EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 11 September 2025
Turkish Cypriot community to receive €33.7 million from 2025 EU Aid Programme
The European Commission has adopted the 2025 EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, providing €33.7 million to support its socio-economic development and facilitate Cyprus's reunification process.
The Aid Programme aims to boost trade between the two communities across the Green Line by facilitating the alignment of Turkish Cypriot products with EU standards, for instance in the dairy and agriculture sectors. Support will also be directed to Turkish Cypriot small and medium-sized companies, as well as to entrepreneurs to help them grow and consolidate their businesses. Another priority is to improve the skills of workers, teachers and children with special needs, as well as continuing EU-funded scholarships for Turkish Cypriots in EU Member States.
The 2025 Programme will also support projects in the areas of energy efficiency, use of renewable energy and environment protection, including bicommunal cooperation on the rehabilitation of Nicosia's main riverbed. Lastly, to continue building confidence between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities, the Programme includes continued support for the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, as well as the restoration of Cyprus's cultural heritage to promote reconciliation and respect for cultural and religious diversity.
Between 2006 and today, the EU has allocated around €760 million to the Aid Programme.
More information about the Programme is available online.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: + 32 229-96302; Aikaterini Stamou – Tel.: +32 229-98381)
Ukraine receives a further €1 billion from EU's G7 loan contribution
The European Commission has disbursed the eighth tranche of its exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, worth €1 billion, further reinforcing the EU's role as Ukraine's largest donor since the start of Russia's war of aggression, with overall support amounting to over €170 billion.
In total, the MFA amounts to €18.1 billion and represents the EU's contribution to the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative, which collectively aims to provide approximately €45 billion in financial support to Ukraine. With this latest payment, the Commission's total support to Ukraine under this MFA reaches €10 billion since the beginning of 2025.
As President Ursula von der Leyen announced yesterday in her State of the Union address, the Commission will frontload €6 billion of the EU contribution to the ERA loans initiative. This will allow the EU to support essential increases in military expenditure this autumn, helping Ukraine meet its urgent military needs.
The ERA loans from G7 partners as well as the EU's MFA loan are being repaid using proceeds from immobilised Russian State assets held in the EU. On 25 August, the Ukraine Loan Coordination Mechanism disbursed an initial €1.5 billion in extraordinary revenues, supporting Ukraine in settling the ERA loans.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Francisca Marçal Santos - Tel.: +32 2 299 72 36)
New guidelines to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure in the EU
The European Commission has presented new guidelines to support Member States in strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure across the EU. The guidelines provide recommendations and practical instructions to help Member States identify critical entities in 11 key sectors, including energy, transport, drinking and wastewater, food, banking, and digital infrastructure.
The new guidelines will also help Member States implement the Critical Entities Resilience Directive designed to develop national strategies, conduct regular risk assessments, and identify critical entities. These critical entities must then take technical, security and organisational measures to assure their resilience.
Threats to critical infrastructure, including hybrid threats like sabotage and malicious cyber activity, are a major concern in the EU, notably for the infrastructure that connects Member States. As highlighted in the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU, it is essential for all Member States to promptly and correctly implement the Critical Entities Resilience Directive. This will help ensure that essential services, key to societal welfare and economic activities, are well protected from external threats such as natural hazards, terrorist attacks, and public health emergencies.
Member States can receive funding for the protection of critical infrastructure under the EU's €1.93 billion Internal Security fund (2021-2027). More than €2.7 million have also been made available to Member States to support the investigations of incidents as emergency funding under ISF. The Commission has also proposed to triple funds for internal security in the EU 2028-2034 budget.
The Commission continues to support the security and preparedness of Member States, including through enhanced information exchange, new detection technologies, repair capabilities, international cooperation, and funding under the Internal Security Fund.
More information on the guidelines is available online.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Elettra Di Massa – Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)
Annual reports show erosion of autonomy and freedoms in Hong Kong and continued emphasis on national security in Macao
The European Commission and the High Representative have adopted their annual reports to the European Parliament and the Council on political and economic developments for the year 2024 in the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao
The Hong Kong report demonstrates that authorities continued to focus on national security following the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020. The report also highlights the continuous erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and of the fundamental freedoms and rights of its people. On 19 March 2024, Hong Kong's Legislative Council adopted the ‘Safeguarding National Security Ordinance' under Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law.
The Macao report shows the government's continued focus on national security and highlights that this risks undermining Macao's autonomy and fundamental freedoms. Macao adopted new legislation designed to implement the political doctrine of ‘patriots ruling Macao', including the ‘Amendment to the Electoral Law for the Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region' and the ‘Amendment to the Law on oaths upon taking office'.
Two press releases are available online: Hong Kong and Macao.
More information is available on the website of the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao.
(For more information: Anitta Hipper – Tel: +32 460 76 14 21, Pedro Fonseca – Tel: +32 460 76 14 96)
Commission approves new geographical indications from Greece and Spain
The European Commission has approved the additions of ‘Κρήτη / Kriti' from Greece and ‘Queso de Burgos' from Spain to the register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI).
‘Κρήτη / Kriti' is an extra virgin olive oil produced from olives grown across the island of Crete. It is characterised by low acidity, a bright green colour, and a rich fruity aroma. These qualities make it highly stable and aromatic, with a distinctive flavour profile rooted in the island's soils and climate. The olive oil is produced exclusively in Crete, where olive cultivation has been a way of life for millennia. The island's limestone soils, abundant sunshine, and Mediterranean climate, combined with traditional cultivation and milling practices handed down through generations, give the product its unique character.
‘Queso de Burgos' is a fresh cheese made from cow's and sheep's milk. It is white or slightly yellowish in colour and has a soft texture. The cheese has a mild, milky flavour with a subtle aftertaste of sheep's milk, ranging from very faint to strong depending on the variety. The product is made exclusively in the province of Burgos, in the Autonomous Community of Castile and Leon. Its qualities are closely linked to the region's traditional cheesemaking practices and to the use of local sheep's milk, which lends the cheese its characteristic aroma, buttery consistency and reputation.
These new designations join the more than 3,675 protected names already listed in the eAmbrosia database. More information is available in the Quality Policy pages.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Francisca Marcal Santos - Tel.: +32 2 299 72 36)
Choose Europe: EU research fellowships attract record 17,058 applications from scientists worldwide
Researchers are choosing Europe because it offers more than funding: it offers trust. Trust in institutions, in freedom of inquiry, and in long-term support for science. Excellence thrives where it is enabled, protected and shared—and Europe provides that environment. This is why the 2025 call for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships drew 17,058 applications from researchers worldwide, a 64.6% increase compared to 2024. This makes it the most popular call in more than four decades of EU research programmes.
Those fellowships allow researchers to lead their own projects with host institutions, learn new skills, and build international partnerships. Around 1,650 top proposals will secure funding, with approximately €404.3 million earmarked for the initiative.
Submissions came from organisations across Europe and associate countries, plus researchers planning stints at top global institutions. The impressive response underlines the global reach of the programme and Europe's standing as a leading hub for research and innovation.
Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, said: “The ‘Choose Europe for Science' effect is clearly taking hold. The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships application increase is the latest proof. The high number of proposals reflects Europe's growing reputation as a safe and stable home for research. I am eager to see how the selected projects will continue to advance research and innovation in Europe and beyond.”
More information is available on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions website. Information on the countries of origin of the researchers will be provided in the coming days.
(For more information: Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 460 76 57 13)
Commission invites comments on draft revised EU competition rules for technology transfer agreements
The European Commission has today launched a public consultation, inviting all interested parties to comment on drafts of a revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (‘TTBER') and revised Guidelines on the application of Article 101 of the Treaty to technology transfer agreements (‘Guidelines').
The revision of the TTBER and Guidelines follows an evaluation of the current rules, which have applied since 2014. The evaluation was completed in November 2024 and the revision aims to adapt the rules to reflect recent market developments and case law by the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as to provide additional legal certainty for companies wishing to enter into technology transfer agreements.
Interested parties are invited to submit their comments on the draft revised TTBER and Guidelines by 23 October 2025. The Commission will take the feedback into account when it finalises the revised rules, ahead of the expiry of the current TTBER, on 30 April 2026.
Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, said: “Technology licensing agreements play an important role in promoting and disseminating innovation. That is why we have a well-established framework to encourage such agreements where they are pro-competitive, and why we now want to ensure that our framework remains clear, effective and up-to date. I invite all interested parties to share their views.”
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
One year on: Commission takes stock of progress on Draghi Report recommendations
On Tuesday 16 September, President Ursula von der Leyen and Professor Mario Draghi will open a high-level conference entitled ‘One Year After the Draghi Report'. This high-level event will review the European Commission's progress in implementing the recommendations set out twelve months ago. Their keynote speeches will be broadcast live on EBS.
Since the report's publication, the Commission has moved quickly on a number of priority areas:
Closing the innovation gap, with the launch of AI gigafactories, a European quantum strategy, the start-up and scale-up strategy, and the Choose Europe initiative to attract talented scientists, researchers, academics and highly skilled professionals to Europe.
Improving access to finance, by advancing work on the Savings and Investment Union.
Making life easier for businesses, with the adoption of six simplification ‘omnibus' packages and the new Single Market Strategy.
Aligning competitiveness with decarbonisation, with the presentation of the Clean Industrial Deal, an updated State Aid framework, sectoral action plans for cars, steel and other metals and chemicals, and greater predictability through the 2040 climate targets.
Boosting the economy through defence investment, with the €150 billion SAFE initiative.
Diversifying trade, most recently with the presentation of agreements with Mercosur and Mexico, and with agreements with India and Indonesia on the horizon.
The conference comes shortly after the 2025 State of the Union address, in which President von der Leyen set out the next phase to strengthen Europe's competitiveness. This includes major investments in digital and clean technologies; new measures to cut business costs and complete the Savings and Investment Union; a Single Market Roadmap to 2028, covering capital, services, energy, telecoms, the ‘28th regime,' and a new ‘fifth freedom' for knowledge and innovation; as well as fresh initiatives in artificial intelligence, quantum, batteries and clean technologies, reinforcing Europe's strategic autonomy and technological leadership.
(For more information: Paula Pinho - Tel.: +32 2 292 08 15)
Commissioner Šefčovič and Commissioner Hansen travel to India
Today, Commissioners Šefčovič and Hansen are traveling to India, in the midst of EU-India trade agreement negotiations. The Commissioners will engage with their Indian counterparts on the needs of producers and business, both in India and in the European Union.
On Thursday and Friday, both Commissioners will engage in a series of meetings with Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce, as part of the ongoing efforts to reach a commercially meaningful agreement by the end of this year. Commissioner Šefčovič will also participate in the 65th Annual Session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), where both Indian and foreign operators established in India will be present. On Friday he will meet with the Federation of European Business in India (FEBI), the official Chamber of EU businesses in India.
Commissioner Hansen will begin his visit at the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, where he will engage in conversation with its Minister, Chirag Paswag. On Friday, the Commissioner will meet Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary Department of Agriculture Research and Education, for a visit of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute premises and an overview of its work. Later that day, Commissioner Hansen will have a private conference with Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, as well as with Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary for Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The Commissioner will have the opportunity during those meetings to exchange views on the future relations between India and the EU on those areas, in view of the ongoing negotiations.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Ana Apse-Paese - Tel.: +32 2 298 73 48; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)
Commissioner Šuica travels to Rabat to reinforce relations and cooperation with Morocco
Today, the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, is in Morocco, a strategic partner for the EU, to engage with authorities on how to strengthen the EU-Morocco bilateral partnership and its priorities, and to discuss the upcoming Pact for the Mediterranean.
In Rabat, the Commissioner will meet with Nasser Bourita, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance and Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Trade and Industry. She will also participate in the opening session of the High-level Regional Retreat on the Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations, which is part of the consultations on the preparation of the Pact for the Mediterranean.
The event will address key topics such as security, climate change, and energy. It will also explore opportunities for mobility, digital technology, and trade partnerships.
In the context of the visit, an agreement was concluded between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco to contribute €60 million to the Mohammed VI Investment Fund. This fund promotes private investment with a strong economic, social and environmental impact. It supports the Fund to develop major infrastructure in key sectors, such as renewable energy, water management, sustainable mobility and decarbonisation.
This will be her first official visit to the country, which is a strategic partner for the EU.
A joint press point with Foreign Minister Bourita will be broadcast at 14:00 CEST on EBS.
(For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 229-80564; Luca Dilda – Tel.: +32 229-52153)
Commissioner Kubilius in Rome for talks on space and defence
Today, Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius is in Rome for ministerial meetings and to attend the General Assembly of Defence, Space and Cybersecurity organised by the European Parliament and the European Commission, hosted by the European Space Agency (ESA) at its ESRIN site. The visit underlines Italy's central role in Europe's defence and space ambitions.
At the General Assembly for Defence, Space, and Cybersecurity, Commissioner Kubilius will deliver opening remarks on the challenges facing European industry and the need for closer cooperation across borders to strengthen resilience, innovation, and competitiveness. He will exchange with Members of Parliament and industry.
In meetings with Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, and Guido Crosetto, Minister of Defence, he will discuss ways to deepen EU–Italy cooperation in space and explore potential synergies with defence, industrial innovation, and support for Ukraine.
This mission comes at a pivotal moment as Europe scales up defence spending, boosts investment in new space technologies and systems, and builds stronger transatlantic and international partnerships.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Marine Strauss — Tel: + 32 2 298 91 03)
Commission hosts European Citizens' Panel on Intergenerational Fairness
A new European Citizens' Panel will take place in Brussels tomorrow, with discussions focused on guiding the Commission's forthcoming Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness, scheduled for adoption in 2026. Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef will participate in the Panel alongside 150 EU citizens from all 27 Member States, engaging with them on how to best create a future in which all generations can thrive.
The Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness aims to enhance intergenerational communication and guarantee that the needs of both present and future generations are considered in policy making and legislation. EU citizens throughout Europe will get a direct role in shaping its development thanks to the Citizens´ panel.
Commissioner Micallef said: “The upcoming Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness will ensure that decisions taken today constructively connect generations of EU citizens. This Strategy will be for the people of Europe, so it only makes sense that it should be informed by the people of Europe themselves. Their input and guidance are critical to its design and rollout. We will work together to create a fairer and more inclusive society for all and put guardrails in place to ensure that the same guarantee is extended to future generations. I am looking forward to seeing the fruit of our work over the course of this European Citizens' Panel, and to meeting and engaging with the participants.”
Participants will convene again in Brussels and online across three separate weekends in September, October, and November 2025.
Journalists wishing to attend the session in person can do so by contacting the following functional mailbox: COMM-CITIZENS-PANELS@ec.europa.eu.
The livestream and recordings of the plenary sessions on Friday and Sunday will be accessible on the Citizens' Engagement Platform.