EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 25 November 2025
Modernised EU rules on driving licences and driving disqualifications enter into force
Today, modernised rules on driving licences and mutual recognition of driving disqualifications enter into force across the EU. The measures aim to reduce the number of crashes on EU roads and undue administrative burden on citizens and authorities. Last year alone, 19,940 lives were lost on EU roads. This represents a 2% decrease compared to 2023 and marks steady but slow progress toward the EU's Vision Zero goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and getting close to eliminating them by 2050.
The new rules include measures that have been proven to significantly improve road safety, including the introduction of an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme for 17-year-old drivers and an EU-wide probationary period for novice drivers. Mutual recognition of driving disqualifications will ensure that drivers who commit serious offenses face consequences, no matter if they were driving within or outside their home country. Additionally, the EU introduces digital EU driving licences that can be accessed on mobile phones or other digital devices, and can be used across the EU.
The new legislation is now in force and will become applicable in Member States in four years, after transposition into national legislation. Rules on alternatively powered vehicles and accompanied driving will become applicable in two and three years respectively.
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, stated: "Today marks a major step forward in modernising our driver's licencing system and bringing down the unacceptable number of road deaths across the EU. Every life lost on our roads is one too many. Our new rules will bring us closer to our Vision Zero – zero deaths and serious injuries on EU roads by 2050.”
More information is available online.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen — Tel. + 32 2 295 75 01; Anni Juusola — Tel. + 32 2 296 09 86)
Commission outlines priorities to boost EU competitiveness in its 2026 European Semester Autumn Package
The European Commission today adopted the 2026 European Semester Autumn Package, setting out economic and employment policy priorities to boost competitiveness. In an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment, the Commission calls for coordinated action to strengthen productivity, innovation and investment, in line with the Competitiveness Compass. The Autumn Package launches the 2026 European Semester cycle, which will improve its analytical basis, strengthen dialogue between Member States and stakeholders, and reinforce the focus on implementation.
The 2026 European Semester Spring Package will provide policy recommendations to tackle the main country-specific challenges identified in the Country Reports, building on a comprehensive set of 2025 country-specific recommendations.
This package builds on the Autumn 2025 Economic Forecast, which shows that the EU economy remains resilient with moderate growth mostly driven by robust domestic demand and investment, a solid labour market and easing inflation. At the same time, the EU is confronted with several strategic vulnerabilities and continues to face structural challenges, including low productivity, demographic pressures, and increasing demands on public finances linked to defence and the transition to a decarbonised and digital economy. Strengthening competitiveness and maintaining sound public finances will therefore be essential to unlock Europe's growth potential and safeguard stability.
The Semester is reinforced with a new EU27 recommendation on human capital in view of the urgent need to increase productivity, boost talent and develop a future proof labour market.
Assessment of Member States' Compliance with the EU fiscal framework
Under this Semester Package, the Commission has assessed all Member States' compliance with the EU fiscal framework and provided guidance to ensure that their fiscal policy in 2026 is aligned with the relevant Council Recommendations: either those endorsing Member States' medium-term plans, or, for Member States under an excessive deficit procedure (EDP), recommendations aiming to bring an end to the EDP.
The Commission's assessment focuses on the growth of net expenditure, the single operational indicator in the reformed economic governance framework. For the 16 Member States for which the Council has activated the national escape clause, the assessment takes into account the flexibility for increases in defence expenditure.
In particular, the Commission adopted Opinions on the Draft Budgetary Plans (DBPs) for 2026 of 17 euro area Member States:
12 DBPs are assessed compliant and Member States are therefore invited to continue implementing fiscal policies in 2026 as planned: Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia.
3 DBPs are assessed at risk of non-compliance and Member States are therefore invited to take the necessary measures within their national budgetary process to ensure that fiscal policy in 2026 is in line with the Council Recommendation: Croatia, Lithuania and Slovenia.
2 DBPs are assessed at risk of material non-compliance and Member States are therefore invited to take the necessary measures within the national budgetary process to ensure that fiscal policy in 2026 is in line with the Council Recommendation: Malta and the Netherlands.
The Commission has also assessed the fiscal developments and prospects in the other Member States.
7 Member States are assessed as compliant: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Romania.
3 Member States are assessed as being at risk of non-compliance: Bulgaria, Hungary, and Spain.
Developments on Excessive Deficit Procedures
For the nine Member States in excessive deficit procedure, Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, the procedure is held in abeyance. In concrete terms, this means that no further procedural steps are taken at this stage but that the ongoing procedure remains open (i.e. the deficit has not been durably brought below 3% of GDP), and the Member States remain bound by the respective Council recommendation. The Commission will reassess the situation next spring, when outturn data for 2025 becomes available.
The Commission also prepared a Report under Article 126(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU to assess compliance with the Treaty's deficit criterion for two Member States, Germany and Finland. In light of the assessment contained in the report, opening of an excessive deficit procedure is warranted for Finland. Therefore, after taking into account the opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee, the Commission will consider proposing to the Council to open an excessive deficit procedure for Finland and propose to the Council a recommendation to put an end to the excessive deficit situation.
Recommendation for euro area economic policy for 2026
This recommendation presents tailored policy advice to euro area Member States on topics that affect the functioning of the euro area as a whole. This year, the focus of the recommendation is on policy action to boost productivity and strengthen economic security, while maintaining the sustainability of public finances.
More specifically, the recommendation calls on euro area Member States to:
Safeguard fiscal sustainability by respecting the net expenditure paths recommended by the Council, including, where applicable, the flexibility granted for defence spending. This would result in an overall neutral fiscal stance in 2026 for the euro area. Members States are also recommended to reprioritise budgets to accommodate the necessary spending on strategic investments.
Address defence industry bottlenecks and promote joint procurement.
Complete the implementation of their Recovery and Resilience Plans by 31 August 2026, ensuring full absorption of EU funds.
Strengthen labour markets by boosting skills, improving education outcomes, increasing participation, supporting job quality and addressing poverty and housing affordability, while ensuring wage growth remains aligned with productivity.
Promote investments in innovation and strategic sectors, as well as enhance the functioning of the Single Market through regulatory simplification and the removal of barriers, in order to boost efficiency and scale.
Take steps to develop a European Savings and Investment Union to mobilise capital, advance the creation of a digital euro, strengthen the international role of the currency, and monitor macro-financial stability risks.
Recommendation on Human capital
For the first time, the Commission proposed a Council recommendation on human capital.
The new Recommendation is addressed to all 27 Member States and calls for urgent actions to tackle human capital related structural challenges that can damage our competitiveness.
The recommendation therefore calls on Member States to prioritise education and skilling needed in strategic sectors for the EU economy, from clean transition, circular economy and industrial decarbonisation, health and biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy, to defence industry and space. It thus calls for stronger science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes.
It calls to reverse the negative trend in basic skills. This is essential to grow a future labour force with strong foundations to work and be trained in new tech and competitive industries.
Investment is a joint responsibility for businesses and public authorities alike. The Recommendation calls for public and private mobilization of resources to be invested in people. This is to the benefit of society, business, and people alike.
It finally calls for the importance of good quality, timely data and analysis that keeps pace with the evolution of economy and is able to anticipate emerging professions of the future so that our policies can answer the need of today and tomorrow rather than the ones of yesterday.
Alert Mechanism Report
The Alert Mechanism Report (AMR) serves as the EU's annual screening tool to facilitate an early identification of potential macroeconomic imbalances that may affect the economy of individual Member States, the euro area, or the EU as a whole. It identifies Member States which require in-depth reviews to assess whether they are affected by imbalances requiring policy action. The AMR is the starting point of the annual macroeconomic imbalance procedure (MIP) cycle.
This year's AMR calls for in-depth reviews to be prepared for the seven Member States already identified in the previous annual cycle as experiencing imbalances: Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Sweden, as well as for Romania, which was assessed as having excessive imbalances in 2025.
The reviews will take place in the first half of 2026, and the Commission's decisions on imbalances will be presented as part of the European Semester Spring Package.
European Macroeconomic Report
The newly introduced European Macroeconomic Report in this Semester cycle underpins both the Euro Area Recommendation and the Alert Mechanism Report. It provides an overview of the euro area and EU economies in a rapidly evolving global environment, analysing key risks and opportunities. Key areas of focus include productivity challenges, vulnerabilities within the EU, and actions to strengthen Europe's long-term competitiveness by boosting innovation, deepening the Single Market and mobilising private investment.
The report also examines Europe's high saving rate in the context of fragmented capital markets and the potential benefits of a Savings and Investment Union to channel capital more effectively within the Union. In addition, it analyses the macroeconomic impact of higher defence spending, and looks at the impact of different types of defence expenditure, with a focus on domestic investment and R&D. The report further explores ways to reinforce Europe's industrial capacity, such as through coordinated procurement.
Post-programme surveillance
The Commission published post-programme surveillance reports for Ireland, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Portugal, assessing their economic, fiscal and financial situation with a focus on their repayment capacity following their financial assistance programmes. The reports conclude that all five Member States retain the capacity to service their debt.
Proposal for a Joint Employment Report
The Commission's proposal for a Joint Employment Report (JER) shows that labour markets remain robust overall. However, several structural weaknesses pose a risk to the EU's global competitiveness and to social cohesion. This includes labour productivity, which shows a slow growth, and considerable labour and skills shortages.
The Joint Employment report includes the first-stage country analysis of the Social Convergence Framework, based on the Social Scoreboard. The analysis identifies risks to upward social convergence in nine Member States that are identified for a deeper analysis in spring 2026: Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Lativa, Luxembourg, Romania, and Finland.
Next steps
The Eurogroup and the Council will now discuss the documents presented in the European Semester Autumn Package, with the view to endorsing the guidance offered.
The Commission will engage in constructive dialogue with the European Parliament on the contents of this package, as well as on each subsequent steps in the European Semester cycle.
For more information
Questions and answers on the 2026 European Semester Autumn Package
2026 European Semester Autumn package – Documents
Autumn 2025 Economic Forecast
The European Semester
Quote(s)
Competitiveness needs human capital - here we are too slow and too incremental compared to the speed of technological change. Our new EU 27 human capital recommendation brings this matter – that requires urgent action, to the discussion table not only of education and employment ministers but also finance ministers and Prime Ministers. Competitiveness means using our labour force, growing and keeping our talent, and ensuring that education and training policies answer the needs of today and tomorrow. This is the only way the EU can increase its productivity and maintain economic growth and the welfare of our union. The responsibility is joint - EU, national authorities and businesses; to join our resources and speed up together.
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
With the launch of the 2026 European Semester cycle, we are putting Europe’s competitiveness firmly at the centre of our agenda, in line with the Competitiveness Compass. In a challenging global environment, Europe must generate its own growth momentum by boosting productivity, fostering innovation and removing obstacles to investment. The Semester will contribute to this goal through coordinated national reforms, timely implementation of Recovery and Resilience Plans, and concrete action to foster our security and a resilient financial sector. The time is now; we must unlock Europe’s full growth potential and secure long-term prosperity.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification
Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative on the EU-Israel Association Agreement
Today, the European Commission has registered the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Demand the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in view of Israel's violations of human rights'.
Following a thorough legal analysis of its admissibility, the Commission considers that the European Citizens' Initiative fulfils the formal conditions established 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 a decision on the initiative only if it collects at least 1 million signatures from EU citizens.
More information can be found in our press release.
(For more information: Olof Gill +32 2 296 59 66, Antoine Lomba +32 2 299 32 33)
Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative on passports design
Today, the European Commission has registered the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘EU Stars On My Passport (STAR-PASS)'.
The initiative invites the Commission “to facilitate the introduction by the EU Member States of an additional option for the cover design of passports, offered to citizens applying for a new passport.” The organisers of the initiative consider that this option should “feature a blue background with the circle of gold stars - the EU symbol” and the words “EUROPEAN UNION” displayed prominently on the passport cover.
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. The registration does not influence the Commission's final decision on its merits, or any potential action it may take. The Commission will make a decision on the initiative only if it collects at least 1 million signatures from EU citizens.
Commission seeks input for the review of the 2030 Digital Decade targets and objectives
The European Commission launched a call for evidence to examine whether the Digital Decade objectives and targets for 2030 remain aligned with the rapidly evolving tech landscape since their adoption in 2022. This call will help inform the Commission's upcoming review, planned for 2026, of the policy programme guiding Europe's digital transformation.
At this midway point in the Digital Decade, which sets out concrete targets for the EU's digitalisation by 2030, the review will assess the relevance of the current 2030 objectives and targets ensuring it remains effective, flexible, and resilient as the EU navigates its digital future. It will consider the opportunities to speed up Europe's digital transformation and to simplify digital legislation, as part of the Commission's wider simplification efforts.
The Digital Decade policy programme has mobilised over €288 billion of funding through national roadmaps, which include more than 1,900 specific measures to advance the EU's digital transformation.
The review will explore ways to further align policy with funding opportunities in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. It will also evaluate how to improve engagement through structured channels for regions, cities and local actors, which are critical for delivering the benefits of digitalisation to citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The call for evidence is open for views until 23 December 2025, included. The Commission is organising an online workshop on 26 November on how to strengthen local and regional efforts to drive innovation, test digital solutions and level the territorial disparities in digitalisation.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat — Tel.: +32 2 298 04 85)
Commission launches an impact assessment on hazardous pesticides entering EU through imported products
The Commission has today launched its impact assessment with a view to strengthening alignment of the EU's production standards on most hazardous pesticides with requirements applicable to imported products. In the Vision for Agriculture and Food, the Commission committed to “establish a principle that the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU for health and environmental reasons are not allowed back to the EU through imported products.” This strengthened reciprocity aims to guarantee that the EU's ambitious standards do not lead to competitive disadvantage for EU farmers and the agri-food sector, while responding to consumers' expectations.
The impact assessment is an important step towards understanding the economic, environmental and social impact a greater coherence in requirements could have when it comes to the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU. It will assess notably potential impacts on trade flows for the EU, the competitiveness of European producers and the potential impact on consumers. The impact assessment will inform further policy action, including a possible legislative proposal to be presented in that regard.
While the EU's existing legislation already protects consumers and ensures all food placed on the market meets our high health and safety standards, today's announcement reiterates the Commission's commitment to pursue closer alignment of production standards that apply to imported products, ensuring a level playing field for our farmers and producers and maintaining consumer protection.
The impact assessment will provide the analytical basis for potential appropriate and proportional amendments to the existing legal framework to progress towards a greater reciprocity of standards. It will include a study led by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), will be evidence-based, and will allow for a thorough evaluation of potential impacts and stakeholder input. The preliminary study is expected to be concluded by summer 2026, and the next steps of the impact assessment will follow.
(For more information: Olof Gill +32 2 296 59 66, Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78, Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33)
Joint European Forum for Important Projects of Common European Interest backs three new biotechnology projects to strengthen European competitiveness
The Joint European Forum for Important Projects of Common European Interest (JEF-IPCEI), which includes high-level representatives of the Member States and of the Commission, met yesterday and endorsed the launch of the design phase for three new IPCEI candidates on biotechnologies.
The selected IPCEI candidates are in the fields of biobased chemicals, biobased materials and biotechnologies for food and feed. The participating Member States will adjust the scopes of their projects with the support of the IPCEI Design Support Hub.
Biotechnologies are of strategic importance for Europe, playing a vital role in strengthening the EU's resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. Advancements in biobased chemicals and materials help reduce the EU's reliance on fossil-based resources while supporting the transition toward a more circular and resource-efficient economy. Similarly, innovation in biotechnologies for food and feed can enhance food security, improve nutritional sustainability, and reduce the environmental pressures on agricultural systems.
Each of these IPCEI candidates aims at contributing to the EU's objectives, aligning with green and bioeconomy priorities.
The Forum also adopted its 2026 workplan and endorsed several key deliverables, including a recommendation to facilitate SME participation in IPCEIs, a report and recommendation on evaluation methodologies, and additional recommendations on national best practices related to implementation procedures, reporting, and monitoring. Together, these deliverables will help streamline and strengthen the overall IPCEI process.
More information about the meeting is available online on the JEF-IPCEI webpage.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Rüya Perincek – Tel: +32 460 76 25 10)
Commissioner Kubilius to discuss European space policy at the European Space Agency ministerial council meeting
Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius will attend the European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial Council meeting on 26 – 27 November to advance discussions on Europe's space policy priorities and the EU–ESA strategic partnership. The ESA Ministerial Council is expected to take key decisions on its programmes that can speed up the development of priority EU space systems proposed for funding in the next EU long-term budget.
On the first day, Commissioner Kubilius will deliver a statement during the opening session of the ESA Ministerial, following German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, Dorothee Bär, who is hosting the meeting. Speaking alongside ministers from ESA Member States, he will highlight Europe's shared ambition to strengthen its space capabilities.
On the second day, Commissioner Kubilius will visit OHB SE, a European space manufacturer, to engage with industry on the implementation of the Union Space Programme. He will then take part in a joint ESA–European Commission press point, followed by media engagements. Commissioner Kubilius' statements throughout the two days will be live-streamed on EBS.
The visit reflects the Commission's commitment to fostering a strong, competitive and resilient European space sector. Strong EU-ESA cooperation is essential to make the best use of resources and to combine political leadership with ESA's technical expertise.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier +32 2 299 10 99, Marine Strauss +32 298 91 03)
EU advances economic partnerships and the connectivity agenda with Central Asia and South Caucasus
From 25 to 27 November, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela will be in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to advance the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, a flagship initiative of the Global Gateway strategy aimed at linking Europe and Central Asia while fostering prosperity and stability.
Tomorrow, Commissioner Síkela will participate in the 3rd EU-Central Asia Economic Forum. It follows the first EU–Central Asia Summit in April 2025, which reaffirmed the strong and growing partnership between the two regions. The Forum brings together representatives of the EU and its Member States, Central Asian governments, international organisations, financial institutions and the private sector to strengthen economic ties and promote sustainable development. It serves as a platform to strengthen cooperation to enhance the business and investment environment, facilitate trade and align regulatory frameworks, boost investment opportunities and public-private partnerships, and promote sustainable and responsible supply chains, particularly for critical raw materials.
On Thursday, Commissioners Síkela and Kos will take part in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and Connectivity Investors Forum, which will gather the EU, the Black Sea and Central Asian partner countries to advance the cross-regional connectivity agenda. The Forum will review progress made since the first Investors Forum for EU–Central Asia Transport Connectivity held in Brussels in January 2024, and the Cross-Regional Ministerial Meeting held in Luxembourg on 20 October. The programme will feature high-level thematic sessions on transport and logistics, covering both soft and hard connectivity aspects such as regulatory harmonisation, infrastructure investment and digitalisation of trade corridors.
During their visit, the Commissioners will meet high-level government representatives from partner countries, sign bilateral and regional agreements on critical raw materials, infrastructure, energy networks, border management. More details about the agreements will be available on the DG INTPA and DG ENEST press sections at the end of the visit. Both Commissioners will also participate in a press point on Thursday at +/- 15:45 UZT, which will be broadcast on EBS.
Audiovisual material of the visit will be equally available on EBS.
(For more information: Guillaume Mercier — Tel. + 32 2 298 05 64, Jennifer Sanchez Da Silva – Tel. +32 2 295 83 16, Yuliya Matsyk – Tel. +32 2 296 27 16)
European Commission appoints a new Director for its Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
The European Commission today appointed Kilian Gross as Director for Enabling and Emerging Technologies at the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). This Directorate-General develops and implements policies to make Europe fit for the digital age. The date of effect will be determined later.
Drawing on more than 25 years of experience within the European Commission, Mr Gross has developed broad and in-depth competence across multiple policy domains, spanning artificial intelligence, digital technologies, regulatory frameworks and energy policy. He has a strong track record of working effectively with institutional partners and external counterparts, navigating complex international negotiations. He played a central role in the negotiation and rollout of major flagship initiatives, including the AI Act and the European Chips Act. Over the course of his career, Mr Gross has also demonstrated robust managerial skills, leading sizeable teams and guiding the delivery of key files for the Commission, such as the revision of the OLAF Regulation and the Commission Anti-Fraud Strategy. His diverse institutional background equips him with the strategic, legal and operational perspective needed to steer DG CNECT's work and strengthen its delivery of coherent, future-oriented digital policies.
Kilian Gross, a German national, is currently Deputy Director of the AI Office and Head of Unit for Regulation and Compliance in DG CNECT. He previously served as a Member of Cabinet to former Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Günther Oettinger. He has also held the position of Deputy Head of Unit responsible for the Strategic Planning and Programming cycle in the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER), and served at the Commission`s Legal Service. Before joining the Commission in 1999, he gained professional experience in the German private sector.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)
European Commission appoints a new Director for its Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
The European Commission today appointed Diana Jabłońska as Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+ withing the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). This Directorate-General develops policies that contribute to a knowledge-based, inclusive Europe with a competitive economy. The date of effect will be determined later.
With more than two decades of experience in the European Commission, Diana Jabłońska has developed solid expertise across a broad range of policy areas, with a particular focus on social policy, education, and international cooperation. In particular, she developed substantial operational and stakeholder-management skills, strengthening her capacity to design and deliver large-scale education initiatives and coordinate effectively with national authorities. Moreover, Ms Jabłońska has contributed to many key issues on education and youth, such as shaping the reform of the Erasmus programme with renewed implementation modalities or providing strategic guidance on the Education and Training Strategic Framework. Her ability to work collaboratively with key stakeholders, including international organizations, reflects her adeptness in steering the future successful implementation of projects like Erasmus+, leveraging partnerships with external institutions to enhance educational opportunities and youth empowerment across the EU. Building on her diverse skillset deployed in a range of policy areas, Diana Jabłońska brings valuable institutional insight and is well placed to steer DG EAC's work in advancing a knowledge-based and inclusive Europe.
Diana Jabłońska, a Polish national, is currently Head of Unit in charge of Regional Strategies and Investments within the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST). She previously served as Head of Unit in charge of Georgia, Moldova, Economic and Investment Plan and Institution Building within the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). Before this, Ms Jabłońska served as Deputy Head of Unit in charge of School education and Erasmus+ at DG EAC. Prior to joining the Commission in 2003, Ms Jabłońska worked for the Polish Ministry of Economy.
European Commission appoints a new Director for its Directorate-General for Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf
The European Commission today appointed Henrike Trautmann as Director in charge of Middle East for its Directorate-General for Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA). This Commission department is responsible for building stronger EU partnerships with the Mediterranean region as well as the Gulf countries. This decision takes effect on 1 December.
With over three decades of service in the European Commission, Ms Trautmann has developed deep expertise in international relations covering the Middle East, the Southern Neighbourhood and Türkiye. Her career shows solid crisis-management and strategic-planning skills, developed largely through her work on Middle Eastern files, including her key role in steering the Commission's strategy for early recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. She also oversaw the delivery of the 2021 New Agenda for the Mediterranean and its financial arm, the Economic and Investment Plan for the South. Her strong competence in negotiation has driven complex multilateral work and advanced regional cooperation, notably through the coordination of humanitarian policy and regional strategies. She has repeatedly demonstrated remarkable management acumen, leading sizeable teams, steering multi-country programmes, and ensuring coordination across Commission departments, EU Delegations and partner countries. Building on her extensive experience in working with the Middle East, Henrike Trautmann is well placed to make a substantial contribution to the work of DG MENA.
Henrike Trautmann, a German national, is currently Principal Adviser for Reconstruction in Gaza. She previously served as Director for the Southern Neighbourhood and Türkiye at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). Before this, Ms Trautmann worked as Head of Unit for Regional Cooperation Neighbourhood South and EIP within the same Directorate-General. Earlier in her career, Ms Trautmann also served as Head of the Unit for Policy Implementation Frameworks; Specific Thematic Policies; Policy Development and Regional Strategy in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and Emergency Support Inside the EU at the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). Prior to joining the Commission in 1993, she worked for different private companies and organisations worldwide.