EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 22 October 2026
Presidents von der Leyen and Costa receive letters of credence of Heads of Mission
This morning, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, received letters of credence of 19 Heads of Mission to the EU. Together, the Presidents received the letters of credence of H.E. Ambassador Adamou Moumouni, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Niger; H.E. Ambassador Pranay Verma, Head of the Mission of the Republic of India; H.E. Ambassador Lee Byeongdo, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Korea; H.E. Ambassador Aïcha Nanette Conté, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Guinea; H.E. Ambassador Jonathan Wilkinson, Head of the Mission of Canada; H.E Ambassador Abhimanu Mahendra Kundasamy, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Mauritius; H.E. Ambassador Albana Dautllari, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Albania; H.E. Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Head of the Mission of the United States of Mexico; H.E. Ambassador Malebo Mabitje-Thompson, Head of the Mission of the Republic of South Africa; H.E. Ambassador María Dolores Agüero Lara, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Honduras; H.E. Ambassador Marciano Edgar Armaketo, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Suriname; H.E. Ambassador Andrea González Nader, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Ecuador; H.E. Ambassador Jorge Carlos Tarud Daccarett, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Chile; H.E. Ambassador Nguyen Huang Tra, Head of the Mission of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; H.E. Ambassador Dame Caroline Wilson, Head of the Mission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; H.E. Ambassador Joash Arthur Maangi, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Ambassador Mariam Ali Moussa, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Chad; H.E. Ambassador Taras Kachka, Head of the Mission of Ukraine; H.E. Ambassador Mark Jeremy Talbot, Head of the Mission of New Zealand.
Photos of the ceremony are available on the audiovisual portal.
(For more information: Paula Pinho – Tel.: +32 2 292 08 15; Arianna Podesta – Tel: +32 2 298 70 24; Olof Gill – Tel: +32 2 296 59 66)
Commission welcomes commitments of Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Danone to modify recycling claims on plastic bottles
Following a dialogue with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Danone have committed to change recycling claims advertised on their plastic bottles. As soon as they have all made the necessary changes, consumers can rely on fair and clear information about the recycling characteristics of the bottles, in line with the requirements of EU consumer law.
The CPC action was carried out under the lead of the Swedish Consumer Agency and the Hungarian Competition Authority. Coca-Cola and Nestlé, whose dialogues were concluded in June 2025 and February 2026, have already implemented some of the commitments within the established deadlines, notably those relating to recycling claims advertised in digital campaigns.
National consumer protection authorities will monitor the implementation of these commitments and may proceed with enforcement measures if companies fail to comply with them. Moreover, the Commission and the CPC network may engage with bottling industry associations, to ensure a level playing field where all companies operating in the Single Market abide by the same rules.
More information can be found on our press release.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33)
Commission welcomes political agreement on review of Securitisation Framework
Yesterday, the European Commission welcomed the political agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council of the EU on the review of the EU Securitisation Framework. The agreed measures aim to support securitisation activity in the EU while safeguarding financial stability.
This is the first legislative deliverable under the Savings and Investments Union, which seeks to better channel savings into productive investment through capital markets and the banking system. A stronger securitisation market can help diversify funding sources, enhance risk-sharing, and support additional lending to households and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises.
The proposal includes targeted amendments and simplifies the Securitisation Regulation by reducing operational burdens and streamlining due diligence and transparency requirements. It also amends the Capital Requirements Regulation to make the prudential treatment of securitisations more risk sensitive.
The provisional agreement is a significant step forward in supporting more investments into the real economy - supporting economic growth, innovation and job creation across the EU. It also marks an important step in delivering on the ‘One Europe, One Market' roadmap. Last week, the European Council reaffirmed the importance of finalising the securitisation package by the end of this year.
Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Maria Luís Albuquerque, said: “This agreement on the securitisation framework strikes the right balance between preserving the safeguards that protect Europe's financial stability and creating the conditions to stimulate the market. These new rules aim to support EU securitisations to increase funding for EU households and businesses. A dynamic securitisation market is essential to the Savings and Investments Union, and key to mobilising the private capital Europe needs to compete and grow. I thank the European Parliament and the Council for their constructive work in reaching this swift agreement.”
The proposal now awaits technical finalisation and formal approval by both the Parliament and Council. Once adopted by the co-legislators, the amendments will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force immediately.
(For more information: Siobhan McGarry - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Saul Louis Goulding - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commission launches Alliance to develop markets for bio-based materials and technologies
Yesterday, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, launched the Bio-based Europe Alliance at the Global Bioeconomy Summit in Dublin. The Alliance will help unlock the potential of Europe's bioeconomy to build a clean, competitive and resilient European economy.
Announced in the EU's Bioeconomy Strategy, the Alliance is a voluntary initiative, which brings together European companies who want to accelerate the use of European bio-based solutions. To date, over 100 stakeholders have joined the initiative.
The Alliance will bring together companies to develop lead markets for bio-based materials and technologies. Giving better visibility to demand will help suppliers of bio-based products and technologies attract investments. The Alliance will help shape emerging European bio-based markets and alternatives to fossil-based materials.
Commissioner Roswall said: “Bioeconomy represents a strategic opportunity that Europe has the talent and innovative capacity to seize. The Bio-based Europe Alliance will turn this potential into real market impact by bringing together buyers and suppliers, and giving visibility to demand. This will help innovative bio-based companies scale up. Reducing our dependence on fossil-based materials will make European economy more competitive, circular and resilient.”
To support the development of the bioeconomy, the European Commission also launched yesterday a public consultation to gather views and evidence on the role of bio-based plastics for packaging. Citizens and stakeholders are encouraged to give their feedback on the Commission's draft targeted amendment by 13 January 2027.
You can find more information on the launch of the Bio-based Europe Alliance online.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)
Commission welcomes political agreement on rules enhancing stability and long-term resilience of EU carbon market
The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council on a targeted amendment to strengthen the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) of the EU's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
Following the Commission's proposal in April 2026 and delivering on the European Council conclusions last week on 16 October, this swift agreement will help to ensure a stable, well-functioning carbon market in the EU and enhance EU ETS' resilience to excessive price volatility.
Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, said: “This agreement is an important deliverable in making the ETS fit for the future and a strong response to the calls of EU leaders last week. It will strengthen market stability and predictability over the next decade, enhance EU industry and competitiveness, and give businesses greater certainty to invest. It will also support industrial decarbonisation by reinforcing the resilience of the EU ETS against future shocks and excessive price volatility.”
Under the current system, all emission allowances in the reserve above 400 million are invalidated. Thanks to the agreement, the reserve will be able to retain up to 700 million allowances as a buffer to support future market stability and predictability. It is a first step towards a wider modernisation of the Market Stability Reserve, for which further reforms have been proposed by the Commission as part of the separate MSR reform and the EU ETS review on 17 July 2026.
A press release on the MSR agreement is available online.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25)
Commission approves new geographical indication from Italy
The European Commission has approved the registration of Oliva Alta Daunia from Italy as a Protected Designation of Origin.
Oliva Alta Daunia are whole table olives originating in the north of the Foggia province. The olives' specificities are largely determined by the climatic and environmental factors present in the region. They are characterised by having a herbaceous taste, slightly bitter with hints of toast. The cultivation of the Peranzana variety, part of the Oliva Alta Daunia, is historically linked with the area's social fabric, as its cultivation has played a significant part in the region's development and the area's economy. The Peranzana variety is not widespread outside the specific region.
This new designation joins the more than 3,900 protected names already listed in the eAmbrosia database. More information is available on the Quality Policy pages.
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83)
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu in Poland to discuss education, skills and EU-supported urban renewal
Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, will visit Łódź, Poland, tomorrow, to discuss how EU investments in education, skills and social inclusion can create opportunities for residents and support the city's transformation.
On 23 October, she will meet Mayor Hanna Zdanowska and representatives of all 12 cities in the Union of Polish Metropolises to discuss challenges facing education systems and support for teachers and young people. She will visit urban renewal projects, meet vocational education students and learn about the ‘Młodzi w Łodzi' programme, which brings together universities and businesses to attract and retain young talent. In the evening, she will address the Freedom Games festival, with a keynote speech focused on artificial intelligence's social impact on Europe.
The visit will highlight the local impact of EU investment in people. Poland has been allocated €12.9 billion from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) for 2021–2027, supporting employment, skills and social inclusion. In Łódź alone, ESF+ has supported more than 160 projects worth around €106 million since 2021. Over the same period, more than 780 Erasmus+ projects involving organisations from the city have received close to €59 million, expanding opportunities for learning and cooperation across borders.
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 2 296 97 76; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65)
Commissioner Roswall hosts implementation dialogue on EU laws protecting Europe's biodiversity
Tomorrow, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, will host an implementation dialogue on the Birds and Habitats Directives – the cornerstone of the EU's nature protection policy – in Brussels. The dialogue will gather participants representing businesses, urban and rural stakeholders, nature users and civil society, and Member States' authorities.
This dialogue will contribute to the ongoing stress test of the two directives. Its aim is to identify opportunities to simplify implementation and reduce disproportionate administrative burden, while maintaining the directives' ambition and high standards of nature protection.
Discussions will focus on practical solutions and actions for the implementation of both directives. The European Commission conducted earlier open consultations with Member States and stakeholders as part of the stress test, and these outcomes will feed into tomorrow's discussions. Participants will also be invited to share solutions and good practice examples relevant to their sectors and activities.
Commissioner Roswall said: “Europe needs a healthy nature, for our citizens to live and for our business depending on ecosystem services to be competitive. The Birds and Habitats Directives are essential to protecting Europe's nature, and they must work well in practice for those who contribute to their implementation every day. I am keen to hear from stakeholders concrete examples how we can achieve the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives simpler and more efficiently.”
Implementation dialogues are high-level consultations launched by the Commission to improve how EU policies are implemented on the ground, in close cooperation with Member States and stakeholders. These dialogues are part of the Commission's commitment to seek feedback from society 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 and a summary of the conclusions will be available on the dedicated webpage.
Commissioner Serafin in Malta for his ‘Tour d'Europe', with Commissioner Micallef
As part of his ‘Tour d'Europe' to consult Member States on the next European long-term budget (MFF), Commissioner for Budget and Administration Piotr Serafin is in Malta this week. This time, he is accompanied by Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef. Together, they will meet public authorities and beneficiaries of EU funding to witness firsthand how EU-supported initiatives are improving citizens' lives and contributing to regional development in the country.
Today, the Commissioners will start their visit in Valetta. There, they will meet Prime Minister Robert Abela, alongside Clyde Caruana, Minister for Finance, Silvio Schembri, Minister for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, and Christopher Fearne, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, in a crucial moment for the negotiations of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Following the pre-selection of Victoria as the European Capital of Culture in 2031, Commissioners Serafin and Micallef will formally inaugurate the launch, together with Clint Camilleri, Minister for Gozo, and Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, Minister for Arts, Culture and National Heritage, against the backdrop of the Cittadella.
Tomorrow, Commissioners Serafin and Micallef will visit the Dun Salv Vella Nadur Primary School in Gozo, meeting young students and educators who are benefitting from a capital investment of €6.3 million funded under the NextGenerationEU programme. They will be joined by Clint Camilleri, Minister for Gozo, and Byron Camilleri, Minister for Education and Sports.
More information on Commissioner Serafin's Tour d'Europe is available in its dedicated website.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65)
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