A total of eight flights will bring life-saving supplies into Darfur, as mass atrocities, starvation, and displacement linked to the conflict in Sudan have left millions in need of humanitarian assistance. The first flight delivered around 100 tonnes of aid from EU humanitarian stockpiles and partner organisations last Friday, 12 December. Further flights will continue throughout December 2025 and January 2026.
The humanitarian situation in Darfur – one of the world’s hardest places for aid organisations to reach – deteriorated sharply after the fall of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, to the Rapid Support Forces in late October. The loss of the city marked a major escalation of an already catastrophic humanitarian situation, and further restricted aid access. Civilians who managed to flee are reporting widespread violations of international humanitarian law.
The Air Bridge is transporting supplies including shelter materials, water, sanitation and hygiene items, as well as health supplies. The total value of this operation is pound 3.5 million, funded from the EU’s humanitarian aid budget. The EU has channelled over pound 270 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan this year alone, making it one of the largest contributors to the response and marking the bloc’s biggest humanitarian effort in Africa.
(For more information: Eva Hrncírová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commission invests pound 8.85 million in innovative diagnostics to combat antimicrobial resistance
Europe is taking action on one of the root causes of antimicrobial resistance by investing in rapid diagnostics and curbing unnecessary antibiotic use. The European Commission is committing pound 8.85 million to develop a groundbreaking diagnostic device that will help clinicians choose the appropriate treatments for patients who may need antibiotics.
Antimicrobial resistance already claims thousands of lives across Europe every year and costs healthcare systems an estimated pound 11 billion annually. One of its major drivers is the unnecessary or incorrect use of antibiotics.
Today, when patients visit their doctor with a suspected infection, diagnostic tests are often too slow or insufficiently accurate to guide immediate treatment decisions, since they are usually performed in specialised laboratories. This can lead clinicians to prescribe broader-spectrum or suboptimal alternatives, which increases the costs of care and worsens antimicrobial resistance.
The new device aims to change this. It will enable doctors to determine whether bacteria are present, identify the type of bacteria, and assess which antibiotics will be more effective – all in under an hour, directly at the point of care. Whether in a general practitioner’s office, hospital emergency department or pharmacy, the compact and portable device requires minimal training.
Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said: ‘Antimicrobial resistance is already costing lives and placing real strain on Europe’s health systems. Too often, doctors must prescribe antibiotics without having fast and accurate diagnostic answers. Investing in rapid diagnostics gives them the means to treat with precision instead of precaution. This is preparedness in everyday healthcare. If we misuse antibiotics today, we disarm medicine tomorrow.’
To develop the device, the Commission is supporting a consortium of European companies, bringing together five partners: ShanX MedTech B.V. (Netherlands), Aidian Oy (Finland), Biosurfit S.A. (Portugal), Unitron B.V. (Netherlands), and Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (Spain). This four-year contract is funded by the EU4Health Programme.
(For more information: Eva Hrncírová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
New report confirms cardiovascular diseases remain the EU’s biggest health challenge
A new EU-funded report today confirms urgent EU-level action is needed to tackle cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which is the EU’s number one killer. The ‘State of Cardiovascular Health in the EU’ report reveals that CVDs are the leading cause of death and disability in the EU, accounting for one-third of all annual deaths and affecting over 60 million people. These findings underline the importance of the upcoming Safe Hearts Plan – the first ever EU-wide plan to prevent and manage CVDs. The Safe Hearts Plan will provide a comprehensive policy framework to support Member States and stakeholders in improving cardiovascular health. Digital health tools, artificial intelligence and remote monitoring technologies also offer promising innovations. Taking a co-ordinated, people-centred approach – spanning from prevention to early diagnosis, treatment and post-acute support, can improve cardiovascular outcomes in Europe, and will be central to our upcoming Safe Hearts Plan.
Today’s ‘State of Cardiovascular Health’ report was funded by the EU4Health programme and stems from long-standing collaboration between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Commission to monitor and improve population health. The report highlights the clear rationale for taking EU-level action. For example, there are significant geographic, gender and socio-economic disparities in outcomes and care and beyond the human toll, the annual economic impact of CVD in Europe is estimated at pound 282 billion (2% of EU Gross Domestic Product), driven by premature mortality, lost productivity, and high healthcare costs.
Commission for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, said: ‘The State of the Cardiovascular Health in the EU report, comes at crucial moment, providing robust evidence and analysis which underpins the urgent need for the Safe Hearts Plan to reverse trends that point towards a doubling of cardiovascular diseases by 2050.’
(For more information: Eva Hrncirova-Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
Commission fines automotive starter battery manufacturers and association pound 72 million for participating in a cartel
The European Commission has fined three automotive starter battery manufacturers, Exide, FET (including its predecessor Elettra) and Rombat, as well as the trade association EUROBAT, a total of around pound 72 million for participating in a long-running cartel concerning automotive starter batteries, together with Clarios (formerly JC Autobatterie), in breach of EU antitrust rules. This cartel restricted competition and may have led to higher prices for the manufacturing of cars and trucks in Europe.
Clarios was not fined, as it revealed the cartel to the Commission under the leniency programme. In parallel, the Commission has closed proceedings against automotive starter battery manufacturer Banner and the service provider Kellen.
Today’s decision concludes that the conduct of the four automotive starter battery manufacturers and EUROBAT constitutes a single and continuous infringement, amounting to an infringement by object under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement, which prohibit agreements and other restrictive business practices that may affect trade and prevent or restrict competition within the Single Market.
Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera said: ‘Today we have fined three automotive starter battery manufacturers and their trade association for agreeing to introduce a surcharge for the sale of their batteries, in breach of EU competition rules. In other words, they fixed the price. We have zero tolerance for price fixing or any type of cartel. It is our duty to ensure that our citizens and businesses, including European auto manufacturers can depend on suppliers that play fair and respect competition rules. With this decision, we also remind trade associations that they should not use their position as representatives of the industry to facilitate collusion among their members.’
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Joint Statement by High Representative/Vice President Kallas and Commissioner Kos on the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords
Yesterday, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Marta Kos, on behalf of the European Commission, issued the following statement:
‘The Dayton Peace Accords brought an end to one of Europe’s darkest chapters and secured a peace that endures to this day. Yet, thirty years on, there are unresolved challenges from the past in Bosnia and Herzegovina. While this year has presented political hurdles, the country has remained resilient. Staying the course towards EU membership, as a united, sovereign country in a stable and secure region, must remain the ultimate goal. All political leaders should focus on the reforms needed to move forward. The EU stands ready to ensure peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our military operation, EUFOR Althea, remains indispensable for this. Thirty years after Dayton, Bosnia and Herzegovina must seize the opportunity to shape its EU future.’