EU steps up fight against antimicrobial resistance with updated list of countries authorised to export food-producing animals and animal products to the EU
The European Commission welcomes today’s vote by Member States on an updated list of third countries authorised to export food-producing animals and animal products to the EU.
The countries on the list have proven their compliance with the EU restrictions on antimicrobial use in food-producing animals. The Commission has provided an assessment of their compliance and guarantees as a basis for the list.
Under EU rules, the use of antimicrobials in livestock for growth or yield purposes is not allowed, nor can animals be treated with antimicrobials reserved for human infections. The list of third countries which comply with EU requirements, and therefore can export food-producing animals to the EU, will be formally adopted in the coming days, and the rules on imports will apply from 3 September 2026.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest public health threats of our time. By ensuring prudent use of antimicrobials in animals, the EU is safeguarding the health of EU citizens.
Further information on the list of third countries and our work to tackle antimicrobial resistance is available online.
(For more information: Eva Hrncírová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
High Level Dialogue strengthens cooperation with and support for Ukraine on education and skills
Today, the European Commission and Ukraine reaffirmed their 2023 commitment to strengthening cooperation in the field of education and skills as a key pillar of Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and path towards EU accession at a High-Level Dialogue between Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, and the Ukrainian Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi.
Since 2022, the European Union has mobilised over pound 1.1 billion to support education in Ukraine, combining emergency assistance, reform support and long-term investments. This includes over pound 210 million under Erasmus+, which have supported more than 52,000 Ukrainian participants in learning mobility, financed over 370 cooperation projects, and helped deliver 1.5 million schoolbooks for Ukrainian children. Learn more about the Commission’s sustained support for Ukraine under Erasmus+.
Cooperation between the EU and Ukraine will continue to expand across all levels of education under the Union of Skills. From early childhood education and care to higher education and vocational education, enhanced cooperation will ensure that Ukraine is fully integrated into the European education and skills space, relying on robust education and training systems. This includes continued support for education reforms, capacity building, and talent development.
The Commission and Ukraine have also agreed to deepen cooperation under Erasmus+ and continue preparations towards Ukraine’s future association to the programme, including support for setting up of a National Agency, bringing the programme as close as possible to the participants through supporting them and providing useful information .
The next High-Level Dialogue on Education will take place in 2027.
(For more information: Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula-Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65)
Commission welcomes Council recommendation on New European Bauhaus
The European Commission welcomes yesterday’s Council’s Recommendation on the New European Bauhaus (NEB), a major step in advancing the initiative’s implementation across Europe. The NEB initiative supports the transformation of European neighbourhoods and the built environment into spaces that are not only sustainable but also inclusive, affordable, and improve people’s quality of life.
The Recommendation builds on the Commission’s communication New European Bauhaus: From vision to implementation, adopted in December 2025 as part of the European Housing Package. This communication set out the key actions to scale up the NEB initiative and strengthen its role as an enabler of the clean transition, innovation, and sustainable growth in Europe and beyond.
The Recommendation now reinforces the role of Member States in delivering the NEB. By embedding the NEB values and principles into their policies and funding instruments linked to neighbourhoods and the wider built environment, Member States can accelerate the clean transition, innovation, and circularity of construction. They can do this, for instance, via inclusive and participatory processes for fair urban planning, or by exploring the housing potential of vacant and underused buildings for sustainable urban development in rural neighbourhoods.
The Recommendation invites Member States to take coordinated action to improve the sustainability of buildings, promote climate-resilient spatial planning, and also support homes and neighbourhoods which are more energy-efficient, resilient, inclusive and rooted in local communities. It also aims to facilitate access to public and private funding and investment; strengthen participation and local democracy; and boost skills, knowledge and innovation through the NEB Academy. Finally, it calls for stronger awareness, engagement, and governance to scale up the NEB initiative and maximise its impact.
The NEB is moving from vision to implementation – supporting tangible change on the ground and contributing to better living environments for people across Europe.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)
Commission seeks views on how the EU Nature Directives are working
Today, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. The contributions will feed into the stress-test of both directives. It is part of the Commission’s wider simplification initiative to strengthen EU competitiveness while continuing to safeguard environmental, economic and social goals.
The EU Nature Directives protect birds and habitats in the EU, contributing to Europe’s resilience and implementing international commitments. Announced in December 2025, the stress test aims to assess whether the directives achieve their objectives to protect nature in the EU and do so in a cost-efficient way. The stress test will also identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary administrative burden while maintaining the directives’ ambition and high standards of nature protection. To support Member States and reduce administrative burden, the Commission already published two guidance documents at the end of March 2026 – on Natura 2000 and climate change and on certain provisions of the Birds Directive. This comes on top of the guidelines on Natura 2000 and fishing that were published in October 2025. The stress-test is conducted in close cooperation with Member States and stakeholders and will build on the results of the 2016 Fitness Check of the Directives.
Citizens and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this public consultation, which is open until 4 August 2026.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)
Executive Vice-President Virkkunen in Cannes to support 19 EU-backed films and engage with audiovisual industry
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, is attending the Cannes Film Festival this year to engage with the audiovisual industry on media policy. She will meet key institutional and industry stakeholders, interact with creators and innovators, and take part in a public discussion outlining her priorities for media policy.
The 2026 edition of the renowned festival demonstrates the strength and diversity of the European audiovisual creative industry, with 19 films supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA programme competing across various categories. Seven of these films are competing for the Palme d’Or: ‘Coward’ by Lukas Dhont, ‘El ser querido’ by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, ‘Fjord’ by Cristian Mungiu, ‘Gentle Monster’ by Marie Kreutzer, ‘L’Inconnue’ by Arthur Harari, ‘Notre Salut’ by Emmanuel Marre, and ‘Das Geträumte Abenteuer’ by Valeska Grisebach.
The selected films have received a total of pound 1.17 million in EU support, reflecting the EU’s continued commitment to fostering European talent and strengthening the competitiveness of its audiovisual sector.
Executive Vice-President Virkkunen said: ‘I am delighted to be at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, celebrating the best of European cinema and the creative talent that makes our audiovisual sector thrive. EU funding plays a crucial role in supporting innovative and ambitious projects and enables the European audiovisual industry to produce world-class content. Looking ahead, our commitment to European media and culture remains unwavering and I look forward to seeing the next generation of European filmmakers and creators flourish.’
As Creative Europe MEDIA marks its 35th anniversary, preparations are already underway for its successor, the AgoraEU programme, to be launched. AgoraEU will build on Creative Europe’s success and increase EU support to the audiovisual and film industries, reinforcing Europe’s capacity to create, distribute and promote high-quality works on the global stage.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat – Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17)
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
Note that these items can be subject to changes.
Upcoming events of the European Commission
Eurostat press releases
Calendar items of the President and Commissioners
Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners
EU, Ukraine, Canada and partners join efforts to return forcibly transferred and unlawfully deported Ukrainian children
Today, representatives of the European Union together with Ukraine and Canada hosted a ‘High-level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children’. This initiative was announced by European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, in her 2025 State of the Union address.
On behalf of the EU, High Representative and Commission Vice-President, Kaja Kallas, and Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, joined representatives from around 60 countries to reaffirm a shared commitment to stepping up actions for securing the return of every Ukrainian child forcibly transferred or unlawfully deported by Russia, and to ensuring full accountability for these crimes committed by Russia.
President von der Leyen said: ‘Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children taken by Russia remain separated from their country and loved ones. We will not rest until every single one of them is reunited with their families. With pound 50 million, we’re putting concrete support behind our commitment. Strengthening protection systems, providing education and ensuring justice for the stolen children. The return of each child must be part of any peace agreement.’
Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, more than 20,500 Ukrainian children have been recorded as unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or to temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Russia’s systematic efforts to conceal the identities and whereabouts of these children make sustained, coordinated international action more urgent than ever.
Following the meeting, the European Union, Ukraine and Canada issued joint conclusions reflecting the commitments agreed by partners.
Commitments made at the high-level meeting
The high-level meeting was opened by video messages from President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Participants agreed on a set of concrete measures, such as:
Strengthening tracing, verification and monitoring: building on Ukraine’s Pilot Tracing Mechanism, the Coalition will expand partnerships, strengthen coordination on the ground, and intensify tracing efforts, including through open-source intelligence.
Supporting Ukrainian return efforts: the EU will provide further technical, financial and institutional support to Ukrainian authorities and civil society organisations working to secure the return of unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred children.
Boosting the diplomatic track: the Coalition will strengthen engagement at the United Nations and international partners, promote existing mediation mechanisms, and support formal and informal channels for returns.
Supporting return, protection and reintegration: the EU and its partners will expand support for reintegration through early childhood education and care, child protection, education in emergencies and the next phase of the Better Care reform to strengthen family- and community-based care.
Ensuring accountability: the Coalition will step up support for investigations and legal proceedings related to the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children; strengthen Ukraine’s investigative capacity; support child-friendly justice, access to compensation; and accountability for indoctrination, so-called “re-education”, and militarisation of Ukrainian children.
Stepping up coordinated sanctions: Partners agreed to adopt further coordinated sanctions and targeted listings against those responsible for, or complicit in, or involved in the unlawful deportation, forcible transfer, “re-education” and militarisation of Ukrainian children.
To support these efforts, the European Union is mobilising additional pound 50 million to strengthen Ukraine’s child protection system, expand child-centred and community-based services, support early childhood education, improve access to justice, and reinforce digital systems, including for compensation claims.
Background
The European Union, together with its partners, is supporting Ukraine in its quest to ensure that all Ukrainian children are returned to their homes. The documentary ‘After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home’, featuring first-hand accounts from Ukrainian children and their families, will be available for viewing on the audiovisual portal for one month free of charge.
The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children was launched in Kyiv in February 2024. Co-chaired by Ukraine and Canada, the Coalition welcomed the EU as a full member in September 2025. It now unites 49 countries and international organisations, serving as the central platform for coordinating diplomatic, humanitarian, legal, and informational efforts to address the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children.
For more information
Bringing Ukrainian children back home webpage
Factsheet – EU solidarity with Ukraine
EU, Ukraine and Canada to co-host high-level meeting on returning Ukrainian children – Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood
Bring Kids Back UA
International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children
Documentary After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home’
Quote(s)
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children taken by Russia remain separated from their country and loved ones. We will not rest until every single one of them is reunited with their families. With pound 50 million, we’re putting concrete support behind our commitment. Strengthening protection systems, providing education and ensuring justice for the stolen children. The return of each child must be part of any peace agreement.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Commission coordinates European response to Hantavirus outbreak
The European Commission is taking action to coordinate and support national authorities’ responses to the Hantavirus outbreak.
At present, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assesses the risk to the general population in Europe as very low, given that appropriate infection prevention and control measures are being implemented and that hantaviruses are not easily spread between people.
EU Civil Protection Mechanism provided safe evacuations
Since the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by Spain on 6 May, the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre has been facilitating the safe evacuation of people aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Five repatriation flights coordinated by the EU already took place on Sunday 10 May. The flights, departing from Tenerife where the cruise ship was anchored, were executed by France, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, and Ireland. A sixth and last flight, executed by the Netherlands, is taking place today.
The Commission is also mobilising response capabilities and stockpiles from its strategic reserve. It has pre-positioned in Tenerife a medical evacuation aircraft from the EU fleet and hosted by Norway. Additional transport, logistics capacities and protective equipment are ready to be deployed if needed.
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre has deployed a Liaison Officer to Tenerife to support on-site coordination with the relevant authorities throughout the operation. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control deployed two experts from the EU Health Task Force on the ship, before people were disembarked.
Facilitating a common approach across Member States and global partners
On top of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Commission is also supporting the health response to the Hantavirus outbreak. It is helping drive a joint European response, working closely with Spain (where the cruise passengers disembarked), Member States, countries participating in the Civil Protection Mechanism, ECDC, the World Health Organization, and G7 partners.
The Health Security Committee, chaired by the Commission, is bringing together national health authorities, and is helping align the measures for safe disembarkation, repatriation and follow-up of passengers.
Coordination is taking place continuously, with daily meetings of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Health Security Committee or targeted multilateral contacts. This allows authorities to share the latest information, adjust operational plans, follow up on any potential case, and keep the European response aligned as the situation evolves.
The Commission’s priority is to protect citizens, support those directly affected and help Member States move quickly together, based on the latest evidence.
Background
Hantaviruses were included in the Comprehensive 2025 Health threat prioritisation assessment for medical countermeasures, as part of the Commission’s wider preparedness planning. The Commission has consequently been funding the development of medical countermeasures against this health threat. Competitive calls for proposals were organised for advancing promising candidate vaccines and therapeutics against hantaviruses.
The 2022 revised Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health provides a robust legal framework to improve the EU’s capacity in the vital areas of prevention, preparedness, surveillance, risk assessment, early warning, and response. One of those mechanisms is the EU Health Task Force, led by ECDC, where experts can be dispatched to support countries in Europe and around the world by providing advice on operational outbreak response and crisis preparedness related to communicable diseases or diseases of unknown origin.
Any country can request assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre then coordinates and mobilises support, including emergency medical teams, mobile labs, medical countermeasures and equipment, and medical expertise. It can also coordinate and co-finance medical evacuations or repatriation flights, based on identified needs.
For more information
The ECDC is publishing a daily outbreak update with the latest figures, case definitions and risk assessment for the EU/EEA population.
*Updated on 11 May 2026 at 20:20 CEST.
Quote(s)
Health threats can easily cross borders and that is why coordination is key. The Commission is working around the clock to ensure response actions are swift and effective, and that support is available where it is needed. A health crisis does not stop at borders. Neither does our response.
Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management
We are closely monitoring the Hantavirus outbreak and remain ready to support Member States. While the risk to the general population in Europe is currently considered very low, we are staying vigilant and working closely with ECDC, national authorities and international partners to ensure a coordinated, evidence-based response. The Commission has a range of EU instruments at its disposal to help coordinate action, mobilise expertise and provide assistance where needed.
Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
Speech by President von der Leyen at the High-level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children
President Zelenskyy, dear Volodymyr,
Prime Minister Carney, dear Mark,
Thank you for hosting this event together on an issue that is so dear to our hearts.
Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Last year, I met two Ukrainian heroes I will never forget. A young boy named Sasha,
and his grandmother Liudmyla. Sasha was only 11 when Russian soldiers took him from his mother. They wanted to bring him to Russia, give him Russian parents, a Russian passport,
a Russian life. But Sasha rebelled. With the help of his grandmother and the Ukrainian government,
he managed to go back to free Ukraine. Today, Sasha shares his story with as many as he can. Because he is still trying to find his mother. But also because he wants all Ukrainian children like him to get back to their homes. When I met Sasha, I promised that we would do all we can to help. This is why we decided to join forces with Ukraine and Canada, and to invite all of you to Brussels today.
Tens of thousands of boys and girls remain trapped in Russia. Frightened and longing for their families and loved ones. Many have already been rescued – thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian government, civil society, and all of you in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. But every child that is held captive is one too many. And we will not rest until every single one of them is reunited with their families.
Today we gather to make a practical contribution with support to trace and return as many children as possible and with sanctions against the perpetrators. But we also want to send a political message. The return of each and every Ukrainian child taken by Russia must be a central point in any peace agreement. Because how can a nation choose its own future, if its children are denied theirs? Their freedom is Ukraine’s freedom. Their future is our future, too. So, thank you all for being here today. And let us bring them home.
Keynote address by President von der Leyen at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children
Your Royal Highness,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for putting the spotlight on this topic, protecting children in the digital age. This is an issue parents worry about all across Europe and, as we heard, everyone here in this room. It is good that we discuss it here today, because Denmark has emphasized the light and shadow of the digital world early on. A decade ago, it was among the first to recognise the vast opportunities of digital learning – bringing screens and new technologies into schools. And today, Denmark is once again taking the lead, this time by confronting the risks – above all, those posed by social media. That is why it is so inspiring to hold this debate here in Copenhagen today, in a spirit of leadership. The leadership from those who do not fear the pace of technological change but recognise that we must build a digital world where our children can grow up free and secure, protected by the values that Europe stands for. This is what must guide us.
We all recognise the extraordinary opportunities this technological revolution brings. Many young people speak passionately of how technology gives them a sense of belonging. These are wonderful things. They show the digital world at its best. A place to access knowledge; a place to find advice and support; a place that creates new avenues for exchange, creativity and humour. The possibilities are vast, but as we all know, the dangers are just as great, because children are not little adults. Their minds are delicate, their psychological vulnerability profound – mental wounds can be lifechanging. The more they are exposed to the digital world, the greater the risks. Likes, shares, retweets, clicks – social media validations are increasingly dictating how they think and feel. Constant judgment, constant comparison and constant fear of not being enough. The pressure can be overwhelming, and they are being exposed at a moment when their resilience is only just beginning to grow, because they are still children. We all know the consequences: sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictive behaviour, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, suicide. And with the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, these risks are multiplying fast. These risks are the reality of the digital world. And let me be clear: they are not accidental. They are the result of business models that treat our children’s attention as a commodity. The more attention, the higher the profit. A Danish children’s rights organisation found that nearly half of the content children see on social media is advertising. Young men are getting hooked on games that are designed to manipulate them into spending more and more money. Young women are targeted with beauty product ads the moment they untag themselves in a photo. These are deliberate choices by tech providers – choices made – so they can profit from children’s vulnerability to cash in on their fears and moments of self-doubt. There is a reason why some call it ‘the greatest brain hack in human history’.
So this is about more than just technical questions of media use. It is about childhood itself, about what children mean to us. Children are not commodities, and no tech company in the world should be allowed to treat them as such. Children are children – with their dreams, their curiosity, their openness.
I am aware that many perceive the power of major tech corporations as overwhelming and impossible to roll back. I disagree; we do not have to accept addictive social media designs. We do not have to accept children being drawn into ever more extreme content. We do not have to accept that girls and women have their photos used for AI generated sexualised images. Europe has the power to act. It is us who decide our rules, not big tech. We are taking action against TikTok and its addictive design – endless scrolling, autoplay and push notifications. The same applies to Meta, because we believe Instagram and Facebook are failing to enforce their own minimum age of 13. We launched proceedings against X, for Grok’s use in creating and spreading material depicting child sexual abuse. We are investigating platforms that allow children to go down ‘rabbit holes’ of harmful content – such as videos that promote eating-disorders or self-harm. All of this is possible because we have created a powerful tool – the Digital Services Act. And we have also created the Digital Markets Act to prevent platforms from abusing market power. We have already closed cases with Apple and Meta, with investigation ongoing with Google. We have shown that we will forge ahead, despite the headwinds we face. We have set rules, it is the law and those who break it will be held accountable.
But we also know we must do more. That is why we established a ‘Special Panel of experts on Child-Safety-Online’ to advise us. Without pre-empting the panel’s findings, I believe we must consider a social media delay. Depending on the results, we could come with a legal proposal this summer. We are witnessing the lightning speed at which technology is advancing – and how it penetrates every corner of childhood and adolescence. And the discussions about a minimum age for social media can no longer be ignored. Almost all EU Member States call for an assessment on the need for it. At the moment, Denmark wants to introduce one, nine other Member States too. The European Parliament has come to the same conclusion. The question is not whether young people should have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people. Childhood and early adolescence are formative years, and I believe we should give our children more time to become resilient in this vulnerable phase. Time to play with real friends, not chase followers. Time on the football pitch or playing in a band. Time to develop their own ideas, not being led by an algorithm. Time to learn the difference between reality and falsehood. So, let us give childhood back to children. A childhood free to experiment, because that is what childhood is about. And what allows children to mature, to learn how to handle pressure, navigate social dynamics and build self-confidence. And let us help parents navigate a difficult stage of development. I am sure many of you in this room have had the same conversations about how much time on social media is too much, about the balance between protecting our children online while not excluding them from the world of their friends. The responsibilities of parents are already so high, so let us take this additional weight from their shoulders.
Here, we can learn from a pioneer. Australia has already taken this step, introducing a minimum age of 16. And we can see the progress – fewer children and teenagers have social media accounts. But there are also big challenges. While some platforms inform users and deactivate accounts, others do the opposite. Some are even actively encouraging teenagers to bypass these safeguards. We all know that sustainable change does not happen overnight. But if we are slow and hesitant, it will be another entire generation of children that pay the price. So let us be focused and define clear rules on how to structure a social media delay for Europe.
Finally, any age restriction model depends on reliable age verification. And here, we have good news: We have developed an age verification app that will soon be available, and it ticks all the boxes – the highest privacy standards in the world, it works on any device, it is easy to use and it is fully open source. Here in Denmark, it will be rolled out by summer. It is built on the success of our European COVID App. That App was used in 78 countries on 4 continents, so it is a proven and reliable model. And our Union is working with Member States to integrate it into their digital wallets. We have made the technology open source, so online platforms can easily adopt it. No more excuses – the technology for age verification is available.
Ladies and gentlemen,
An age limit does not mean letting tech companies off the hook for the content on their platforms. In Europe, whoever develops a product is responsible for its safety. Car manufacturers must make their vehicles safe. We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home. The same must apply to social media. Tech providers are responsible for the safety of their products and their safe use. That is Europe’s principle, that is the basis of the Digital Services Act. High standards for privacy, security and the protection of minors are mandatory. And there are rules against addictive models, harmful content and unwanted contacts. This is ‘safety by design’, and these protections should be strengthened and expanded. That is why we have made children’s rights a priority in our rules for the development and use of AI. And later this year, we will target addictive and harmful design practices with the Digital Fairness Act – attention capture, complex contracts, subscription traps. In Europe, safety must be there from the start, not added as an afterthought.
And one more point, I have spoken about the need to give our children time to become more resilient. They need to develop their skills to act with autonomy – online and offline -, and we need to give them the means to learn. They need to understand the logic of social media, they need to learn how to protect themselves from negative effects and at the same time how to make use of the positive aspects. This is a task in which everyone has a role to play. Parents, who serve as role models. Teachers, who can help children build these competencies from an early age. Media organisations, NGOs, or journalists with their professional experience, they can show how to verify sources, identify fake news and AI-generated images. The principle is to encourage to think critically before clicking. Media education is a key task for society as a whole.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Europe can rightly be proud of being the best place in the world to grow up. A place where access to good education does not depend on parents’ income. A place where healthcare is available when children need it, where children are free to play outside in safety and in freedom. It is our task to take these achievements into the digital age. The choices we make now should not be guided by fear, but by courage. We often say that children are our future, that includes the obligation that every child has the best possible chance to grow up free, protected and empowered. Because children are, above all, their own future, and we carry responsibility for them. All of us here in the room, and all across Europe. Let us take that responsibility seriously and lead.
Long live Europe.
Commission welcomes political agreement on Critical Medicines Act
The European Commission welcomes the landmark political agreement on the Critical Medicines Act (CMA), last night by the Council and the European Parliament. This marks an important milestone in strengthening the resilience of Europe’s health sector by preventing medicine shortages and improving the security of supply of critical medicines across the EU.
The CMA will promote the diversification of supply chains and support pharmaceutical manufacturing within the EU, while enabling Member States to cooperate more closely to improve access to medicines in Europe. The CMA complements existing initiatives to address medicine shortages and strengthen supply in the EU, in particular the recently adopted pharmaceutical reform.
Key elements of the agreed Critical Medicines Act include:
Member States will have to diversify and incentivise resilience in the medicine supply chains during public procurement procedures. For critical medicines, procurers will have to support the diversification and reliability of supply sources. In case of a high dependency on a single or a limited number of third countries, the CMA goes further, foreseeing the obligation for contracting authorities to favour ‘manufacturing in the EU’.
The creation of Strategic Projects to boost, increase or modernise EU manufacturing capacity for critical medicines or their active substances, through easier access to (Member State and Union) funding as well as fast-tracked administrative support. In addition, projects for manufacturing of orphan medicines will also benefit from faster permitting.
When Member States require companies to hold contingency stocks, they will have to ensure that this does not negatively affect supply of critical medicines in other countries in the Union. Member States will also have to share up to date information on contingency stocks available for reallocation when a call for solidarity is launched through the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism.
Collaborative procurement will be available for Member States to address availability and access disparities of critical medicines, orphan medicines and other medicines of common interest throughout the EU.
Strategic partnerships with international partners will be explored, to broaden the supply chain and reduce dependencies on single or limited numbers of suppliers.
Next steps
The political agreement is now subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council.
Background
Tackling shortages and ensuring access to medicines have been a priority for the EU for many years. In March 2025, the European Commission proposed the Critical Medicines Act to improve the availability, supply and production of critical medicines within the EU.
Today’s agreement follows the agreement reached in December on the modernisation of the EU’s pharmaceutical legislation, which will also work to boost innovation and investment in the EU’s pharmaceutical sector, while ensuring that medicines are safe, effective and available for patients throughout Europe. Together, the Pharma reform and CMA will work to strengthen resilience of the EU pharmaceutical market.
For more information
Proposal for a Critical Medicines Act
Questions and answers on the Critical Medicines Act
Factsheet – EU Actions to address medicines shortages
Factsheet – Critical Medicines Act
State aid guidance
Webpage
Quote(s)
Today’s agreement comes at a crucial moment, when the vulnerability of supply chains is so clearly exposed. The Critical Medicines Act is Europe’s essential safety-belt: preventing shortages, reducing dependence on single suppliers and strengthening production closer to home to safeguard public health. Patients in the EU must have access to the medicines they need, when they need them, and today’s Act will help to make it happen.
Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
Agenda pour le mardi, 12 mai 2026
12/05/26
11h30 Point presse de la vice-présidente exécutive Mînzatu avec le ministre ukrainien de l’Éducation et des Sciences, Oksen Lisovyi, à l’issue du dialogue de haut niveau sur la coopération dans les domaines de l’éducation et des compétences [Coin VIP]
12h00 Réunion de midi – présidée par Paula Pinho, porte-parole en chef de la Commission européenne
15h00 Briefing technique off-the-record (uniquement pour les journalistes accrédités) sur le paquet de mesures relatives aux passagers – sous embargo*