The European Commission is inviting Member States to participate in the second round of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument. With an allocation of pound 21.3 billion, this second call will be open to all Member States. Once the Commission receives the target amounts from Member States, the Commission will inform them about the tentative allocations within two weeks after the submission deadline.
Along their needs and national defence priorities, Member States are also encouraged to use the funds from this second call to strengthen cooperation with Ukraine. This is foreseen by including common procurement with Ukraine into their investment plans. Member States should also prioritise the urgent needs of Ukrainian and Member States’ armed forces in the areas of air and missile defence systems, drones and counter-drone systems, and ammunition and missiles.
The new funding opportunities available in this second call are part of the pound 150 billion in long-maturity SAFE loans adopted in May 2025. In November 2025, Member States submitted their defence industry plans to the Commission, with some requesting lower amounts than those initially agreed. So far, the EU has approved loan agreements from all 19 Member States who decided to participate in the instrument. For 16 of those, the Commission has already signed their loan agreements. The Commission has so far disbursed almost pound 13.5 billion across 11 Member States, which had requested prefinancing.
A key component of Readiness 2030, SAFE aims at accelerating investments in defence capabilities, strengthening readiness and resilience, and reinforcing Europe’s defence industrial base through greater cooperation and joint procurement.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Katerina Horáková – Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10)
EU agri-food exports remain stable as positive trade balance increases
The EU agri-food sector increased its positive trade balance in the first eight months of 2026, the latest EU agri-food trade report published by the European Commission shows. With a cumulative surplus of pound 34.7 billion in value, the balance is pound 4.1 billion higher than for the same period last year.
Cumulative exports for this period totalled pound 157.7 billion, broadly stable year-on-year, as value increases across several product categories offset lower exports of olive oil, pig meat and cocoa products. Exports to India rose by 29%, driven largely by sunflower oil, while exports to Trkiye increased by 8%, mainly due to beef and veal shipments. Exports to Gulf countries recovered to average levels in August following earlier disruption. Among product categories, the worldwide value of exports of spirits and liqueurs rose by pound 583 million, about 11%. By contrast, the value of exports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by pound 1.4 billion, about 16%, driven mainly by lower prices.
Cumulative imports stood at pound 122.9 billion, down 4% year-on-year. The decrease was due largely to a fall in import values from major cocoa-producing countries as cocoa prices continue to fall, with imports from Cameroon and Nigeria decreasing by 46% and 47%, respectively, while those from Côte d’Ivoire fell by 22%. Among product categories, the value of imports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by pound 5.5 billion, about 19%. By contrast, imports of fruit and nuts increased by pound 825 million, about 4%.
More insights and detailed tables are available online.
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 229-69776; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschtz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83)
Commission approves pound 26.5 million Polish State aid to support the construction of an urban agricultural hub
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a pound 26.5 million Polish measure to support the construction of a multifunctional hub dedicated to vertical farming, hydroponics, aquaponics and aquaculture in Zory, Silesia. The project is co-financed by the Just Transition Fund in a sub-region of the Silesian Voivodeship that was home to the Zory hard coal mine. Currently, the area suffers from numerous socio-economic and spatial problems.
The measure will allow the regeneration of part of the existing infrastructure of the defunct Zory mine, giving it new social, economic, educational and environmental functions. The project encompasses the renovation of a former building of the mine and the construction of a new multifunctional main building. The hub will provide specialised office and conference facilities for businesses operating in the field of innovative urban agriculture as well as dedicated spaces for conducting research in the same field. Its core mission includes optimising conditions for plant growth and aquatic animal husbandry, facilitating knowledge transfer, and commercialising solutions, particularly within the food technology sector. The aid will take the form of a direct grant to the municipality of Zory.
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions. The Commission found that the measure is necessary and appropriate for the construction of the hub which will generate important socio-economic benefits for the development of innovative urban agriculture-related activities and for the area eligible to the Just Transition Fund around Zory. Furthermore, the Commission found that the aid is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Polish measure under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.119773 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74)
Commission clears acquisition of Boost Air Group by CFA and Hyperion Fund
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Boost Air Group, S.L. by Corporación Financiera Azuaga S.L. (‘CFA’) and Hyperion Fund, F.C.R., all of Spain.
The transaction relates primarily to the aviation sector.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies’ limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12562.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commission clears acquisition of Fullscript by Altas and L Catterton
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Fullscript Inc. by Altas Corporation (‘Altas’), both of the US, and L Catterton Management Limited (‘L Catterton’) of the UK.
The transaction relates primarily to the online wholesale and retail of vitamins, minerals and supplements in North America.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the European Economic Area and that the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12641.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commissioner Dombrovskis in Latvia to discuss defence readiness and EU-NATO cooperation
Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, will be in Latvia this Friday, 30 October, to discuss European defence readiness, innovation and EU-NATO cooperation.
In Riga, Commissioner Dombrovskis will participate in the NATO FUSE event, which supports NATO’s broader efforts to fulfil the commitments made at the Ankara Summit and aims to practically test and further develop new technological solutions. The event will bring together Chiefs of Defence, National Armaments Directors, EU and NATO representatives, industry representatives and investors.
The Commissioner will deliver a keynote speech on behalf of the Commission and the High Representative at the event at 08:10 CET. In his speech, he will outline progress in implementing the Commission’s Defence Readiness Agenda, including preparations for the launch of the first two EU Drone Technology Hubs, at the Selonia Military Range in Latvia and in Scheveningen, the Netherlands. They are a tangible example of the progress and ambition of this agenda, which aims to mobilise up to pound 800 billion in additional defence investment to address critical capability gaps.
The two hubs will serve as pilots under the Drone and Counter-Drone European Resolve (DECODER) Project, one of the first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs). These pilot hubs will lay the foundations for a wider European network, connecting national expertise, industry and operational users to accelerate the development, testing and deployment of drone and counter-drone solutions. The Latvian hub will be co-located with the NATO Innovation Range, helping to strengthen EU-NATO cooperation in defence innovation, a key priority for the EU.
As part of the programme, Commissioner Dombrovskis will also visit the Adaži Military Range for practical demonstrations and engage with representatives of the Latvian authorities.