DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 28 July 2026
Commission adopts new guidance to improve companies' access to Europe's cutting-edge research and technology infrastructures
The European Commission has adopted new Charter of Access for Industrial Users to Research and Technology Infrastructures, aimed at making it faster and easier for companies to use Europe's world-class research and innovation facilities. The initiative is designed to help businesses, especially startups, scaleups and small and medium-sized enterprises, gain better access to advanced laboratories, pilot lines, testing environments and large scientific instruments.
By improving access to these services, the new guidelines will help companies develop, test and validate new technologies, products and services more efficiently, enabling them to reach the market more quickly. This is expected to strengthen Europe's innovation capacity and competitiveness, in line with the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said: “Innovative companies in Europe need cutting-edge infrastructures to develop and test ideas and bring their innovations to the market more quickly. This new guidance, presented in the form of a Charter, is seeking to reinforce Europe's research and technology infrastructures by creating better access conditions and tailored services for companies. This accelerates innovation and strengthens Europe's competitiveness. I invite research and technology infrastructures to endorse the Charter and champion its principles.”
The guidelines set out six key principles for research and technology infrastructures to endorse on a voluntary basis. These principles focus on increasing the visibility and availability of services, ensuring transparency and quality, simplifying contracts and agreements, promoting safe intellectual property management, providing tailored support to companies, and fostering cooperation between infrastructures, including access to data.
The initiative also aims to make Europe a more attractive place for innovators to develop and commercialise breakthrough technologies. By encouraging more visible, accessible and business-friendly services, the Commission hopes to reinforce Europe as a leading destination for industrial innovation.
Research and technology infrastructures across Europe are now invited to endorse the Charter and promote its principles. To support implementation, the Commission has launched an outreach campaign that includes webinars, events and an open repository of good practices. Organisations are also encouraged to share examples of successful approaches through the dedicated website.
More information on the Charter is available online.
(For further information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 298 20 54)
Commission seeks projects to fund under Battery Booster Facility
The European Commission has today launched a call for proposals under the Battery Booster Facility, making available up to €1.5 billion in interest-free loans to support battery cell manufacturing projects across the European Economic Area (EEA). The facility is financed through the Innovation Fund, using revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System. Applications can be submitted until 30 September 2026.
The Battery Booster Facility was established in June 2026 as part of the Battery Booster Strategy. It will help to accelerate industrial deployment of batteries, strengthen Europe's battery manufacturing capacity and support the development of a resilient European battery value chain.
The facility provides interest-free loans to eligible battery cell manufacturing projects during the critical ramp-up phase between pre-series production and full commercial operation. By addressing financing needs at this stage, the facility will help innovative projects scale up production, attract private investment, and bring new manufacturing capacity to Europe faster.
The call is open to eligible battery cell manufacturing projects located in the European Economic Area. Projects have to focus on battery cell manufacturing suitable for electric-vehicle applications, be in the ramp-up phase at the opening of the call, represent the applicant's first full commercial-scale production project for electric vehicle battery cells globally, and have a planned annual production capacity of at least 10 GWh. Successful applicants can receive interest-free loans covering up to 60% of eligible costs, with a maximum of €500 million per project.
Applications will be assessed against the award criteria set out in the call for proposals, including technical and financial maturity, and the project's added value for the European battery ecosystem.
(For more information: Siobhan McGarry - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74)
Commission seeks feedback on proposed amendments to regional State aid guidelines
The European Commission has launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to comment on its proposal to amend the Guidelines on regional State aid to keep them up-to-date. The guidelines set out the legal framework governing the granting of State aid for regional development and territorial cohesion. They aim to promote the economic development of disadvantaged regions in the EU while ensuring a level playing field between Member States.
In this context, the guidelines also lay down criteria Member States should use to identify the areas that can receive regional aid. Those areas are approved by the Commission in regional aid maps. The current regional aid maps expire at the end of 2027.
With the amendments, the Commission proposes the criteria for the identification of the relevant areas for the period 2028-2034.
Interested parties are invited to respond to the public consultation on the draft Guidelines by 30 September 2026. The Commission welcomes feedback from all interested stakeholders, in particular national and regional authorities that grant aid.
Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, said: “Our proposed amendment of the State aid rules for regional aid ensures that support is directed to the regions where it is most needed while ensuring a level playing field in the Single Market. We encourage all interested parties to share their views.”
A press release is available online.
Commission approves €149 million Swedish State aid for agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices
The European Commission has approved a €149 million (SEK 1.6 billion) State aid scheme for 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 aid will take the form of direct grants. The scheme concerns the grant of a limited amount of aid based on the increase of the prices of fuel and fertilisers. The aid intensity corresponds to 85% of the estimated increase in fuel and nitrogen fertiliser costs for agricultural companies and in fuel costs for the fishery and aquaculture companies. The aid will not exceed €50,000 per company.
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, 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.
Commission approves changes and budget increase to Spanish State aid scheme for road transport companies facing increased fuel prices
The European Commission has approved the prolongation and modification of a previously approved Spanish State aid scheme to support road transport companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Crisis in the Middle East. The existing scheme was approved on 29 June 2026 under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF).
The scheme, which originally covered the period March to June 2026, will be extended for by three months so it also covers the period July to August 2026. The estimated budget will be increased to €703 million. In addition, the aid amounts have been adjusted to take account of the temporary reduction of the national excise duty on hydrocarbons. All other conditions of the initial scheme remain the same.
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 2.2 of the METSAF.
The Commission found that the notified scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the METSAF. In particular, the Commission concluded that the prolongation and the amendments have not affected the conclusions set in the initial scheme 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.
More information on the METSAF can be found online. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.124070 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website.
Commission clears acquisition of HUGO BOSS by Frasers
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of HUGO BOSS AG of Germany by Frasers Group plc (‘Frasers') of the UK.
The transaction relates primarily to the supply and retail of premium apparel, shoes and accessories.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12514.
(For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83)
Commission clears creation of a joint venture by Brookfield and Lunate
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Brookfield Capital Partners Manager (Bermuda) Ltd. (‘Brookfield') of Bermuda and Lunate Capital Limited (‘Lunate') of the UAE.
The transaction relates primarily to residential real estate development projects in the Middle East.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12347.