; Anouar El Anouni - Tel.: +32 2 291 35 80)
Commissioner Brunner in Germany to discuss migration at the Zugspitze Ministerial Conference
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, is in Germany today to participate in the Zugspitze Ministerial Conference on Migration, convened by the German Minister for Interior Alexander Dobrindt. The conference gathers ministers from five EU Member States: Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Austria and Poland.
Commissioner Brunner and the ministers will focus on common migration priorities, including the Pact on Migration and Asylum, returns, and initiatives to strengthen the EU's comprehensive approach to migration towards third countries.
Discussions will also focus on strengthening the European Union's external borders, stepping up action against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, as well as on new solutions to increase cooperation with origin and transit countries.
A press conference will take place following the ministerial at +/- 15:00 CEST.
(For more information: Markus Lammert - Tel.: + 32 2 29 67533, Cristina Dumitrescu - Tel.: + 32 2 296 60 91)
Commissioner Brunner co-hosts the second Ministerial Meeting of the European Ports Alliance
On Monday, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner will co-host the second Ministerial meeting of the European Ports Alliance Public-Private Partnership, along with the Danish Presidency of the Council.
Launched in January 2024, the Alliance is a flagship initiative to strengthen the security and resilience of EU ports against organised crime and drug trafficking, and a key priority of the new Internal Security Strategy ProtectEU. The Alliance brings together Member States, European Ports, Industry associations and EU Agencies to counter drug trafficking in ports.
The Ministerial meeting will address the importance of ensuring the resilience of maritime logistics against criminal infiltration and will exchange on concrete measures to support the preparation of the EU Ports Strategy. The Ministerial Meeting of the European Ports Alliance takes place at the M/S Maritime Museum in Helsingør.
A press confernece will take place at +/- 18:05 and can be followed live on EBS.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Brunner will attend the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council in Copenhagen, together with Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner, Hadja Lahbib.