Commission and High Representative propose new sanctions regime to counter threats from migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and other forms of organised crime
Today, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, proposed a new EU sanctions regime to tackle migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, and other serious forms of organised crime, including trafficking in firearms and illicit drugs as well as money laundering.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: ‘Today, we are presenting a new sanctions regime against migrant smugglers and traffickers. We all have a common goal. To drive them out of business. And to save the lives of thousands of people who dream of a better life. We in Europe must be the ones to decide who comes to us and in what circumstances.’
Organised criminals destabilise societies, undermine the rule of law and democracy, and weaken economic stability and security. Migrant smugglers’ and traffickers’ illicit activities originating from outside the EU pose a serious threat to the Union’s security and values. While illegal arrivals are down by over 50% over the last two years, too many people still risk and lose their lives at the hands of smugglers.
The initiative was announced by President von der Leyen during the 2025 State of the Union, and aims to disrupt the business model of smugglers, restrict their movements, and cut off their profits.
Today’s proposals target:
illicit activities originating outside the Union which, by reason of their widespread, systematic or organised nature, pose a serious threat to the Union’s values, to the security of the Union and its Member States, or to international security;
conduct related to migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, trafficking and other activities linked to illicit drugs, illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms and money laundering;
identified individuals and entities involved in these activities, including those who lead, direct or support them by introducing and establishing a clear framework for restrictive measures.
The proposed restrictive measures are:
asset freezes and prohibitions on making funds or other economic resources available to listed persons or entities;
travel bans to prevent entry into, or transit through, EU Member States by listed persons.
The proposed tools would be applied in a coordinated manner, ensuring that sanctions are swift, proportionate, and regularly reviewed. The proposals will now be presented in the Council and need to be adopted by Member States by unanimity.
Background
The initiative follows President von der Leyen’s 2025 State of the Union address, where she called for the creation of a new EU sanctions regime targeting migrant smugglers and human traffickers that would include freezing their assets, restricting their move, and cut off their profits.
For more information
Questions and answers
EU sanctions
Migrant smuggling – European Commission
Together Against Trafficking in Human Beings – Migration and Home Affairs
Organised crime – Migration and Home Affairs – European Commission
Quote(s)
Today, we are presenting a new sanctions regime against migrant smugglers and traffickers. We all have a common goal. To drive them out of business. And to save the lives of thousands of people who dream of a better life. We in Europe must be the ones to decide who comes to us and in what circumstances.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Migrant smuggling, arms trafficking, and money laundering threaten the security of our citizens and undermine our democracies. Today, we are proposing a new sanctions regime to target organised criminal networks where it hurts them most: their finances and their ability to operate across borders. We will make these crimes harder, riskier, and far less profitable. In doing so, we strengthen the rules-based international order and support our partners.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission
Too many people are still being exploited by ruthless criminal networks and pushed into dangerous, often deadly journeys. For the first time we propose a sanctions regime against those who profit from human misery. This will disrupt their business model and cut off their access to money and travel. Our message is clear: the European Union is serious about dismantling organised criminal networks.
Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
Criminal networks do not stop at borders, and neither should our response. Today’s proposal strengthens the European Union’s ability to target those who profit from migrant smuggling, human trafficking and other serious forms of organised crime by following the money and disrupting their financial activities. Our objective is to make it harder for criminals to operate, harder to move their assets and impossible to profit from exploiting vulnerable people.
Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union
(For more information: Siobhan McGarry- Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Saul Louis Goulding – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Europe’s innovation performance strengthens amidst global competition
Europe’s innovation performance continues to improve, with the EU’s overall score rising by 11.6 percentage points since 2019, according to the 2026 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), just released by the European Commission. This result marks nearly a decade of steady growth, highlighting the resilience of Europe’s innovation ecosystem in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Between 2025 and 2026, the EU’s innovation performance improved by 1.7 percentage points, following a more modest increase of 0.5 percentage points in the previous year. While all EU Member States have shown progress, performance varies significantly from country to country.
Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands once again lead the ranking, outperforming the EU average and retaining their status as ‘innovation leaders’. Finland maintains a strong stable fourth position, while Malta has made remarkable progress, crossing the threshold to become a ‘strong innovator’ (achieving 100-125% of the EU average).
Beyond the EU, South Korea remains the most innovative global competitor, followed by China, showing the largest improvement in recent years.
This year’s Scoreboard also welcomes Georgia for the first time, reflecting the expanded reach of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
Background
The Innovation Scoreboard assesses annually the innovation performance across EU Member States, neighbouring countries and key global competitors. It is based on 32 indicators covering areas such as framework conditions (namely education or digital infrastructure), public and private research and development investment innovation activities (including patents and startups) and impact on the economy, environment and society.
Member states are categorised into four performance groups:
‘innovation leaders’ (performance 125% above the EU average);
‘strong innovators’ (100-125% of the EU average);
‘moderate innovators’ (70-100% of the EU average);
’emerging innovators’ (below 70% of EU average)
The EIS relies on the latest and most reliable data and a robust methodology developed and audited by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre.
A key tool in the EU’s innovation policy framework, the EIS helps monitor Europe’s progress in closing the innovation gap with global competitors. It also informs major initiatives, including the Startup and Scaleup Strategy, EU Inc., as well as the upcoming European Innovation Act, and the European Research Area Act.
For more information
2026 European Innovation Scoreboard
Quote(s)
Europe’s innovation engine has proved resilient. Every single Member State has improved its performance since 2019, and this year’s Scoreboard shows that growth is picking up again. But the global race is ever tougher and we cannot afford to slow down. The Startup and Scaleup Strategy, EU Inc. and the upcoming European Innovation Act are our answer, building the conditions for Europe to lead in innovation for decades to come.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
Innovation performance is essential to Europe’s competitiveness, building on the scale and strength of our Single Market. To help businesses make decisions that drive innovation and strengthen our resilience, the Commission has put in place the Industrial Accelerator Act and is working to provide further support through the European Competitiveness Fund to lay the foundations for our future prosperity.
Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117)
Commission and International Labour Organization set renewed strategic agenda for social justice, quality jobs and a human-centred future of work
The European Commission and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have agreed to further strengthen their cooperation to ensure that major global transitions – such as the shift towards digital and clean technologies – lead to more and better jobs, stronger labour market institutions and greater social cohesion. This was the main conclusion during the 17th high level meeting that took place in Brussels this week.
Co-chaired by Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, and Gilbert F. Houngbo, ILO Director-General. the Commission and ILO reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism, international labour standards and decent work, and identified a set of strategic priorities to guide the next phase of their partnership. They emphasised that AI governance in the world of work must be human-centred and support the preservation and creation of decent jobs. The meeting also confirmed the enduring importance of the EU-ILO partnership in addressing global labour market challenges.
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu said: ‘In a challenging multilateral context, the EU-ILO partnership matters more than ever. Social justice, decent work and fundamental rights at work are the foundation of resilient and competitive societies. From AI to global supply chains, change must work for people. This is the choice we need to make, and Europe will defend a model where competitiveness goes hand in hand with fairness and dignity at work.’
More details on the Commission’s renewed cooperation with ILO are available online.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.:+3222957501; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65)
Commission signs joint procurement contract for vaccines to strengthen protection ahead of the 2026-2027 winter season
The European Commission has signed, on the request of 6 countries, a joint procurement framework contract with Moderna to access up to 24 million doses of the mRNA-based RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine mRESVIA®, with no minimum number of doses to be bought. This vaccine protects against diseases of the lungs, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, caused by RSV in adults. The contract will run for a period of up to four years.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. While most people usually recover in around a week without the need for medical treatment, RSV can cause severe illness and death in more vulnerable groups such as older adults, leading to hospitalisation in Europe of over 156,000 adults each year.
By protecting citizens through greater access to and availability of RSV vaccines, this contract can help lessen the burden on healthcare services during the winter season, when public health systems are often under greater pressure due to seasonal viruses. It can also reduce antibiotic consumption by preventing RSV infections, thereby lowering the number of patients who are prescribed antibiotics unnecessarily or as a precaution.
As of July 2026, 39 countries have signed the Joint Procurement Agreement, a mechanism at EU level to jointly procure medical countermeasures on a voluntary and flexible basis. This mechanism contributes to EU-level preparedness for public health crises or pandemics.
Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said: ‘With today’s joint procurement for a RSV vaccine, we are helping Member States to enhance their preparedness against this serious virus before the upcoming winter season. This will protect the most vulnerable and reduce the pressure that respiratory infections place on our hospitals during the winter months. Being prepared today means saving lives when the next peak season arrives.’
More information can be found online.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
Commission report shows EU competition rules make markets fairer and more resilient for farmers
Today, the European Commission published a report demonstrating how EU competition rules support fair market conditions and economic resilience for EU farmers. The report covering the period from July 2017 to July 2025 EU competition rules in the agricultural sector. It focuses on exclusions from competition rules in the common market organisation (CMO) and on antitrust investigations. It also illustrates how the current framework supports the Vision for Agriculture and Food by maintaining a market-oriented agricultural sector while strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain.
EU legislation recognises specific challenges faced by farmers and provides the necessary exemptions from EU competition rules. For example, specific competition rules help farmers improve their bargaining position, manage risks and respond more effectively to market challenges. The report shows that these rules give farmers more opportunities to work together, strengthen their position in the agri-food supply chain and contribute to fairer and more resilient agri-food markets, while ensuring benefits for consumers. Among other things, EU rules allow producers and operators in the agri-food supply chain to cooperate on agreements that pursue higher sustainability standards than those required by EU or national legislation.
While these options are available, the report shows that their potential is not yet fully exploited by farmers.
Nonetheless, as shown in the report, enforcement of EU competition rules is essential to allow farmers to operate on an equal footing. This is mainly done through effective coordination between the Commission and the national competition authorities.
Between July 2017 and July 2025, the Commission and national competition authorities in the EU concluded around 110 investigations in the agricultural sector. These investigations helped address concerns in the agri-food supply chain, prevented anti-competitive practices and, where necessary, required companies to change their behaviour or pay fines. Farmers were the largest source of investigations by submitting complaints to competition authorities. Other complaints were submitted by manufacturers and retailers.
The Commission must report every seven years to the European Parliament and to the Council on the application of the competition rules in the agricultural sector, in line with CMO regulation.
More information is available online.
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Katerina Horáková – Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschtz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83)
Commission accepts binding commitments by SAP to address competition concerns about services for its popular business management software
The European Commission has accepted commitments from SAP to address EU competition concerns relating to its aftermarket support services for on-premises Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. These commitments are now legally binding under EU antitrust rules.
In September 2025, the Commission opened a formal investigation and preliminarily found that SAP has been engaging in four practices that could restrict competition in the EEA-wide market for maintenance and support (M and S) services for SAP’s on-premises ERP software.
In response to the Commission’s concerns, SAP offered commitments. Between November 2025 and December 2025 the Commission market-tested those commitments and consulted all interested third parties to verify whether they would remove competition concerns. In light of the outcome of this market test, SAP adjusted the initial proposal.
SAP will clarify the conditions for splitting customers’ SAP landscape into separate parts, allow customers to terminate their licences and the respective M and S fees in some specific scenarios, give wider access to single-metric contracts, clarify its contractual provisions regarding the initial licence term and refrain from restarting a new term for every additional licence purchase, abolish reinstatement fees and reduce back maintenance fees charged to customers who return to SAP’s support after a period of absence, and create an internal clearing structure customers can turn to when they consider that SAP is not applying the commitments correctly.
The Commission concluded that the final commitments adequately address its preliminary competition concerns and has decided to make them legally binding on SAP.
Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, said: ‘SAP’s software is critical to businesses across Europe, and indeed globally. Today’s decision gives customers using SAP’s popular on-premises business management software more freedom to choose maintenance and support services without unfair restrictions that raised their costs and stifled competition. The legally binding commitments secured by the Commission set a benchmark for the industry more broadly and should serve as a warning against similar practices in the cloud markets, where customers are increasingly moving. This decision sends a strong message: dominant firms in digital markets and beyond should not abuse their power to lock in users at the expense of choice and innovation.”
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Siobhan McGarry- Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschtz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83)
Commissioner Kos in Montenegro to support path to EU accession
Today and tomorrow, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is in Montenegro to discuss the country’s progress on its EU accession path.
Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 16. Last week, the European Commission presented a financial package for Montenegro, setting out the budgetary arrangements that would apply to Montenegro upon its accession to the European Union. This followed the recent agreement by Member States to start drafting the Accession Treaty with the country.
Today in Podgorica, Commissioner Kos will take part in the celebrations marking Montenegro’s Statehood Day with President Jakov Milatovic.
Tomorrow, Commissioner Kos will meet Prime Minister Milojko Spajic to take stock of recent progress on reforms related to Montenegro’s EU path and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. She will underline the need to maintain reform momentum to keep Montenegro on track with its ambitious timeline for negotiation. The Commissioner will also meet the Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament, Andrija Mandic, and opposition representatives, to underline the importance of the sustained political commitment and cross-party unity to advance the country’s EU agenda.
In Kotor, Commissioner Kos will visit the Institute of Marine Biology and take part in the Great Kotor Bay seabed clean-up event with Prime Minister Spajic. The visit will provide an opportunity to discuss the nature protection reforms Montenegro is required to carry out to make progress towards provisionally closing further negotiating chapters.
(For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 296 27 16)
Commissioner Lahbib hosts implementation dialogue on preparing EU for the next health crisis
Tomorrow, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, will host an Implementation Dialogue in Brussels on the Medical Countermeasures Strategy, to discuss how best to prepare the EU for the next health crisis.
The Dialogue will bring together representatives from industry, healthcare, academia, patients and civil society to discuss practical challenges in ensuring the availability of medical countermeasures and strengthening preparedness across the European Union.
Recent health threats, including COVID-19, mpox, Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks, have highlighted the importance of preparedness, surveillance and rapid response capacities. The discussion will focus on identifying barriers and gathering stakeholders’ feedback to support the implementation of the EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy.
Medical countermeasures are strategic assets. Their rapid development, production and distribution can save millions of lives and mitigate the impact of health emergencies on the economy and the society.
Implementation dialogues are an opportunity to align implementation with realities on the ground. President von der Leyen tasked all Commissioners with organising two Implementation Dialogues per year.