G7 leaders called yesterday for a strong and coordinated response to combat the ‘Bundibugyo’ Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The European Commission’s support is building on pound 493 million in humanitarian aid and health security. This amount brings together frontline medical support for the immediate outbreak response, humanitarian assistance in the Great Lakes region and Uganda, vaccine and treatment research for filoviruses, and longer-term work to improve preparedness and health systems.
The Commission response to the outbreak has been coordinated from day one with Member States, international bodies and partners. Safeguarding public health is the Commission’s absolute priority.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: ‘This is a reminder that health security is shared security. Countries can better protect their citizens by acting together. Europe is choosing reinforced preparedness and evidence-based collective action. Global solidarity is the only option when the world faces a common threat’
Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib: ‘Ebola is a test of our global solidarity. As some turn inward, the EU remains present, engaged, and a reliable partner. In Bunia, I met doctors, nurses and frontline responders working under extraordinary pressure to save lives, as well as communities living with fear and uncertainty. But they are not facing this crisis alone. The European Union stands with all those affected by this deadly virus. The only way to contain this outbreak and save lives is through trust, solidarity, political commitment and coordinated action.’
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control currently assesses the risk to people in Europe as very low. The Commission continues to monitor the outbreak closely in cooperation with its partners. The Health Security Committee brings together Member State representatives every week to coordinate the response and discuss how best to protect European citizens.
(For more information: Eva Hrncírová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commission welcomes political agreement to simplify rules for the chemicals sector
The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on its Chemicals Omnibus proposal. The agreed measures will cut red tape and compliance costs for businesses, boost the competitiveness of Europe’s chemicals industry, and keep high standards for human health and environmental protection.
The agreement simplifies rules in three areas of EU chemicals legislation: Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, Cosmetics Products Regulation, and EU Fertilising Products Regulation.
The deal simplifies labelling rules for hazardous chemicals, lowering costs for industry while ensuring users and consumers still get clear information on hazards. For business-to-business chemicals, the new legislation will eliminate obligatory font sizes on business-to-business shipments. The deal also strengthens formatting and requirements for legibility for consumer products and ensures that consumers are well informed in ads and online sales.
In cosmetics, the agreement keeps strong consumer protection while simplifying rules and reducing paperwork and costs for businesses, especially small and medium companies. Companies will now have clearer, more predictable rules when adapting to regulatory changes.
Finally, the agreement introduces changes to make fertilisers legislation more agile, helping innovative products such as microbial plant stimulants reach the single market faster. It also speeds up administrative procedures and improves access to digital tools in this area.
The Parliament and the Council will formally approve the political agreement in the coming months so that the legislation can enter into force by the end of the year.
(For more information: Siobhan McGarry – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74)
EU research and innovation funding expands to defence and dual-use technologies, new call offering up to pound 30 million to defence companies opens
Today, the European Union is extending its research and innovation funding to defence and dual-use technologies with both civilian and defence applications. This move underscores Europe’s commitment to strategic autonomy, security, and technological leadership in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
The change is the result of an amendment to the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026, adopted by the European Commission to implement the Defence Mini-Omnibus, a legislative package designed to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base and reduce dependencies on external suppliers.
From now on, start-ups and small and medium companies developing technologies with both civilian and defence applications such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced materials or robotics, can apply for grants up to pound 2.5 million and equity investments up to pound 30 million under the EIC Accelerator and the STEP Scaleup.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation said: ‘The European Innovation Council was built to take risks, and we need to take risks when it comes to developing European technologies that keep us safe. We must invest in critical technologies also to ensure Europe’s strategic autonomy – whether it’s drones, cyber defence, or quantum technologies. This will underpin Europe’s technological leadership and innovation in the decades ahead’.
At the same time, the EIC is launching a new pound 100 million EIC STEP Defence Scale Up call open to companies in the EU, in countries from the European Economic Area associated to Europe’s multi-billion research programme Horizon Europe, and in Ukraine. These companies can receive up to pound 30 million in direct equity financing to accelerate the scale-up of their industrial capabilities on, among others, air and missile defence, drones and counter drones, and other critical defence technologies.
This is the first time any EU funding programme will ever invest direct equity in defence companies. The EIC will co-invest in major funding rounds typically ranging from pound 50 million to pound 150 million or more, leveraging at least three to five times the EIC investment.
More information is available online and on the EIC website
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Isabel Arriaga E Cunha – Tel.: +32 2 295 21 17)
Commissioners Kubilius and Serafin in France to sign SAFE agreement, host implementation dialogue with industry
Today, Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and Commissioner for Budget Piotr Serafin participate in Eurosatory, the world’s largest defence exhibition outside Paris, where they will sign the Security Action For Europe (SAFE) loan agreement for France on behalf of the European Commission. With pound 15.1 billion available for France under SAFE, the agreement marks another step forward for Europe’s defence readiness and a concrete delivery under the Commission’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to unlock over pound 800 billion in defence investment across the European Union.
At Eurosatory, the Commission is hosting two Implementation Dialogues with representatives of the defence industry in the event, to strengthen industrial cooperation and accelerate EU production capacity. Commissioner Kubilius will lead the implementation focused on scaling up EU defence production and addressing supply chain vulnerabilities within the European defence technological and industrial base. In addition, Commissioner Kubilius and Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, Stephen Fuhr, will co-host the EU-Canada Defence Industry Dialogue with industry and trade representatives to boost collaboration, deepen supply chain integration and support the broader EU-Canada strategic partnership in a rapidly evolving geopolitical context.
Commissioner Serafin will also visit several companies benefiting from EU financing present at Eurosatory, including several enterprises coming from EU countries that will benefit from the SAFE instrument.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel: +32 2 299 10 99; Marine Strauss – Tel: +32 2 298 91 03)
Commissioner Šuica discusses the Pact for the Mediterranean with the youth
Tomorrow, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, together with Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs, will engage in a discussion with 30 young leaders from the Southern Mediterranean. The discussion will focus on the flagship initiatives under the Pact for the Mediterranean targeting young people. These include, in particular, the Mediterranean University and the Youth Parliamentary Assembly for the Mediterranean. The discussion will also cover the Pact’s contribution to peace and security in the region.
Supported by the Anna Lindh Foundation, an intergovernmental organisation committed to fostering intercultural dialogue, the dialogue will provide an opportunity for young leaders from across the European Union and the Southern Mediterranean to share their perspectives, strengthen their active engagement and identify opportunities for cooperation that can foster shared prosperity across the Mediterranean. Their contributions will feed into the current work for the implementation of the Pact’s evolving Action Plan.
Youth Policy Dialogues are part of the European Commission’s commitment to mainstream the voice of young people in EU policymaking, as set out in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029. These dialogues are designed to ensure that young people’s experiences and ideas help shape the future of the European Union.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Luca Dilda – Tel.: +32 2 295 21 53)
Commissioner McGrath meets with young Europeans to discuss upcoming Digital Fairness Act
Tomorrow, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, will host a Youth Policy Dialogue in Ljubljana, Slovenia. During the Dialogue, the Commissioner will meet with students, youth ambassadors, young professionals and activists to discuss the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA).
The DFA, which is planned for later this year, will make EU consumer protection rules fit for the digital age – clearer, simpler and easier to enforce to better protect consumers online against practices that exploit consumers’ vulnerabilities. Young consumers often act as early adopters of new technologies and digital products and have specific consumption patterns. In preparing the initiative, the Commission will pay particular attention to the protection of minors online.
As part of this process, Commissioner McGrath will convene 30 young participants from across the EU and the Western Balkans to gather their experiences as young consumers in the digital environment. The Commissioner will invite participants to share the challenges they face online, in particular regarding manipulative interfaces, features maximising spending and attention, unfair personalised advertising and pricing, and problematic influencer marketing practices. Their feedback will inform the preparations of the Digital Fairness Act to make the digital environment safer and fairer for young consumers.
Youth Policy Dialogues are part of the European Commission’s commitment to mainstream the voice of young people in EU policymaking, as set out in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029. These dialogues are designed to ensure that young people’s experiences and ideas help shape the future of the European Union.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel: +32 2 296 75 33; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33)
2026 State of the Digital Decade report shows progress but urges closing structural gaps to reach 2030 goals
The European Commission published the fourth State of the Digital Decade report, showing that Europe has made progress on its 2030 digital transformation targets, such as secure and sustainable digital infrastructures and the digitalisation of public services – but the challenge now is delivering results at scale, speed and consistency.
The report comes as the Commission published the last Special Eurobarometer, showing that an overwhelming majority of Europeans rank digital policy as a top EU priority, firmly backing a more autonomous European digital future.
The Digital Decade Policy Programme serves as the EU’s strategic compass for advancing and investing in Europe’s digital competitiveness and sovereignty. The report evaluates progress made by the EU in its digitalisation across the board, including in critical infrastructures, digitalisation of business, digital skills, and digitalisation of public services. This year, the report goes beyond stocktaking, outlining priority reforms and investments at EU and Member States level in an attempt to guide digital funding allocations in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework.
2026: progress and remaining gaps
The report shows that progress has been made in the following areas: with regard to the deployment of basic connectivity infrastructure, 96.8% of households now have basic 5G coverage. However, certain high-capacity bands and ‘Fibre-to-the-Premises’ deployment lag behind.
With regard to the basic adoption of advanced digital technologies by businesses, 46.7% of EU enterprises use cloud computing, 39.9% apply data analytics, and nearly 20% deploy artificial intelligence (adoption jumped by 48% in 2025 compared to the previous year). An example is in the healthcare sector, where it leads with AI-powered medical imaging, improving early detection, faster diagnoses, and better patient outcomes.
Finally, over 60% of Europeans now have at least basic digital skills.
Gaps do, however, remain. In the field of semiconductors the EU accounts for only 9% of the global semiconductor market – far from the 2030 target of 20%. The same can be said about computing capacity. While edge node deployment is on track to meet the 2030 Digital Decade target ahead of schedule, computing capacity still lags significantly behind demand.
Furthermore, despite significant progress in the domain of cybersecurity, Europe remains structurally dependent on non-EU cybersecurity suppliers, with European companies underrepresented in global cybersecurity leadership.
There is also a shortage in ICT skills. Specialists represented just 5% of employment in 2025 – half the 2030 target of 10%. Women accounted for under 20% of employed ICT specialists, a figure that has not changed since 2024, despite soaring demand – especially in cloud security, cybersecurity, data management and software development.
Finally, when it comes to advanced tech adoption, SMEs face persistent barriers in data, skills, integration and resources, making it harder for them to adopt and scale advanced digital solutions.
A Commission study shows that coordinated EU action in digital delivers high returns. Every pound 1 spent in digital policy under NextGenerationEU will generate pound 1.50 in economic output within the EU and pound 2 for the global economy as a whole (incl. the EU) until the end of 2030. This is far above the average in other policy areas. These investments in digital generate spillover effects both across borders and across sectors of the economy.
Recommendations: closing structural gaps and mobilising investments for 2030 and beyond
The report provides clear recommendations for both the EU and Member States to continue scaling efforts, in a time where nearly half of the public budget included in the Digital Decade national roadmaps will be phased out by 2026. To avoid stalling progress, the report urges to secure funding continuity post-2026 to bridge the gap, scale up successful projects (e.g. European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDICs), Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) and strengthen EU-level coordination (e.g. through Multi-Country Projects) to prevent market fragmentation and uneven implementation.
Eurobarometer: Public support for EU’s digital policy
A Special Eurobarometer survey, conducted between February and March 2026, shows 79% of Europeans rank digital policy as a top EU priority in shaping the future. The Eurobarometer explores how citizens’ attitudes have evolved in a year marked by rapid technological change and intense policy debates on digital rights.
Citizens are firmly behind a more autonomous European digital future, prioritising investment in EU-developed infrastructure (85%) and reduced dependency on third-country technology (82%). 80% think it is important to make the EU a global leader in technological infrastructures. Furthermore, 58% of Europeans would switch to an EU provider even at a higher cost. The top five factors encouraging switching to an EU-based provider include: greater security and reliability (50%), better protection of personal data (49%), clearer rules and consumer protection (39%), reduced dependence on non-EU countries (33%), supporting the EU economy and competitiveness (30%).
Europeans believe that digital health (55%), green technologies (50%), faster connectivity (42%) and AI (39%) will have the most positive impact for the next decade.
Around four in ten citizens use generative AI at least weekly, and among those who do, nearly seven in ten report increased usage over the past year. 80% think the development of AI should be carefully regulated, even if it means AI developers face some constraints.
Concerns about the harmful use of digital technologies is widespread and increasing: 92% of citizens want stronger protection for children online, 87% agree that online manipulation (disinformation, deepfakes, AI-generated content, foreign interference) poses a threat to democracy, and feel personally impacted by fake news and disinformation (53%), misuse of personal data (47%) and insufficient minor protection on platforms (41%).
Next steps
Through the 2026 State of the Digital Decade report, the Commission calls on Member States to update their National Digital Decade Roadmaps with concrete measures, while ensuring stronger alignment with the next Multiannual Financial Framework, notably in the context of the preparation of the National and Regional Partnership Plans and the future EU Competitiveness Fund. The first discussions with Member States will take place at the Digital Day and Digital Decade Board meeting organised in Nicosia by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU on 18 and 19 June.
In 2027, the Commission will review the Digital Decade Policy Programme targets to ensure they reflect the adopted legislations, align with the changing digital landscape and fulfil the EU’s priorities and ambitions. The revision will modernise, simplify and extend the framework beyond 2030.
For more information
2026 State of the Digital Decade report
2026 State of the Digital Decade report – general factsheet
Country fact pages 2026
Study on the economic impact of digital investments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
Special Eurobarometer on the Digital Decade 2026
2026 Member State-specific Digital Decade recommendations – heat map
Europe’s Digital Decade
Quote(s)
With the Digital Decade policy programme, the foundations of the EU’s digital transformation are in place. We must continue on this path to achieve Europe’s technological sovereignty. We recently adopted measures to strengthen Europe’s capacity in semiconductors, AI, cloud and open source. This marks a pivotal moment and one we have to fully grasp to strengthen Europe’s autonomy and resilience.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
Commission will engage with industry following European Citizens’ Initiative on the disabling of videogames by publishers
The European Commission will engage with consumers and publishers by the end of 2026 to explore ways to improve industry standards, as a response to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’.
Modern video games often rely on publishers’ servers to function. Publishers may stop supporting these servers, leading the games to become partially or entirely unplayable. The ECI therefore invited the Commission to propose legislation ensuring that players can continue to play the video games after the publishers stop providing support for these games commercially.
The Commission considers that at this stage it cannot propose a legal obligation to keep video games playable after they stop being provided commercially. This is due, also, to existing intellectual property rights. Under EU copyright law, rights holders enjoy exclusive rights over their creations. In addition to copyright, other intellectual property rights may also be relevant as they may protect different visual and technological aspects of a video game.
Existing EU consumer law already provides for important safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers. Video game providers must inform consumers about the duration and the conditions for terminating the contract before the consumers signs up for the video game. The Directive on digital content and digital services provides consumers with remedies when the content or service provided does not conform with the contract and what consumers could reasonably expect. Consumers may be entitled to proportionate refund of their purchases.
However, to address players’ concerns, the Commission has committed to taking several steps.
First, it will initiate an exchange with the video game industry and consumer representatives with the aim to draw up an industry code of conduct on managing video games’ ‘end of life’.
Second, the Commission will work with consumer organisations and authorities to raise awareness about the applicable rights that protect consumers, including on safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers. The Commission will report on the application of the Directive on digital content and digital services before the end of the year. Active enforcement of these existing consumer rights can also incentivise the providers to offer video games with longer lifespans and explore solutions for meeting consumer expectations.
Background
This is the fourteenth initiative to receive a formal Commission response since ECIs were launched in 2012.
For more information
European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’
Quote(s)
This initiative shows the relevance of video games in today’s cultural field. As it is the tradition in the sector, I hope the industry will listen to player communities and agree on better sunsetting standards so communities can continue to meet and play together. We will take the necessary steps so a dialogue can take place with representatives from consumers.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
Video game providers must treat consumers fairly, including when they decide to discontinue a game. If they stop providing a game earlier than stipulated in the contract or earlier than consumers could reasonably expect, players should be appropriately reimbursed. EU legislation granting consumers redress rights for digital content and services, including video games, has applied since 1 January 2022. It is important that consumers actively exercise these rights. We will continue working with consumer authorities and organisations to protect gamers.
Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection
Commission strengthens migration management along the Channel route
Today, the Commission is presenting an EU action plan for the Channel migratory route, setting out a comprehensive European response to the challenges posed by illegal migration along this route.
The action plan puts forward operational measures starting in countries of origin and transit and extending along the whole route. These include dismantling migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, strengthening the protection of the external borders, and stepping up returns. Illegal migration along the Channel route poses a distinct challenge that causes loss of life at sea and generates significant demands on border control, public order and reception capacities in the most directly affected Member States. It fuels unauthorised movements across the EU and Schengen area and entrenches organised criminal networks facilitating migrant smuggling.
The EU already stepped-up action to manage migration more effectively, leading to an overall decline of illegal border crossings at the EU’s external borders (-55% since 2024). Illegal border crossings on exit along the Channel route also declined (-44% so far in 2026), although they remain high, with nearly 64,000 attempted crossings in the Channel in 2025.
To address these challenges, the action plan focuses on three main priority areas, to be tackled with support from EU agencies and in cooperation with the UK: reinforcing migration diplomacy along the route, disrupting smuggling networks and their criminal infrastructure, and strengthening border management.
The United Kingdom is a key partner in delivering the full potential of this action plan. Given the shared nature of the challenge and building on the steps already taken by the United Kingdom, further actions by the United Kingdom will be essential across all strands of the action plan to strengthen border security, counter migrant smuggling and reduce incentives for illegal migration.
Reinforcing migration diplomacy along the route
Curbing illegal crossings requires sustained and coordinated engagement along the routes used by migrants seeking to cross the Channel. For this, the EU will step up its migration diplomacy, strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit, as well as with international organisations.
This includes reinforcing efforts in a whole-of-route approach, coordinating and promoting EU and UK information campaigns for migrants in origin and transit countries, as well as stepping up cooperation on returns and readmission to prevent people from undertaking dangerous journeys and sustain the reduction in illegal arrivals.
Disrupting smuggling networks and their criminal infrastructure
Building on the ongoing cooperation in the context of the Global Alliance to counter migrant smuggling, the action plan calls for enhanced joint operational cooperation in the framework EU’s European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and for strengthened cooperation between Member States, Europol, Frontex, Eurojust and international partners.
Member States will also work on a mapping of smuggling networks along the Channel, with support from Europol’s Centre Against Migrant Smuggling.
Additional measures will be considered to disrupt logistical supply chains for small boats and to tackle the online dimension of migrant smuggling, together with the EU Internet Forum and online service providers.
Strengthening border management
The action plan will strengthen operational capacity at the borders between the UK and the most exposed Member States, in order to improve situational awareness, information sharing and operational cooperation.
This includes reinforcing Europol’s European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling and the UK-French Joint Intelligence Cell in Calais, as well as the deployment of Frontex staff and equipment (such as surveillance assets) along the Channel and North Sea borders.
Background
This action plan builds on the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, which called for stronger migration diplomacy and strengthened cooperation with partner countries, as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration management. It also supports the ongoing joint efforts in the context of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling.
For more information
Action plan
Quote(s)
With this action plan, the EU is stepping up the fight against organised crime and migrant smuggling, in cooperation with the United Kingdom. This is an important component of our comprehensive approach to migration management, to prevent dangerous journeys at sea and reduce illegal arrivals.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
Illegal migration creates opportunities for criminal smuggling networks. Through this action plan, we are stepping up our cooperation with the UK to fight smugglers, disrupt illegal arrivals, and strengthen support for Member States. This will enhance European security while helping to prevent further loss of life along this route.
Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
G7 Leaders’ Joint Statements, 16-17 June 2026
At the 2026 G7 Leaders’ Summit held in Evian, France, the leaders of the G7 discussed topics that included international peace and security, public health, migration, drug traficking, global economic stability, growth, and emerging technologies. They adopted a series of statements, available on this page.