Larnaka joins Leuven and Nikšic as European Capital of Culture 2030
The city of Larnaka was recommended yesterday to become European Capital of Culture 2030 in Cyprus. The city will join Leuven, Belgium, and Nikšic, Montenegro, as European Capitals of Culture announced this year.
The European Commission may award each European Capital of Culture with a pound 1.5 million prize, funded under the Creative Europe programme, in recognition of the quality of their preparatory process. When receiving this title, cities benefit from lasting and positive impact, attract tourism and cultural events foster investments and social inclusion, as evidenced a recent EU evaluation.
The initiative brings lasting and positive impact, from boosting tourism and cultural offering to fostering investment and social inclusion. Between 2013 and 2022, host cities organised on average 1,000 to 1,200 cultural activities annually, attracting 38.5 million people. Visitor numbers increased by 30-40% on average in selected cities.
Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, said: ‘Congratulations to Larnaka for having been recommended as the European Capital of Culture 2030 in Cyprus. Larnaka’s celebration of anthropia – our deep and common human values – is the best possible message to send Europe in these troubled times. When putting forward its own vision, Larnaka choses to celebrate what truly makes European culture and values what they are: our shared human nature.’
Larnaka is the country’s second city to hold the title after Pafos in 2017. To counter ongoing global crises, Larnaka’s cultural programme aims to bring focus back to ‘anthropia’ – the fundamental principle of being human’ – as a common ground. Therefore, through the exploration of a ‘Common Ground’ in all its forms, whether physical, mental or emotional, the city wishes to foster togetherness, vulnerability and care.
Candidate cities must present a cultural programme with a strong European dimension, involve local communities, attract visitors from across Europe, and show both lasting impact and the capacity to deliver.
Born in 1985 from an idea of then Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri, the European Capitals of Culture have grown into one of the most ambitious cultural projects in Europe. It gives a chance to celebrate diversity, engage communities and promote local and regional development before, during, and beyond the title year.
More information on the European Capitals of Culture is available online.
Moving towards a more circular automative sector with agreement on end-of-life vehicles
The European Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposed Regulation on End-of-Life Vehicles, covering the design, production and end-of-life treatment of vehicles.
The automotive industry is one of the largest users of raw materials, such as steel, aluminium, copper, and plastics. A better collection, dismantling and treatment of vehicles will ensure that more valuable resources are recovered and kept within the EU.
The End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation will contribute to our environmental and climate objectives and at the same time strengthen the EU’s resilience to supply-chain disruptions and reduce its dependence on imports. For example, it is estimated that the new measures under the ELV Regulation would enable the recycling and reuse of hundreds of tons of rare earth materials, as well as around 5-6 million tonnes of steel, 1-2 million tonnes of aluminium, and 0.2-0.3 million tonnes of copper. This is essential to support a competitive, sustainable and circular European automotive industry.
Key measures
Vehicles must be designed to ensure easier dismantling. Manufacturers must provide clear and detailed instructions for removing and replacing parts both during use and at end-of-life.
Introduction of Europe’s first-ever mandatory targets for recycled plastic content in vehicles to boost demand for recycled materials: at least 25% of plastics used in vehicles must be from recycled material (after 2036), and 20% of that share must come from ELVs. This will boost recycling and guarantee a level playing field, as rules on recycled content will also apply to both vehicles in the EU and those imported from outside the EU. The Directive allows the Commission to set future recycled content targets for other materials.
Improved treatment standards for the end-of-life of vehicles will allow the recovery of more and higher-quality material. At least 30% of plastics from ELVs must be recycled.
Measures encouraging reuse, remanufacturing and refurbishment will increase the availability of second-hand spare parts, benefiting consumers through more affordable repair options.
Strengthened producer responsibility will be implemented through harmonised national Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. These will ensure the proper financing of waste treatment of ELVs and promote higher-quality recycling.
Enforcement will be reinforced, including through more inspections, a clearer distinction between old and end-of-life vehicles. A requirement that only roadworthy cars can be exported outside the EU has also been agreed. This will ensure that ELVs, and the materials they contain, remain within an environmentally sound recycling loop.
Next steps
After the European Parliament and the Council have formally adopted the new Regulation, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
Background
Each year in the EU, 3-4 million vehicles ‘disappear’, meaning they are deregistered but their final destination – like being scrapped at an authorised treatment facility or exported – is not reported to authorities.
Inadequate handling of vehicles at the end of their life results in lost value and pollution. The evaluation of the existing EU legislation has shown that considerable improvements are needed to boost the transition of the automotive sector to a circular economy.
To address these issues, the Commission proposed a new End-of Life Regulation in July 2023.
The proposed Regulation is closely linked to and supports the implementation of several important initiatives, including the Critical Raw Materials Act, the Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector, the European Steel and Metals Action Plan and the RESourceEU Communication. It is also in line with upcoming initiatives such as the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
With this Regulation, a proportionate set of criteria are defined to determine whether a used vehicle should be considered as an end-of-life vehicle and is therefore covered by the requirements of the new Regulation. In principle, a vehicle shall be considered as an end-of-life vehicle when it is totally irreparable. However, vehicles of historic interest are excluded from the current EU legislation and are outside the scope of the new Regulation proposal.
For more information
Commission’s proposal for a Regulation on End-of-Life Vehicles
Details of the proposal of End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation
Questions and Answers on Commission proposal for a Regulation on End-of-Life Vehicles
Webpage on proposed rules on End-of-Life Vehicles
Quote(s)
Boosting recycling and circularity is a key component of our plan to support the industrial competitiveness of the plastics industry. The adopted measures today will help to create a concrete business case for the recycling supply chain across Europe. I therefore welcome the quick finalisation of the co-decision process on the End-of-Life of Vehicles Regulation – an important step to strengthen the recycling industry in Europe.
Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
In a time when access to raw materials is under increasing global strain, making better use of the valuable resources embedded in our old cars is good for our environment, competitiveness and resilience. This Regulation is the right instrument to deliver on our circular economy ambitions, ensuring that the precious materials inside every vehicle are recovered at the end of their life and kept within our economy.
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
Many Europeans want better protection against energy poverty
The protection of vulnerable consumers is a concern for many Europeans, according to the latest Eurobarometer. This EU-wide survey focused on consumer perceptions of energy services, the information sources they use when choosing their energy providers, and areas for improvement in energy markets to better serve consumers.
In order to accelerate the clean energy transition in a manner that leaves no-one behind, understanding citizens’ behaviour and trust in the energy market is essential. The study found that 38% of Europeans call for better protection of energy-poor and vulnerable consumers. Having better clarity and transparency in the energy bills ranks second as area of improvement in the energy market, with only one third of respondents fully understanding their bills.
Regarding trust in the energy market and energy providers, results are more uneven. More than two thirds of consumers trust their electricity and gas providers for fair prices, but provider reputation and service quality are prioritized beyond price.
The findings underscore the need for clearer communication, better consumer protections, and simplified processes to support the shift toward cleaner energy. Key themes such as affordability, consumer protection, and empowerment will be central in the upcoming European Affordable Housing Plan, planned for next week, as well as in the Citizens Energy Package.
The Eurobarometer was conducted between 30 June and 15 July 2025 across the 27 Member States. Overall, 18 250 interviews were conducted over the telephone (landline and mobile phones).
Further information on the findings of the Eurobarometer is available online.
For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07)
Commission launches grants to promote community building projects for strong and resilient democracies
The European Commission has opened its first call for proposals to empower citizens and promote strong and resilient democracies through several community-building projects, as announced in the recently adopted European Democracy Shield. An envelope of pound 200,000 in funding will be granted to four media literacy projects that aim to strengthen local connections in rural areas and towns in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Cyprus.
The selected projects will bring together different age groups to explore how to navigate the information space and foster dialogue. The grant-holders should design meaningful joint activities with the aim of addressing growing challenges from social fragmentation to digital isolation and declining citizens’ trust.
Based on the lessons learnt from the pilot projects in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Cyprus, the Commission will consider whether such projects can be expanded to other Member States.
Open for application until 6 February 2026, the call will support one project in each country with pound 50,000 for a duration of eight months. The call for proposals is available online.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Cristina Torres Castillo – Tel.: + 32 2 299 06 79)
Commission extends in-depth investigation into Lithuanian electricity reserve scheme
The European Commission has extended an in-depth investigation to assess whether a Lithuanian measure to support energy company AB Ignitis Gamyba for a strategic reserve for electricity was in line with EU State aid rules.
The measure involved a single, Government-designated oil- and gas-fired power plant being required to deliver security of supply services between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2018 (when Lithuania stopped the measure). The measure was financed from a levy on consumers and the total budget for that period was pound 361 million.
In June 2019, following a complaint, the Commission opened an in-depth investigation to assess the compatibility of the measure with the internal market mainly under Article 107(3)c of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’).
However, Lithuania maintains that the services in question were services of general economic interest (SGEIs). With today’s extension of the investigation, the measure will be further assessed under a different legal basis that applies to SGEIs, namely Article 106(2) TFEU, and specifically the SGEI Framework.
The Commission has reached the preliminary conclusion that the measure constitutes State aid. The Commission intends to investigate, amongst others, to what extent alternative providers may have been able to provide the services, whether the services’ entrustment acts specified the nature of the services, and whether stakeholders were able to comment on the public service needs supported by the services.
More information on the SGEI framework can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.44725 in the in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commission approves pound 3.8 billion Danish State aid scheme to promote investment in carbon capture and storage
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Danish scheme of around pound 3.8 billion (DKK 28.7 billion) to promote the capture and storage of biogenic, fossil and atmospheric carbon emissions. The scheme contributes to the achievement of Denmark’s climate targets in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. The scheme is expected to result in the annual capture and storage of 2.3 million tonnes of CO2 from 2029 to 2044, or a total of 34.5 million tonnes. In 2024, emissions of CO2 equivalents in Denmark reached 38 million tonnes.
The aid will take the form of a fixed subsidy per tonne of captured and stored CO2. The aid will be granted through a competitive bidding process based on the principle of pay-as-bid. This means that the subsidy that a given beneficiary will receive for each tonne will correspond to the bid that the beneficiary submitted. Bidders must say how much CO2 they will capture and store each year, and they will not be paid for any volumes above that amount. Payments will be made only after the capture and storage of CO2 has been verified.
The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, and the 2022 Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy, which allow Member States to support measures reducing or removing CO2 emissions. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to achieve the objective pursued. In addition, the Commission found that the scheme is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary and has a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. Finally, the aid will have an ‘incentive effect’ as the beneficiaries would not engage in carbon capture and storage in the absence of the public support. On this basis, the Commission approved the Danish scheme under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.115167 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commission approves pound 100 million Austrian scheme to support cleantech manufacturing capacity
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a pound 100 million Austrian scheme to support manufacturing capacity in line with the Clean Industrial Deal objectives. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025.
Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The scheme will be open to all companies that carry out investments that add manufacturing capacity for the production of net-zero technologies, as well as the production of the main specific components of these technologies, listed in Annex II of the CISAF, with the exception of nuclear fission energy technologies and other nuclear technologies. The scheme also includes aid to produce new or recovered related critical raw materials necessary for the final products or main specific components.
The Commission found that the Austrian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the CISAF. In particular, (i) the aid will incentivise the production of clean technologies, as well as their main specific components and related critical raw materials; and (ii) it may be granted until 31 October 2026. Therefore, the Commission concluded that the Austrian scheme is necessary and appropriate to accelerate the transition towards a net-zero economy and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal. Finally, the Commission found that the scheme is proportionate, as the aid is limited to the minimum necessary and has a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Austrian scheme under EU State aid rules.
More information on the CISAF can be found here. The non-confidential version of today’s decision will be made available under the case number SA.120165 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
EU Agri-Food Days return to Brussels next week
The third edition of the EU Agri-Food Days will take place in Brussels from 15 to 17 December 2025 under the theme ‘Securing Europe’s Food and Agriculture’. It will be kicked off by a video-message from President Ursula von der Leyen, which can be found online afterwards, followed by the opening remarks of Commissioner Christophe Hansen.
The three-day event will bring together farmers, EU policymakers, civil society, academics and agri-food businesses for discussions on the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in the sector. Participants will be able to join debates on the future of European farming, market developments, food security, sustainability and the role of digital technologies and data in agriculture.
The event will also include an exhibition showcasing research projects, key data portals and available funding opportunities.
Highlights of this year’s programme include the release of the new EU Agricultural Outlook Report, setting out the main factors shaping the economic and environmental future of EU farms.
Commissioner Hansen will notably discuss how the current and future Common Agricultural Policy can support food security, a competitive farming sector, simpler rules and a level playing field across the EU. He will also hold a press point from 11:00 to 11:30 CET in the Charlemagne building, which will be broadcast on EBS.
More information is available online.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Constanze Ulrich – Tel.: +32 2 299 38 44)
Commissioner Kubilius in Rome for talks on European defence readiness
Commissioner for defence and space Andrius Kubilius meets today Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto for talks on strengthening Europe’s defence readiness at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The visit comes as the EU accelerates its work to boost preparedness, reinforce industrial resilience and advance joint capability development with Member States.
The meeting is expected to cover how national efforts, like those under SAFE, can best support pan-European capability goals, including the four proposed Flagships projects: the European Drone Defence Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield. As well as how to enhance industrial cooperation to ensure a unified and resilient European security architecture and defence ecosystem.