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http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/ en Copyright (c) 2026 Sliven.NET and contributors lkalapchieva@datamplant.com RSS generator of Sliven.NET, version 0.01 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484259 A delegation of Economic and Monetary affairs committee MEPs have just concluded a visit to the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings. On 14-16 October 2026, a delegation from the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) travelled to the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok (Thailand) to discuss current financial and economic challenges. Reflecting on the delegation’s discussions, Fernando Navarrete Rojas (EPP, ES), leader of the delegation, made the following statement: “This year’s discussions took place against a backdrop of elevated energy costs, heightened geopolitical risks, record high public debt at the global level and persistent fiscal pressures, as well as uncertainty about the impact of AI on future productivity growth. Despite these challenges, the global economy has proven more resilient than anticipated. Yet, vulnerabilities remain, and the policy buffers available to absorb future shocks are narrowing. In the EU, a credible policy framework and reforms undertaken in the aftermath of past crises have helped strengthen economic resilience. But Europe cannot afford complacency. To boost growth and competitiveness, we must deepen the Single Market and remove persistent barriers. Completing the Savings and Investments Union and advancing an ambitious Market Integration and Supervision Package are key priorities. Through its legislative work, the ECON Committee is actively contributing to a stronger, more dynamic, integrated and resilient European economy. Finally, the meetings highlighted the IMF’s crucial role in navigating uncertainty and safeguarding financial stability and reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation. At a time when the rules-based global order is under increasing strain, we remain firmly committed to multilateralism and international cooperation.” Background The delegation, composed of 7 MEPs was in Bangkok (Thailand) between Wednesday 14 October and Friday 16 October to attend the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. On this occasion, the delegation held numerous meetings, including with IMF and World Bank officials, representatives of US authorities, as well as think tanks, industry and other stakeholders. Topics high on the agenda of the delegation included the global and European economic outlooks, EU economic governance, debt sustainability and public investment, economic and climate risks to the system, trade imbalances and multilateralism, digital finance, financial and capital markets regulation, the effects of AI, as well as Ukraine. The delegation was composed of the following Members: Fernando NAVARRETE ROJAS, (EPP, ES) (Head of Delegation) Michalis HADJIPANTELA, (EPP, CY) Eniko GYORI, (PfE, HU) Mariateresa VIVALDINI, (ECR, IT) Stéphanie YON-COURTIN, (Renew, FR) Ivars IJABS, (Renew, LV) Fabio DE MASI, (NI, DE) lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:22:05 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484259 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484205 At the 2026 REGI–COTER meeting, MEPs and regional representatives stressed that cities and regions must be central to shaping and delivering EU’s priorities for the next budget. The joint meeting took place as European heads of state and government are gathering in Brussels for a European Council meeting that has negotiations on the future EU budget 2028-34 at its core. The proposals under discussion among EU institutions on the post-2027 Cohesion Policy framework include the creation of National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), and updated rules for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund and Interreg. Dragoș Benea (S&D, RO), Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development (REGI), said: “The debate on the future of the European budget is not just a technical one. It is a debate about what kind of Union we want to build after 2027 and how we create synergies between competitiveness, security and solidarity. At a time of deep transformation, regions must not simply be the recipients of decisions taken at national or European level. They must be active partners in shaping and building our common future. If we want a more competitive, secure and resilient Europe, we must invest in our territories and put regions at the heart of decision-making. Vasco Alves Cordeiro (PES, PT), Chair of the European Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER), said: "Cohesion Policy remains the Union's foremost long-term investment instrument, and its strength rests on three inseparable principles: partnership, the place-based approach and multilevel governance. Merging more than 400 programmes into 27 national plans that make regions and cities expendable risks severing the link between the Union and its citizens. Regions and cities drive nearly half of public investment in Europe; they must therefore co-design and implement the National and Regional Partnership Plans, not merely be consulted afterwards. We call on the Commission to make multilevel governance a binding condition for approving these plans, so that every territory can shape its own development. In his intervention, European Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto said that the future Cohesion Policy structure should reflect the need to adapt to emerging challenges and new priorities, including housing, energy, climatere silience and dual-use infrastructure.He recalled the recently launched strategies for cities, eastern border regions, islands and outermost regions, as well as the upcoming strategy on the “right to stay”, expected early next year, which aims to ensure that people can remain in and build their future in the places they call home. Reacting to concerns from REGI and COTER members on the need to strengthen regional involvement within the NRPPs, Fitto agreed that while there are several provisions in the new proposal where their role is defined, more work has to be done to "strengthen" this part within the future negotiations among EU institutions. REGI and COTER members, who are responsible for Cohesion Policy within their respective EU institutions, underlined that an over-centralisation of decisions on territorial investments in the hands of national governments would weaken the effectiveness of Cohesion Policy in tackling disparities. They called for greater clarity and legal guarantees on the involvement of local and regional authorities in the future NRPPs. They also stressed that competitiveness and cohesion should be considered as fully complementary, as demonstrated by the fact that more than 58% of cohesion policy funding 2021-27 (EUR 220 billion) is allocated to meet the goals of the EU Competitiveness Compass. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:26:12 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484205 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484204 At the European Council, President Metsola called for a long-term EU budget that matches Europe's ambitions, faster progress on competitiveness, and continued momentum for enlargement. Addressing EU leaders in Brussels, President Metsola warned that the Irish Presidency's revised proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) risks undermining the balance achieved by Parliament between traditional policies and new priorities. “We cannot agree on our ambitions, spend meeting after meeting discussing them, and reduce the means to achieve them,” she said. President Metsola said that new own resources offer “a bridge to agreement”, allowing Europe to finance its priorities while limiting pressure on national budgets. “This is the missing element that can bridge everybody’s position,” she said. She spoke on the need to engage with Parliament throughout the entire process and reaffirmed the Institution’s readiness to work constructively to find a way forward and deliver a budget that is fit for purpose. Delivering on competitiveness President Metsola updated leaders on Parliament's good progress on the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap, underlining that key legislative files are advancing on schedule. The European Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to delivering results for European citizens and businesses in a second review of the roadmap. On energy, President Metsola said that “the strategy we have adopted is delivering” while calling for faster progress on cross-border connections. She highlighted that negotiations on the EU Grids Package were well under way with an agreement hopefully possible “before the end of the year”. Global partnerships President Metsola highlighted the importance of strengthening global partnerships, pointing to the upcoming EU-Canada and EU-UK Summits as opportunities to deepen cooperation on security, energy, technology and trade. On China, she welcomed diplomatic efforts while highlighting Europe's readiness to use existing trade instruments and develop new ones if necessary to counter unfair economic practices. "There is a limit to what our industries can absorb, and we are reaching it," she warned, underlining Europe's readiness to use existing trade instruments and develop new ones if necessary. Ukraine and enlargement President Metsola reaffirmed Parliament's strong support for Ukraine as the country faces another winter at war and a worsening humanitarian situation. On enlargement, she welcomed the opening of two new EU accession negotiation clusters each with Ukraine and Moldova, alongside Montenegro closing three chapters and Albania one. “We need to do our part,” she said. The President noted that the recently proposed safeguards tied to reforms offer a basis for addressing outstanding concerns. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:25:16 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484204 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484043 Members of the environment committees of the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions are meeting today, 12 October, to discuss the EU’s next multiannual budget. As the negotiations on the European Union’s next long-term budget are entering their final phase, local leaders and MEPs are expected to warn that the proposed cuts in environment and climate funding will seriously undermine regions and cities' capacity to deliver climate action, adapt to the consequences of climate change and protect their citizens against floods, wildfires and heatwaves. On 10 October the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU presented a new so-called “negotiation box” that serves as starting point for the discussions of heads of state or government gathering in Brussels on 15-16 October to discuss the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. The negotiating box contains significant cuts across budget lines, including environment and climate funding under National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). At today's joint meeting of the European Parliament's ENVI Committee and the European Committee of the Regions' ENVE Commission, members of both institutions are expected to express their concerns about the cuts, the ambiguity of the objectives and definitions, the lack of strong territorial ownership, unclear allocation of responsibilities, and the scrapping of a stand-alone LIFE programme dedicated for environmental action. The European Commission's MFF proposal sets a general minimum target of 35% for climate- and environment-related spending – including up to 43% in the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) and in the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). However, there is no dedicated programme focused exclusively on environment and climate action and accessible to local and regional stakeholders, such as LIFE in the current budget term. This summer's extreme weather events have again shown that the acceleration of climate change is making heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires increasingly frequent and violent across Europe. Today, the Committee of Regions published its annual report on the state of regions and cities 2026, which recalls that every euro spent in adaptation action can generate up to €10 in benefits. In April 2026, the European Parliament called for the continuation of current actions in nature conservation, biodiversity restoration, climate adaptation, pollution prevention and environmental governance under the next MFF, with dedicated funding of €3 billion over the budgetary period in 2025 constant prices. Quotes Pierfrancesco Maran (IT/S&D), Chair of Parliament’s committee on Environment, Climate Change and Food Safety said: "The next MFF must allow us to navigate challenging times and prepare for the future. The proposed cuts go in the opposite direction: they would make our communities and territories more vulnerable. Every euro invested in resilience and adaptation brings back up to ten euros in returns, and that is the logic we should follow in the next long-term budget. Resilience must be built into every programme the EU finances, so that what we invest today protects our communities tomorrow. This means keeping the target of a minimum of 35% of funding for climate and environmental action, and ensuring this is reflected in the whole MFF, in a more ambitious budget. Biodiversity also needs dedicated and predictable funding. The Environment Committee is committed to ensuring that the EU's next long-term budget prepares us for the priorities and challenges of the 21st century." Kostas Bakoyannis (EL/EPP), Chair of the CoR’s ENVE Commission and Member of Athens City Council said: "Cohesion policy is not a side issue: it is a core pillar of a stronger, more united and more competitive Europe. As negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget enter a decisive phase, we must be clear: cutting cohesion policy funding would weaken Europe’s ability to respond to the climate crisis where it matters most — in our cities, regions and communities. “We want to see an EU budget that protects robust funding for regions and cities, secures a real role for local and regional authorities in the National and Regional Partnership Plans, and preserves dedicated support for climate and environmental action close to citizens." lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:51:42 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484043 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484040 Budgetary resolution complements the recent vote on figures and finalises budget committee position on 2027’s EU budget Plenary to confirm position on 21 October, negotiations with Council to start in November MEPs add €1.17 billion to the Commission’s initial draft budget MEPs want EU debt repayments to be financed without cutting funding for flagship programmes that help Europeans tackle today’s challenges In their draft resolution adopted on Monday 12 October, following and accompanying a 6 October vote on the budgetary figures, budget committee MEPs reaffirm Parliament’s political priorities for the 2027 EU budget and call for sufficient funding to deliver them. The EU must, they say, make full use of the budgetary means available to address current challenges, support its priorities and secure a prosperous future for Europe, despite existing budgetary constraints. MEPs voted to restore the €1 billion in commitment appropriations and €501.8 million in payment appropriations cut by the Council, while also proposing increases in commitment appropriations for several programmes compared with the Commission’s draft 2027 EU budget. The draft resolution by rapporteurs Nils Ušakovs (S&D, LV), general rapporteur for the EU budget 2027 (for section III - Commission), and Michalis Hadjipantela (EPP, CY), rapporteur for the other sections, was adopted by 24 in favour, 8 against, and 2 abstentions. Research, infrastructure, health and education To boost European competitiveness, innovation and cross-border connectivity, MEPs want to increase funding for Horizon Europe by €63 million, transport and energy networks by €260 million, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises by €31.5 million. To strengthen public health, education and citizens’ participation, MEPs want to increase funding for EU4Health by €50 million and Erasmus+ by €96 million. They also propose an additional €15 million for the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme. Agriculture, environment and civil protection MEPs want to reinforce support for agriculture by increasing funding for young farmers by €20 million and for the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund by €85 million. They also propose an additional €85 million for the LIFE programme, including €25 million for the clean energy transition and €51 million for nature and biodiversity. To strengthen the EU’s capacity to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, they want to increase funding for the Civil Protection Mechanism by €80 million. Border management, EU’s neighbourhood and the world To reinforce the EU’s capacity to manage migration and protect its external borders, MEPs propose increasing funding for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund by €20 million and the Border Management and Visa Instrument by €40 million. They also want to increase funding for military mobility by €20 million. MEPs voted to increase funding for the Southern Neighbourhood by €60 million and the Eastern Neighbourhood by €30 million, and propose an additional €40 million for humanitarian aid. Further figures are available in the recent press release on the vote on the budgetary figures. Repayment for the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) and the Ukraine Support Loan To protect key programmes while preserving the EU budget’s flexibility and capacity to respond to unexpected needs, MEPs argue that dedicated funding instruments should be used to cover the costs of financing NGEU and the Ukraine Support Loan without undermining established EU programmes. MEPs say 65% of the NGEU repayment costs should be covered by decommitments to protect key EU programmes from cuts. MEPs also call for the full mobilisation of the newly created Ukraine Support Loan instrument, to cover the borrowing costs of the Ukraine Support Loan. Next steps Parliament’s plenary is expected to vote on its position on 21 October, launching three weeks of negotiations with the Council, which adopted its position in September 2026, with a view to reaching an agreement on next year’s budget before the end of the year. The first round of talks is expected to take place on 3 November. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:40:52 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484040 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484039 On Monday, MEPs voted to unlock funds to help 351 workers who lost their jobs in the Finnish paper industry find new employment. The Commission’s proposal, backed by 31 votes to 2, and with one abstention, would provide support for 351 displaced workers in the paper industry in the Finnish regions of Etelä-Suomi and Helsinki-Uusimaa. The €1.1 million European Globalisation Adjustment Fund support package would finance personalised services for the workers, such as job-search training and career coaching, vocational training, self-employment grants and allowances, an AI-based pilot project focused on recruitment needs, pay subsidies, mobility allowances, and business start-up support. The total estimated cost of the package is €1.8 million, of which 60% would be covered by the EU and 40% (€735,000) by local public employment services. The paper industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, as demand has fallen due to digitalisation. The closure of the border with Russia and the halt in wood imports following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has hit the sector in Finland in particular. The support concerns former workers from four paper manufacturers: Metsä Group, Stora Enso, UPM Communication Papers, and SAPPI. Since 2007, the EGF has helped more than 185,000 people in 20 EU countries, with €737 million in funding, according to the Commission. Since May 2026, the EGF can also fund training courses for workers who are likely to be made redundant. The decision will be put to a vote by Parliament at the October plenary session. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:39:58 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484039 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484037 On Monday, the Budgets Committee voted to unlock aid worth €489 million to help the four countries recover following severe storms and flooding earlier this year. The total amount of €489 million in funding from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), approved by 34 votes in favour, 0 against, and 0 abstentions in the Budgets Committee, would support essential emergency and recovery operations. The four member states requested the aid after storm Harry struck Malta and Italy in January 2026, and after a series of storms caused severe flooding in Portugal and Spain between January and February 2026. The storms caused widespread destruction and serious disruption to the daily lives of Europeans there. The breakdown of the proposed funding is as follows: Malta: €3.7 million; Italy: €74.9 million; Portugal: €261.5 million; Spain: €149.1 million. The EUSF support would help finance emergency and recovery measures such as restoring energy, water, wastewater, telecommunications and transport infrastructure, as well as health and education services, where needed. The aid would also cover clean-up operations, temporary accommodation and rescue services, and measures to secure preventive infrastructure and protect cultural heritage. Since 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund has provided over €11 billion in aid in response to 150 disaster events, including 130 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies, across 25 member states (including the UK) and six accession countries. The EUSF is part of the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve, a special instrument of the EU budget, and its mobilisation must be approved by both the Parliament and the Council. The decision will be put to a final vote by Parliament at the October plenary session. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:38:28 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=484037 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=483834 Stronger rules on conflicts of interest, political financing and revolving doors Better cross-border cooperation, enforcement and asset recovery Protection for independent bodies, journalists, judges and whistleblowers Common monitoring and stronger rule of law conditionality On Thursday, MEPs adopted their priorities for the Commission's imminent anti-corruption strategy to strengthen prevention, enforcement, and integrity across the EU. In a resolution adopted by a show of hands, Parliament says the anti-corruption strategy must address evolving corruption risks linked to organised crime and new technologies, following the entry into force of the anti-corruption directive in May 2026. Corruption erodes citizens’ trust, undermines democracy and the rule of law, distorts economic activity, and creates openings for organised crime and hostile actors. MEPs warn that perceived impunity can be as damaging to democratic legitimacy as corruption itself. Prevention and integrity Parliament calls for evidence-based corruption risk mapping, training, and stronger rules on public procurement, grants, and transparency. MEPs also ask for more harmonised standards on conflicts of interest, gifts, sponsored travel, asset declarations, and revolving doors, as well as clearer lobbying rules. They want common rules on political financing and transparency around political foundations and intermediaries. EU institutions should be held to strong anti-corruption standards, backed by a regular review from other EU institutions and possible changes to relevant EU rules. Enforcement and cross-border action MEPs call for closer cooperation and data-sharing between national authorities and EU bodies including Europol, Eurojust, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Anti-corruption bodies should be independent and properly resourced, while the EPPO should receive more resources for serious cross-border corruption - and member states that have not yet joined should do so. Parliament links corruption with organised crime, money laundering, and asset concealment, and calls for stronger action to trace, freeze, confiscate, and recover criminal proceeds. It also highlights risks linked to crypto-assets, opaque ownership structures, and digital tools, while reiterating its call to phase out investor residence (“golden visa”) schemes. The role of watchdogs MEPs call for civil society and anti-corruption watchdogs to be involved in all phases of the strategy, stronger protection for whistleblowers and investigative journalists, and independent judicial and anti-corruption authorities. Parliament also calls for full EU membership of the Council of Europe’s “Group of States against Corruption” (GRECO), so that EU institutions face the same scrutiny as national authorities. Monitoring MEPs want common indicators to assess anti-corruption policies and more specific, measurable recommendations in the Commission’s annual rule of law reports. They also call for stronger rule of law conditionality in the next EU long-term budget and, where relevant, anti-corruption targets in EU-funded programmes. Background The potential gains from further EU action to tackle corruption have been estimated to be worth up to €58.5 billion per year. A 2025 Special Eurobarometer found that 69% of Europeans believe corruption to be widespread in their country. Almost 60% of criminal networks engage in corruption in one way or another according to Europol. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:15:56 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=483834 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=483832 Citizenship, democracy, media literacy and EU values must be part of the pilot Initiative is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation across the EU EU countries, national authorities, schools, and teachers should be involved in the pilot project’s design and implementation MEPs recommend including schools from disadvantaged contexts and striking a geographical balance in the future European school alliances pilot scheme. Welcoming the decision to include a European school alliances pilot scheme in the education package to be presented shortly, Parliament calls on the Commission to ensure that the programme will cover citizenship education, democratic competences, media literacy, critical thinking and knowledge of the EU and its values. In their resolution, adopted on Thursday by 443 to 98 and with 47 abstentions, MEPs state that the initiative of connecting schools from different countries in organised networks should have a clear set of objectives, including improved educational results, stronger basic skills, mobility opportunities, and preparation for future skills needs. They consider this an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in school education across the EU, and to enable teachers to work together and share best practices, innovating in teaching and learning. Parliament wants targeted measures to facilitate the participation of schools from disadvantaged socio-economic contexts and learners with “fewer opportunities”. It also stresses the importance of including different education pathways, such as vocational education and training, and schools operating within specific fields such as sport or arts. MEPs defend targeted outreach and support measures for geographically and territorially balanced partnerships, allowing the representation of schools from a wide range of regions and socio-economic contexts, including from less represented or lower-capacity areas. Noting that responsibility for education lies with the EU member states, MEPs highlight that this European pilot project to help teachers and pupils focus on basic skills should complement and support national systems. Quote “Experiencing Europe shouldn’t begin only when young people go on Erasmus exchanges at university. With European school alliances, we will bring Europe directly into the classroom. When schools work together across borders, children gain new perspectives, and experience first-hand what European cooperation and democracy mean,” said rapporteur and chair of the Committee on Culture and Education Nela Riehl (Greens/EFA, DE). Background The Commission is expected to present a European school alliances pilot programme in November. The objective is to promote cross-border cooperation for basic skills and pupil/teacher mobility. The European Commission launched the European Partnerships for School Development earlier this year, with a budget of €20 million from Erasmus+. Forty projects in nearly all EU countries have been funded, covering around 400 school authorities and schools. The partnerships began operating on 1 October. The lessons drawn from implementing these projects will be used to prepare the European school alliances tool that the Commission is planning to launch as part of the 2028 Erasmus+ working programme. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:54:05 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=483832 http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=483720 Quick and targeted support for disruptive innovation in defence technologies Focus on SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups A nimble complement to the EU’s existing defence industrial toolbox The programme aims to respond to the new security environment shaped by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, where fast and low-cost defence innovation cycles are critical. On Tuesday, MEPs approved the creation of a programme for agile and rapid defence innovation (AGILE), a new €115 million instrument designed to provide rapid, agile and targeted financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – including start-ups and scale-ups – developing emerging and disruptive defence technologies. Parliament and Council negotiators provisionally agreed on establishing the programme in July 2026. The programme is designed to stimulate innovation with fast-track grants and access to testing and certification. It provides a way for member states to be involved in setting challenges to ensure the products developed meet their capability needs. The programme will focus on SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups working on emerging and disruptive defence products, including the adaptation of civil technologies for defence applications, to help bridge the gap between development and deployment. It will provide a fast-track, four-month time-to-grant, reinforcing AGILE's role as a nimble complement to the EU's existing defence industrial toolbox. AGILE will also facilitate the connection between SMEs and so-called defence industrial “primes”, the major defence industry companies that dominate the sector, including through dedicated matchmaking to increase the uptake of AGILE supported products. Quotes “With AGILE, we are accelerating the path from innovation to deployment while strengthening our SMEs, ensuring support for Ukraine, reinforcing safeguards against strategic dependencies, enhancing security of supply, and providing robust oversight to help shape future EU defence initiatives” Tonino Picula (S&D, Croatia), lead MEP for the Security and Defence Committee, said. “Europe cannot afford to be slow when the threat is fast. AGILE is our answer: getting funding out quickly, bureaucracy stripped away, and the door firmly shut to those who do not share our values. Innovation is Europe's strength. Let us finally use it” Ivars Ijabs (Renew, Latvia), lead MEP for the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, said. “AGILE will help turn Europe’s innovative potential into practical capabilities for our armed forces. By supporting SMEs and start-ups as they develop emerging technologies, the programme will bring new ideas into the defence ecosystem and strengthen Europe’s ability to deliver the solutions its forces need” Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew, Germany), chair of the Security and Defence Committee, said. Borys Budka (EPP, Poland), chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, said: “As Ukraine is relying on European support, our SMEs need targeted programs to accelerate the transition from prototype to operational capability. AGILE is designed to close that gap. The Russian aggression has rewritten the rules of engagement: the side that innovates faster, wins. Europe cannot afford to let its most promising defence innovators be slowed down by bureaucracy. Our job now is to prove this model works in practice, so it can serve as the blueprint for the upcoming European Competitiveness Fund and the next generation of defence programmes. Europe’s security depends on backing innovators who can turn promises into reality the fastest.” Next steps The legislation was adopted by 536 votes to 101, with 16 abstentions. It now needs to be formally endorsed by Council before publication on the Official Journal. The programme will enter into operation in the beginning of 2027. Background While the EU has already developed a substantial defence innovation framework, mostly aiming at long-term and large-scale projects, AGILE aims to address the fact that emerging and disruptive technologies (including AI, quantum computing, robotics, cyber capabilities, and space systems) are increasingly decisive for military effectiveness. The AGILE programme will support the rapid innovation capacity of SMEs, including innovative startups and scaleups, in delivering emerging and disruptive defence products and technologies that address the most urgent challenges faced by member state armed forces, with a focus on cost-efficiency and reducing strategic dependencies on non-associated third countries. lkalapchieva@datamplant.com (Людмила Калъпчиева) Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:35:15 +0300 European Community http://tuida-news.sliven.net/en/index.php?id=483720