DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 26 February 2026
EU announces €63 million for Somalia to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis
The European Union has announced €63 million in humanitarian funding to support the most vulnerable communities across Somalia impacted by ongoing conflict and displacement in the country, as well as worsening drought and soaring food prices.
This announcement comes as drought related food insecurity and malnutrition rates are surging nationwide in Somalia, with 6.5 million people (around one in three Somalis) facing hunger and an estimated 1.85 million children under the age of five at risk of acute malnutrition. The EU funding will prioritise life-saving integrated health and nutrition services, including the treatment of severe/acute malnutrition, emergency cash assistance, water, sanitation, protection and emergency education. The aid will be delivered through trusted EU humanitarian partners operating on the ground, ensuring aid reaches those most affected in a timely, inclusive and effective manner.
To further coordinate the emergency response to the growing food crisis, the EU is participating today at Global Leadership Roundtable following Somalia's activation of its ‘Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plan.' Together with this new funding, the EU has provided over €750 million in humanitarian aid to Somalia since 2017.
At a time when humanitarian programmes are severely affected by global aid cuts, the EU remains committed to provide emergency relief to the most vulnerable people in Somalia. More information about the EU's humanitarian assistance can be found online.
(For more information: Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
Commissioner Brunner in North Macedonia to strengthen cooperation on security, migration and border management
Tomorrow, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, will travel to North Macedonia to engage with national authorities on cooperation in the areas of internal affairs, migration management, border security, the fight against organised crime and the rule of law. This marks his third visit to the region after visiting Albania and Montenegro earlier this month, and attending the Western Balkans Ministerial meeting last October. The visit underlines the European Union's strong commitment to deepening cooperation with the Western Balkans and to supporting countries in the region in their efforts to strengthen security and make progress on their European integration path.
Commissioner Brunner will meet the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, the Minister of Interior, Pance Toshkovski and the Minister for European Affairs, Bekim Sali. Discussions will focus on North Macedonia's ongoing accession process and in particular on ‘Chapter 24', which covers justice, freedom and security, including migration, border management, asylum, police cooperation and the fight against organised crime. The meetings will also address the EU Entry/Exit System, a large-scale IT system designed to register the entry and exit of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen area.
The Commissioner will also attend the official signing of the agreement between the Government of North Macedonia and Plazma Youth Sports Games, to kick off Youth Sports Games in North Macedonia. These are the biggest sports games for youth in Europe, with more than 200,000 children participating annually.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Fiorella Boigner – Tel.: +32 2 299 37 34)
Commission transfers, in the interest of the service a Head of Representation in Vilnius
Today, the European Commission decided to transfer, in the interest of the service, Rytis Martikonis as Head of Representation in Vilnius, Lithuania. In this function, he will act as the official representative of the European Commission in Lithuania under the political authority of President Ursula von der Leyen. This decision will take effect on 1 July 2026.
With over 30 years of experience, Mr Martikonis has steered high-level diplomatic engagements, overseen strategic communications, and managed large multidisciplinary teams in complex political environments. Throughout his career, Mr Martikonis has developed a profound understanding of European affairs, fostering consensus among diverse EU and national stakeholders. He has also demonstrated strong communication skills, ensuring clear, precise and consistent messaging that effectively advances EU priorities and supports coherent policy narratives. These skills, combined with his in-depth knowledge of the Lithuanian political context, make him particularly well suited to serve as Representative of the European Commission in Vilnius.
Mr Martikonis, a Lithuanian national, is currently Chair of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB), a position he has held for the past four years. From 1 March, he will assume the role of Hors Classe Adviser for Democratic Resilience at the Directorate-General for Communication. Previously, he served as Director-General of the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT). Before joining the Commission in 2011, Mr Martikonis worked on European affairs in national administration in Lithuania, and was also a member of the Convention on the Future of the European Union.
For more information, see our dedicated press release.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)
ProtectEU: Commission presents new counterterrorism agenda
Today, the European Commission presented a new agenda to prevent and counter terrorism, setting out the way forward to reinforce Europe's collective response to evolving terrorist and violent extremist threats.
The EU has strengthened its response to terrorism and violent extremism over the past decade. However, the evolving nature of these threats requires an adapted and stronger response. A flagship initiative under the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU, the agenda puts forward a comprehensive set of cross sectoral initiatives to step up preparedness and response, better protecting people and businesses in the EU from harm.
The growing misuse of digital and new technologies, from social media and artificial intelligence to 3D-printed weapons and drones, is reshaping terrorist activity. At the same time, radicalisation of minors is rising, with young people increasingly targeted online. Geopolitical developments and the involvement of state and non-state actors further deteriorate the threat landscape.
The Commission proposes to increase the EU's foresight and resilience, to enhance the security of people online and offline, and step up cooperation with international partners. The agenda proposes measures to meet these objectives across six key pillars:
Security relies on effective ability to anticipate. The agenda proposes measures to improve situational awareness and the early detection of emerging threats, such as:
Preventing radicalisation remains the most effective long-term strategy. The agenda proposes measures to strengthen early prevention and tailored interventions for those most at risk. This includes:
The online ecosystem remains central for terrorist and violent extremist activity, including propaganda, recruitment, incitement to violence, fundraising and broadcasting of attacks. The Commission will:
The agenda sets out to increase the security of people, public spaces and critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks.
To enhance the detection and monitoring of individuals posing a terrorist threat to the EU, the Commission will:
In addition, to strengthen the security of public spaces and critical infrastructure, the Commission:
A swift and effective response to terrorist threats and attacks requires strong law enforcement and judicial cooperation, including stepping up the fight against terrorism financing and the potential misuse of EU funds for promoting extremism and terrorism. The Agenda aims to:
Stronger global cooperation with trusted partner countries is essential to step up the fight against terrorism. Key actions include:
For more information
ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism
Factsheet
European Internal Security Strategy
2020 Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU
Quote(s)
Our new ProtectEU Agenda on Preventing and Countering Terrorism represents a vital step forward in safeguarding Europe's values and protecting people against terrorism. It is a testament to our commitment to unity and resilience, combining advanced technology, strong action in the online environment, with international cooperation to anticipate and counter threats. We are resolute in supporting Member States with the tools and resources they need to combat terrorism and violent extremism effectively.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
The security of Europeans is our highest priority. As terrorist groups increasingly seek to radicalise younger people and exploit the online space, we must step up our response. The ProtectEU Agenda on Preventing and Countering Terrorism sets our path forward – preventing attacks before they happen and responding decisively when they do. This means following the money with new tools to track financial data, strengthening our online response by swiftly taking down terrorist content, and making full use of our new digital border management systems to detect and stop threats before they reach our communities.
Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
Commission welcomes the political agreement for a broader European Globalisation Adjustment Fund supporting workers
The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached by the European Parliament and EU Member States on its proposal to strengthen the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). The EGF is an EU solidarity instrument for workers who have lost their job due to major restructuring, for instance the closing of a factory or the bankruptcy of a company.
The fund contributes directly to creating a more dynamic and competitive European economy. It helps workers by improving their skills and making it easier for them to find new jobs. It offers tailored packages of services: workers receive personalised support to acquire the skills needed to move into new roles or jobs, helping them navigate economic and industrial transitions.
Since 2007, the EGF has intervened in 186 cases, allocating €727 million helping 181,167 people in 20 different Member States. According to Commission data for 2023-2024, 81% of these dismissed workers have found a new job within 18 months of receiving EGF support.
Key improvements under the revised EGF include:
Next steps
The European Parliament and the Council must now formally adopt the political agreement. Once adopted, companies can request Member States to apply for EGF support for affected employees in line with the revised rules, which will apply until the end of 2027, when the current EGF expires.
Background
In April 2025, the Commission proposed to extend the scope of the EGF, as a flagship initiative of the Action Plan for the European automotive sector and the Action Plan for the European steel and metals industry. The new rules also align with the objectives of the Union of Skills and the European Competitiveness Compass.
Factsheet on the EGF
Website of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
EGF regulation 2021-2027
Commission proposes broader, faster EU social and employment funds
Subscribe to the Commission's newsletter on employment, social affairs and inclusion.
Exceptional times require smarter, faster support for workers. I warmly welcome this agreement, which will allow more workers across Europe to benefit from timely and targeted support during periods of economic transition. In a rapidly changing economic landscape, Europe continues to equip its people with skills and opportunities to adapt and thrive. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund remains a key instrument contributing to this goal by ensuring that assistance reaches workers and sectors where it is most needed.
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
Commission proposes EU-wide rules against the trafficking of illicit firearms
The European Commission has presented a proposal for a directive to combat firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences in the EU. This is the first legislative initiative to be adopted under the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU.
Illicit firearms pose a serious threat to public security, enabling terrorism, organised crime, gang violence and other serious offences. This risk is amplified by technological developments like 3D printing and by evolving threats from outside the EU's borders, calling for increased EU preparedness.
Today, there are significant differences in how firearms related offences are defined and punished, leading to a fragmented legal framework across the EU. The proposal will foster harmonisation and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement against firearms-related crimes by (i) introducing an EU-wide framework with common definitions of firearms offences and penalties, (ii) supporting stronger cooperation between Member States, and (iii) improving the collection and use of data. The proposal also (iv) closes the gap when it comes to the misuse of 3D printing for illicit weapons production.
By making investigations and prosecutions more effective and reinforcing law enforcement's ability to respond to emerging threats, the new rules will help protect EU citizens from the dangers posed by illicit firearms.
The proposal only targets intentional acts involving illicit firearms, fully preserving legitimate activities by authorised dealers, industry and citizens. It does not change nor affect in any way the existing EU rules on the legal acquisition, possession and cross-border movement of firearms.
EU-wide definitions and penalties
The proposal introduces harmonised definitions and penalties, including for:
Member States should set an upper limit of penalties for firearms-related offences of at least 2 years of imprisonment for the creation, acquisition, possession and dissemination of 3D blueprints, at least 5 years for the possession of illicit firearms, essential components and ammunition, and at least 8 years for the trafficking and manufacturing of illicit firearms.
Stronger cross-border cooperation
The proposal includes an obligation for Member States to establish a National Firearms Focal Point. It enables operational cooperation between Member States, for example for tracing and seizing weapons trafficked across Member States. The National Firearms Focal Points should also collect the data needed to create a regular threat picture and serve as point of contact for cooperation in international fora.
Improved data collection and criminal analysis
The proposal introduces new measures to improve the collection and standardisation of the available data on firearms.
This includes a minimum dataset to register firearms seized by law enforcement or other competent authorities. This will allow for a better estimation of the scope and scale of illicit firearms trafficking in the EU. The dataset was developed in close cooperation with practitioners and includes basic information such as the model and type of firearm. This information will help Member States identify trends, e.g. where decommissioned firearms from conflict zones enter the Union. It will also support targeted efforts to seize firearms and prevent proliferation.
The proposal also introduces a requirement for Member States to gather existing statistical data in relation to the different firearms-related offences and to share it with the Commission every five years. This includes data on the number of firearms seized in the context of criminal offences, as well as statistical data on the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions, dismissed cases, number of legal persons involved, the level and type of penalties imposed. This will increase the availability of comparable data across Member States and allow for an improved situational picture, better monitoring as well as increased public awareness.
The Commission will now work with the European Parliament and the Council, to facilitate swift agreement on the proposal.
The EU has adopted several instruments in the field of firearms, from the perspective of the internal legal market. The current EU rules on firearms only regulate the legal ownership and transfer of firearms: the Firearms Directive sets common minimum rules for the lawful acquisition, possession and transfer of civilian firearms within the EU, and the recast Firearms Regulation governs import and export authorisations for firearms moving to and from non-EU countries.
The EU ratified the UN Firearms Protocol in 2014, committing to criminalise illicit manufacturing and trafficking, strengthen marking and tracing, and ensure effective licensing and controls. However, no EU rules exist as of yet on criminal offences related to firearms. This is the purpose of the present proposal which completes the framework of rules inspired by the UN Firearms Protocol.
Proposal for a directive on combatting firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences
EU legislation on civilian firearms
Trafficking in firearms
The European Internal Security Strategy (ProtectEU)
In the current geopolitical situation with security threats rapidly evolving, the EU must be fully prepared to anticipate and tackle both existing and emerging risks. Illicit firearms represent a serious danger to the safety of our citizens, increasingly amplified by new technologies and cross border networks. With this initiative we will put in place the legal framework needed to close the gaps between the different national systems, which is exploited by criminals and terrorists, and better protect EU citizens.
Organised criminals and terrorists exploit new technologies and gaps in our laws to spread violence, terror, and crime. Today’s proposals are aimed at those who want to harm Europeans. By establishing an EU-wide framework on firearms offences and penalties while closing the gaps around 3D-printed weapons, we will make the EU a safer place.