Today, the Commission has partially greenlighted Bulgaria’s third payment request for pound 1.6 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU – the Commission’s post-pandemic programme to support Member State’s recovery, economic growth, and competitiveness.
Following Bulgaria’s third payment request of pound 1.6 billion submitted on 1 October 2025, the Commission found that Bulgaria delivered 22 reforms and 19 investments benefiting citizens and businesses, focussing on key areas such as the green and digital transition, research and innovation, healthcare, social protection, sustainable transport and modernisation of businesses. The Commission found that Bulgaria has successfully completed 48 out 50 milestones and targets associated with the third payment request under its recovery and resilience plan.
The Commission also found that the milestone related to establishing an operational anti-corruption body has not been successfully achieved. Additionally, some aspects of the milestone regarding the activation of legal acts related to criminal proceedings and the responsibility and criminal accountability of the Prosecutor General have not been fully met at this time, neither.
As a result, the Commission proposed to temporarily defer a portion of the payment in accordance with the RRF Regulation. This approach allows Member States to address outstanding milestones while still receiving funds for those milestones and targets that have been successfully completed.
More information in the press release.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: + 32 2 299 66483; Anna Wartberger – Tel: +32 2 28 20 54)
European Union and Lebanon sign agreement on judicial cooperation
Today, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, and the Minister of Justice of Lebanon, Adel Nassar, will sign an international agreement on judicial cooperation in criminal matters between the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) and the Lebanese judicial authorities. The agreement will enable the exchange of operational information between Eurojust and the Lebanese judicial authorities.
The agreement will significantly strengthen the coordinated response of the EU and Lebanon to transnational serious crimes, including in the context of joint investigations. For that, Lebanon agreed to appoint a Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust who will work side by side with prosecutors from the EU and other partner countries. The agreement also provides for strong safeguards on data protection and fundamental rights, in line with EU law.
Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection said: ‘Crime knows no borders, and with this agreement, justice is expanding its reach. Today marks a significant step in strengthening the EU’s judicial cooperation with Lebanon. As a result, we will be better able to manage complex international cases to bring perpetrators of transnational crimes to justice swiftly.’
More information will be available online.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33)
Commission evaluates unfair trading practices rules to strengthen farmers’ position in the agri-food chain
The European Commission published a report summarising the main findings of the evaluation of the Directive on unfair trading practices (UTPs) in the agricultural and food supply chain. The report confirms that the existing rules contribute to a more equitable and balanced business environment for the agri-food sector, while also identifying areas for improvement.
Although this legislation is still in the early stages of implementation, the report indicates that the Directive has already helped to promote fairer commercial relations across the EU food chain including improvements in reducing late payments, with farmers and suppliers reporting positive trends. The evaluation also points to opportunities to further reinforce the UTP framework and its enforcement.
This publication comes after the co-legislators successfully reached a political agreement on November 12, agreeing to improve cross-border cooperation and coordinated action in cases of large-scale unfair trading practices. The findings of today’s report will now be shared with the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions.
More details can be found in the report.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Constanze Ulrich – Tel.: +32 2 299 38 44)
President von der Leyen hosts first meeting of the President’s Youth Advisory Board to reinforce youth perspective in EU policymaking
Tomorrow, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will host the first meeting of the President’s Youth Advisory Board. Through this initiative, the advice of young people will directly inform the work of the European Commission on the issues and policies that matter the most. The first meeting of the Board will be dedicated to the safe use of social media, with the discussions feeding into the work of the Panel of Experts on Children and Social Media, announced by the President in her 2025 State of the Union address. The Board brings together youth representatives from National Youth Councils of EU Member States that represent a broad spectrum of youth organisations and local and regional councils and the European Youth Forum. Representatives have been selected by the Commission from amongst the proposals submitted by the National Youth Councils designated by EU Member States and the European Youth Forum. Representatives from candidate countries and potential candidates for EU accession will also be present.
The President’s Youth Advisory Board is a key initiative announced in the 2024-2029 Political Guidelines.
(For more information: Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 29 88433; Eirini Zarkadoula-Tel.: +32 2 29 57065)
Executive Vice-President Séjourné hosts implementation dialogue on EU construction sector
Today, Executive Vice-President Stephane Séjourné hosted key stakeholders from across the construction value chain to discuss barriers and challenges affecting the sector’s competitiveness and productivity, as well as possible solutions to address them.
Participants identified barriers to a more integrated EU Internal Market for construction services and the impact of permitting rules on competitiveness as key factors hampering the ecosystem. They discussed possible solutions such as simplifying building permit procedures, sharing good practices on digitalisation and adopting measures to support the development of new markets and greater circularity.
The issues discussed will be reflected in the upcoming European Strategy for Housing Construction, which will aim at enhancing the sector’s competitiveness, productivity and innovation across Europe, while ensuring higher levels of safety and sustainability.
The 15 participants represented, among others, contractors, construction product manufacturers, offsite construction manufacturers, developers, companies in the construction services sector, property owners, construction small and medium enterprises, and trade unions.
Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, said: ‘Construction is the third largest industrial ecosystem in Europe. It consists of 6.6 million companies – more than 99% of which are SMEs – and employs over 27 million people. Because of its wide impact, the sector is essential to Europe’s prosperity, making a competitive and productive European construction ecosystem indispensable. Today’s dialogue helped identify both challenges and solutions to support the sector’s development.’
Implementation Dialogues are part of the Commission’s commitment to seek feedback from stakeholders for the implementation and simplification of EU policies. As outlined in the Commission’s Communication on Implementation and Simplification for the 2024-2029 mandate, all Members of the College of Commissioners must host such Dialogues annually.
More information on this dialogue will be available online.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Rya Perincek – Tel.: +32 460 76 25 10)
Executive Vice-President Séjourné and Commissioner Albuquerque host implementation dialogue on banking integration and competitiveness
Today, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné and Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Maria Luís Albuquerque, are hosting an implementation dialogue with a focus on banking integration and competitiveness.
The implementation dialogue seeks participant feedback on regulatory barriers to EU banking market integration and the effects of EU and national rules. It will explore ways to simplify regulations and strengthen the banking sector’s contribution to the EU economy. Participants will include high-level decision-makers from EU banks, key NGOs, consumer associations, business associations, and trade unions.
The event will feature two sessions focusing on assessing banking integration progress, competitiveness, identifying obstacles, and finding practical solutions to advance integration and boost EU banks’ competitiveness and effectiveness in supporting the EU economy.
The conclusion of the dialogue will feed into a report assessing the overall situation of the banking system in the single market, including the evaluation of the banking sector’s competitiveness, announced in the Savings and Investments Union and planned for 2026.
The EU banking sector, with around 4,500 banks managing over pound 30 trillion in assets, is crucial for financing households and businesses, providing for over two-thirds of their financial needs. These banks are central to the growth of EU capital markets and advancing the Savings and Investments Union, driving economic development and financial stability in the region.
Implementation Dialogues are part of the Commission’s commitment to seek feedback from stakeholders for the implementation and simplification of EU policies. As outlined in the Commission’s Communication on Implementation and Simplification for the 2024-2029 mandate, all Members of the College of Commissioners must host such Dialogues annually.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Saul Louis Goulding – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commissioner Šuica travels to Washington for exchanges on democracy and meetings with representatives of the US Administration
Today and until Friday, 5 December, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica is in Washington DC, where she will attend the International Democracy Union (IDU) Forum, and meet politicians and representatives of the US Administration.
During her visit, in the context of the EU’s cooperation with the United States, the Commissioner will meet Jeremy Lewin, US Undersecretary of State, as well as with members of the US Congress, and US state department officials. She will also discuss ongoing issues with other key international partners of the EU, including Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
At the Forum, Commissioner Šuica will present the EU’s policies towards the Mediterranean, building on the successful endorsement of the Pact for the Mediterranean in Barcelona. She will also underline the EU’s role in addressing the situation in Middle East, welcoming efforts to promote stability and peace and highlighting the EU’s added value as key actor in the region. Additionally, she will share the outcomes of the first Palestine Donor Group meeting that took place in Brussels on 20 November. In her exchanges Commissioner Šuica will focus on Syria, underlining the EU’s leading role in support to the country’s transition and socio-economic recovery and share the EU’s support to Lebanon as well.