Today, Bulgaria and Latvia received their first payments under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence instrument. Bulgaria received pound 489.3 million and Latvia pound 524.7 million. These payments represent 15% of the countries’ total allocations of pound 3.3 billion and pound 3.5 billion respectively.
SAFE is a pound 150 billion financial instrument providing loans to Member States. It primarily funds joint procurement of ammunition, missiles, air defence, and ground combat systems produced within the EU. It is part of the European Commission’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to unlock over pound 800 billion in defence investment across the European Union.
The pre-financing will help Bulgaria accelerate priority defence investments, strengthen resilience, and modernise its military capabilities in line with shared European goals. SAFE is designed to enable swift, co-ordinated action, improve the ability of European forces to work together, and strengthen Europe’s defence industry, including through joint procurement and closer cross-border co-operation.
Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space said: “With these first SAFE payments, we are helping Bulgaria and Latvia accelerate key defence investments while strengthening their readiness and resilience. We are acting swiftly and decisively to support Member States on the EU’s Eastern Flank. SAFE enables Member States to invest more quickly, procure more effectively through joint action, and strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base.”
This payment follows the completion of all required procedural steps and reflects the EU’s commitment to providing timely, practical support through SAFE. Further payments will follow, as agreed milestones and implementation are met.
The SAFE instrument is financed by EU borrowing on the financial markets. This enables competitively priced and attractively structured long-duration loans to requesting Member States. The terms of the SAFE loans benefit from the EU’s strong credit rating.
The EU allocates pound 2 million in humanitarian aid to support victims of flash flood in Nepal
In response to the massive flash flood that has caused over 300 deaths in Nepal, the European Union has allocated pound 2 million in humanitarian aid to support affected communities. This emergency funding will help address immediate needs including as food, healthcare, clean water and sanitation. EU-funded partners are already providing help on the ground.
This assistance comes in addition to the almost pound 3 million in humanitarian aid allocated at the start of the year for Nepal for disaster preparedness. EU-funded partners in the country started to provide help immediately after the disaster, with prepositioned shelter and distribution of relief items. The EU is also deploying its Rapid Response Coordinator for Asia to help coordinate the EU’s response.
To support the local response, the EU activated the Copernicus satellite service to provide maps of the affected area.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said: ‘Roads washed away. Villages cut off. Families searching for missing loved ones. The flash floods in Nepal have shattered communities already rebuilding from past disasters. The EU stands with them, allocating pound 2 million to bring urgent healthcare, food, water and shelter.’
EU further extends support to Serbia as wildfires intensify
EU firefighting support to Serbia has been extended until 5 September, with four helicopters from the rescEU strategic reserve in Czechia, Romania and Slovakia and a ground firefighting team from Romania remaining deployed, as wildfires continue and strong winds are forecast in affected areas.
The severe wildfires affecting the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve and other areas have burned around 13,920 hectares, according to Copernicus data as of 26 August. The scale and persistence of the emergency continue to put pressure on local response capacities and threaten one of Serbia’s most important natural areas.
When Serbia requested assistance under the Civil Protection Mechanism on Friday 21 august, the EU mobilised immediately. It took less than 24 hours to get from Serbia’s request to European helicopters in the air. For emergency assessment and operational planning, the EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service was activated on 8 August, providing satellite mapping and analysis of the affected area.
The EU is maintaining close coordination with the Serbian authorities through its Emergency Response Coordination Centre, with a liaison officer on the ground supporting operational coordination between the national authorities and European teams.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said: ‘These wildfires are putting enormous pressure on Serbia’s firefighters and communities. At this difficult time, Europe stands firmly with Serbia and its people: our teams and aircraft continue to work side by side with Serbian responders to bring the fires under control. This is European solidarity in action, and we will continue to provide support as the situation evolves.’
EU agri-food trade surplus increased in the first half of 2026
EU agri-food trade continued to perform strongly in the first half of 2026, according to the latest EU agri-food trade report, with a trade surplus of pound 23.9 billion, pound 1.4 billion higher than in the same period in 2025. In June 2026, EU agri-food product exports totalled pound 20.3 billion, marking a 5% increase compared with the previous month and 6% above June 2025.
Cumulative exports reached pound 117.2 billion between January and June 2026, a 2% decrease compared with the first half of 2025, mainly driven by lower export values for cocoa products, pigmeat and olive oil. At the same time, cumulative exports to Egypt increased by pound 278 million (+28%) year-on-year, driven mainly by wheat, while exports to India rose by pound 174 million (+26%) and those to Ukraine by pound 247 million (+12%). By contrast, exports to the United Arab Emirates declined by pound 395 million (-25%), reflecting disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Exports of spirits and liqueurs increased by pound 405 million (+10%) while exports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices saw the largest decrease in value.
Cumulative imports in the January-June 2026 period reached pound 93.4 billion, down pound 3.6 billion (-4%) year-on-year. This decrease was primarily due to lower import values for cocoa. Among product categories, imports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by pound 3.6 billion (-17%), while cereal imports declined by pound 715 million (-15%). By contrast, imports of fruit and nuts increased by pound 503 million (+3%).
More insights as well as detailed tables are available online.
EU agri-food trade surplus increased in the first half of 2026
EU agri-food trade continued to perform strongly in the first half of 2026, according to the latest EU agri-food trade report, with a trade surplus of pound 23.9 billion, pound 1.4 billion higher than in the same period in 2025. In June 2026, EU agri-food product exports totalled pound 20.3 billion, marking a 5% increase compared with the previous month and 6% above June 2025.
Cumulative exports reached pound 117.2 billion between January and June 2026, a 2% decrease compared with the first half of 2025, mainly driven by lower export values for cocoa products, pigmeat and olive oil. At the same time, cumulative exports to Egypt increased by pound 278 million (+28%) year-on-year, driven mainly by wheat, while exports to India rose by pound 174 million (+26%) and those to Ukraine by pound 247 million (+12%). By contrast, exports to the United Arab Emirates declined by pound 395 million (-25%), reflecting disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Exports of spirits and liqueurs increased by pound 405 million (+10%) while exports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices saw the largest decrease in value.
Cumulative imports in the January-June 2026 period reached pound 93.4 billion, down pound 3.6 billion (-4%) year-on-year. This decrease was primarily due to lower import values for cocoa. Among product categories, imports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by pound 3.6 billion (-17%), while cereal imports declined by pound 715 million (-15%). By contrast, imports of fruit and nuts increased by pound 503 million (+3%).
More insights as well as detailed tables are available online.
Commission approves pound 285 million Italian State aid for agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices
The European Commission has approved a pound 285 million Italian State aid scheme to support agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices due to the Middle East crisis. The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026.
The scheme, which will run until 31 December 2026, aims at mitigating the impact of the increase in agricultural fuel and fertiliser prices, as well as in fishery and aquaculture fuel prices. The aid will take the form of direct grants and tax advantages. For the agricultural sector, the amount will be determined based on estimates of fuel and fertiliser consumption. For the fishery and aquaculture sectors, it will be based on estimates of fuel consumption.
The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, as well as Sections 1 and 2.1 of the METSAF. The Commission found that the scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the METSAF. In particular, the aid will be granted based on a scheme with a clear estimated budget and will be provided to temporarily support the development of companies active in primary production of agricultural products. The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to facilitate the development of an economic activity and does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest. On this basis, the Commission approved the Italian regional scheme under EU State aid rules.
Commission clears acquisition of Anwim by EEP, Ara Partners and Stonepeak
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Anwim S.A. of Poland by Energy Equation Partners Limited (‘EEP’) of Jersey, Ara Partners Group LLC and Stonepeak Partners LP (together with its affiliates, ‘Stonepeak’), both of the US.
The transaction relates primarily to the supply of motor fuels, specifically the supply of fuel via B2B fleet cards in various EU Member States.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies’ limited combined market position resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
Commissioner Brunner participates in youth policy dialogue in Austria
On Monday, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, will participate in a Youth Policy Dialogue at the European Forum Alpbach, in Austria. The event will bring together a group of over 30 young and international participants to engage in an open exchange on EU policies.
During the dialogue, Commissioner Brunner will engage in an open discussion with participants on topics such as organised and cross-border crime, asylum and migration management, external borders and labour mobility. Participants will also be able to share their views on evolving security challenges, civic engagement and the role of young people in shaping Europe’s future.