DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 20 February 2026
European Union endorses Leaders' Declaration at AI Summit in India
The European Union will endorse the Leaders' Declaration at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, which recognises that “AI's promise is best realised only when its benefits are shared by humanity”. Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen will endorse the declaration on behalf of the EU, reaffirming the EU's commitment to strengthening its partnership with India, promoting AI innovation and international cooperation, and strengthening global AI governance.
In India, Executive Vice-President Virkkunen launched several important initiatives, including the European Legal Gateway Office with India's Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Announced by President Ursula von der Leyen at the 16th EU–India Summit, the initiative aims to connect European companies with India's ICT talent base. The Executive Vice-President also launched the Frontier AI Grand Challenge, an EU-wide flagship competition to drive the development of sovereign, large-scale European AI models.
During the summit, the Commission also launched two calls for expression of interest as part of the Commission's Apply AI Strategy to strengthen European capabilities in AI. The first call invites healthcare organisations across Europe to join the network of AI-powered advanced screening centres, aiming to advance the safe and effective use of AI in cancer and cardiovascular prevention, early detection and diagnosis. The second call invites European AI actors to participate in an expert forum on frontier AI, which will map existing efforts in frontier AI in the EU and identify related opportunities and challenges.
Executive Vice-President Virkkunen, said: “Every day, Europe is getting closer to becoming an AI Continent. As well as stepping up international cooperation, this summit was also an opportunity to showcase progress in this regard. The European Legal Gateway Office in India will increase the attractiveness of the European Union for talent; new calls and grand challenges will strengthen European capabilities in AI.”
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, said: “The launch of the Legal Gateway Office marks a new level of mutually beneficial cooperation between the European Union and India on talent mobility. It will play a key role in further connecting Indian ICT talent with the EU employers and higher education institutions. It will open new pathways for students, researchers, and professionals to EU Member States, creating added value and opportunities for growth.”
The declaration will be available online soon.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Nika Blazevic - Tel.: +32 2 29 927 17)
Commission invests €225 million to deliver next-generation influenza vaccines
The European Union is committing €225 million to speed up the development of next-generation flu vaccines that will offer protection across a wider range of influenza variants and quickly adapted if a pandemic strain emerges. It marks the first time the Commission will be using pre-commercial procurement to advance products through clinical trials, ensuring they meet strict safety, quality and efficacy criteria, while supporting innovations that might otherwise stall without public intervention.
The funding will support vaccines designed to be easier to administer via the nose, mouth or skin patches and rapidly scaled up in emergencies.
Flu viruses evolve constantly, which means vaccine technology must keep pace. This investment will accelerate vaccine development and strengthen Europe's ability to respond at scale. Through full clinical development of promising vaccine candidates, the EU aims to widen the pipeline, putting more products in development. This increases the chances of novel products making it to the market, and move from laboratory breakthrough to real-world protection. That means new solutions can reach national vaccination programmes more quickly, providing patient friendly vaccines to help countries respond with greater speed and coordination when outbreaks intensify.
The contracts signed will run for 98 months, covering clinical development through to market authorisation.
By expanding vaccine production capacity and introducing novel treatments, this investment will help Europe and the world to be better prepared for future influenza outbreaks or pandemics.
Background
This investment uses a pre-commercial procurement model, which funds research and development under favourable terms to foster a more inclusive market, particularly for SMEs. It covers three phases of pre-commercial procurement, including development of clinical trial phases I, II and III, as well as pre-market development, leading to market authorisation.
These actions are financed by the Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority from the EU4Health programme, and managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency.
The contracts have been signed with Nivi Development P/S, Ethris Gmbh, Statens Serum Institut, Vismederi Srl, Stichting European Clinical Research Alliance On Infectious Diseases, Bavarian Nordic As, Evonik Operations Gmbh, Idt Biologika Gmbh, Sanofi Pasteur Sa And Sclavo Vaccines Association.
For more information
HaDEA press release
Quote(s)
With an EU investment of €225 million - the largest ever dedicated to accelerating access to innovative medical countermeasures - we are advancing the development of next-generation flu vaccines. Innovation is at the heart of preparedness. This funding will unlock cutting-edge technologies, including more accessible and diverse vaccine administration methods, ensuring that effective vaccine options reach underserved and vulnerable groups. This investment also strengthens Europe’s pharmaceutical ecosystem, contributing to its competitiveness, and reinforces our resilience against future health threats.
Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management
(For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commission publishes summary of responses to consultation on Foreign Subsidies Regulation review
Today, the European Commission published a summary of the contributions received in response to the public consultation on the ongoing review of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR). These contributions will feed into the Commission's review report, which will be presented to the European Parliament and the Council later this year as required by the FSR.
The contributions generally acknowledge the importance and relevance of the FSR for the integrity and proper functioning of the EU's internal market. Respondents were also positive about the potential of enforcement tools to ensure a level playing field in the EU's internal market. At the same time, respondents highlighted areas for potential improvement such as notifications and reporting obligations in the concentration and public procurement modules, and the need for better clarity for concepts such as ‘foreign financial contributions'.
The public consultation, which ran from August 2025 to November 2025, was accompanied by a parallel call for evidence to gather comprehensive market feedback. The contributions to the call for evidence are already public. The Commission welcomed the participation of 54 respondents in the public consultation, including companies, business associations, public authorities and academic institutions across the EU and beyond.
On 9 January 2026, the Commission published FSR Guidelines to bring further predictability and ensure transparency for companies. They clarify several concepts, such as how the Commission concludes whether there is a distortion of competition caused by a foreign subsidy, how distortive effects are balanced against any positive effects of a foreign subsidy, and the Commission's power to request prior notification of below-threshold cases.
The ongoing review focuses on the assessment of foreign subsidies that distort the internal market, the application of the balancing test, own-initiative investigations, notification thresholds, and the level of complexity of the rules.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Statement by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen and Commissioner McGrath ahead of the European Day for Victims of Crime
“The essential tasks of Justice are to repair the intolerable affront inflicted on victims of crimes and to uphold their fundamental right to human dignity. Crime can have profound and long-lasting effects on victims of crime. They must be heard, supported, and treated with respect, compassion and fairness throughout their experience and interactions with the criminal justice system.
The recent political agreement on the revised Victims' Rights Directive is a major step forward and will make it easier and less stressful for victims to report crimes and to participate in criminal proceedings. The new rules aim to usher in a justice system that places victim protection front and centre across the Union. They are mindful of the victims' needs at every step of the justice process, from the moment they come forward to the aftermath of the proceedings.
New helplines will offer immediate, clear information and emotional support. Reporting crime online and participating in criminal proceedings will become simpler, with dedicated and tailored support throughout judicial proceedings. Child victims will also benefit from better access to justice in courts. All victims will benefit from stronger protection of their personal data and access to compensation will be reinforced.
Professionals who interact with victims, such as police officers, lawyers and judicial officials, will be better equipped to ensure a safe space for victims to seek justice. The revised Directive will also ensure equal access to justice for all by strengthening protection for vulnerable groups, including children and persons with disabilities.
We call on all Member States to fully implement the revised rules and to work closely with all relevant actors so that victims receive real protection, effective support and genuine access to justice.”
The EU Victims' Rights Directive, in application since 2015, establishes minimum standards to ensure that victims of crime are recognised, treated with respect and receive appropriate protection, support and access to justice across the European Union, regardless of their nationality or place of residence.
The Directive strengthened victims' rights and procedural guarantees, while requiring Member States to provide training for officials interacting with victims. Additional EU rules address the specific needs of victims of human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and child abuse, terrorism, non-cash payment fraud and violence against women.
The evaluation of the Victims' Rights Directive, published in June 2022, confirmed that the Directive has broadly generated the expected benefits. It brought a positive impact on victims' rights to access information and improved their access to support services.
However, the evaluation also demonstrated shortcomings that require targeted improvement in relation to victims' main rights.
To address the identified gaps, in 2023 the European Commission proposed a Revision of the Victims' Rights Directive. On 10 December 2025, the European Parliament and Council reached a political agreement on the revised Directive. The new rules introduce victims' helplines, dedicated court support, improved psychological assistance, stronger protection of personal data, and better-coordinated services for child victims. The new rules also strengthen training for police, judges, and prosecutors to efficiently respond to victims' rights and needs.
Victims' rights in the EU
Commission welcomes agreement on stronger EU rules ensuring victims' rights
Eurostat – Crime Statistics
Applications for New European Bauhaus Prizes and Boost 2026 are open
Today, the European Commission is opening applications for several awards celebrating innovation and creativity inspired by the New European Bauhaus (NEB): The sixth edition of the New European Bauhaus Prizes and the second edition of the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities invite trailblazers from across Europe and beyond to present beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive projects with the potential to bring positive change to the life of citizens, enhance innovation and participation.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The New European Bauhaus has grown from an idea to a vibrant movement. Projects across Europe show the possibilities for our future: sustainable, inclusive and beautiful. This is the moment to scale up; placing the NEB firmly in our competitiveness agenda to drive innovation and creative thinking. And in this, the NEB Prizes are a crucial element.”
Building on the successful 2025 edition, where 22 exemplary innovative projects and concepts were awarded with NEB Prizes and 20 community-driven initiatives received the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities, the Commission is once again seeking projects that promote sustainability, inclusivity and quality of life.
Sixth round of NEB Prizes: Pioneering the Future
A total of 13 winners will be awarded in 2026, including two public vote prizes, a special water resilience award and international awards. Each winning project will be awarded up to €20,000, while additional 14 runners-up will get €5,000 each.
Several new features have been introduced in the 2026 prizes, showcasing the expanded interest these awards are receiving:
NEB Boost for Small Municipalities: Empowering Local Communities
After the success of last year's first edition, the NEB Boost returns even stronger to award and financially support 20 projects taking place in rural settings or in communities with fewer than 20,000 residents.
Eligible projects must focus on the built environment, including the construction, renovation, and adaptation of buildings and public spaces. These projects should prioritize circularity, carbon neutrality, cultural heritage preservation, affordable housing solutions, and the regeneration of rural or urban areas.
The 20 winners of the NEB Boost will each receive a €30,000 prize, and a tailored communication package from the Commission to further amplify their achievements towards all communities across of Europe.
How to apply
Applications for the NEB Prizes 2026 and the 2026 NEB Boost for Small Municipalities are open until 17 March 2026 at 19:00 CET. Applications for both should be submitted through the official New European Bauhaus Prizes platform. All the details about the application process are included in the respective Guides to Applicants available in the platform.
The finalist projects of the NEB Prizes 2026 will be announced during the third edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival on 9-13 June this year, while the winners will be revealed during a dedicated NEB Award ceremony in the Autumn 2026.
The New European Bauhaus is an EU policy and funding initiative that makes the clean transition in built environments attractive for all. The initiative invites everyone to reshape our future and make it sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive, promoting positive and inclusive experiences.
Launched in 2021 following President von der Leyen's 2020 State of the Union address, the New European Bauhaus has grown into a vibrant community of over 2,000 members across Europe and beyond, and over 700 NEB projects supported to date. Under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), €1.4 billion have been devoted to the NEB, with the bulk stemming from cohesion policy (over €840 million) and Horizon Europe (over €530 million). It has become a key driver in implementing the European Green Deal and Clean Industrial Deal at the local level, bridging innovation, design, architecture, culture, and social inclusion.
Through the annual NEB Prizes, the initiative highlights tangible solutions that show how communities can live more sustainably and beautifully, while ensuring affordability and social fairness. Across five editions, the NEB Prizes have brought visibility to projects and ideas from across the EU, the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Since 2021, over 5,700 applications have been received, and 94 winners have shared more than €2 million in support.
New European Bauhaus Prizes platform
Guide for New European Bauhaus Prizes
New European Bauhaus website
Commission Communication on the New European Bauhaus
The New European Bauhaus has grown from an idea to a vibrant movement. Projects across Europe show the possibilities for our future: sustainable, inclusive and beautiful. This is the moment to scale up; placing the NEB firmly in our competitiveness agenda to drive innovation and creative thinking. And in this, the NEB Prizes are a crucial element.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Across Europe, communities are finding bold and creative ways to tackle the water challenges in their neighbourhoods and homes. Water scarcity is a growing societal challenge, and many regions or municipalities have either too much or too little water. This year’s edition of the New European Bauhaus Special Prize puts the spotlight on these water efficiency efforts. But the ambition doesn’t stop there! By welcoming countries from outside of Europe and updating our categories to make the NEB future proof, this revamped set of NEB 2026 prizes show how the NEB can be an enabler for the clean and circular transition, whilst fostering innovation and benefiting communities both in Europe and worldwide.
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
Supported by cohesion policy, the New European Bauhaus Prizes award the transformative power of local initiatives with the potential to create more sustainable, inclusive and resilient places where people can stay and thrive in the communities they call home. By promoting these projects with the Prizes, we are helping the best innovative ideas turn into inspiration for real change across all EU regions.
Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms