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European Pillar of Social Rights
On 22nd July 2026, theEuropean Commission adopted a Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights. It confirms that the Pillar remains the EU’ssocial shield and compass for fairness in an age of fast transformation, for aEurope that protects and empowers citizens. The Communication assesses progressmade in strengthening social rights across the EU and identifies concretepriorities for further action. It also charts the way for anticipating andmanaging structural change, so as to seize the opportunities of ongoingtransformations and ensure that Europe's social model continues to deliverfairness and prosperity. TheCommunication highlights three areas which require urgent, additionalattention. New and rapidly evolving, these are complementary to ongoingCommission initiatives on jobs, skills, mobility and poverty reduction:addressing affordability and the cost of living; harnessing artificialintelligence (AI) for the future of work and shared prosperity; and reducinginequalities and expanding fairness and equal opportunities. Find more information on our Press Corner.
Press conferences on 17th July 2026
Following the weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners on 17th July 2026, three press conferences took place in Brussels on the same day. Follow the latest announcement of the President and Commissioners on our Press Corner. ETS review and the Energy package Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera and Commissioners Wopke Hoekstra and Dan Jørgensen presented an Electrification Action Plan to make Europe the first electro-powered continent, and a stronger carbon market to support EU's industry in the clean transition and electrification. Europe's reliance on imported fossil fuels has repeatedly exposed it to geopolitical shocks. These have driven up energy prices for both households and companies, and dragged down our competitiveness. While 70% of EU electricity is now generated from homegrown clean energy sources, the electrification rate of energy demand has stalled at 23% over the past decade. We therefore need to accelerate the electrification of energy-using sectors, notably industry, transport and buildings. Rule of Law Report Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Michael McGrath presented key insights following the publication of the seventh annual Rule of Law Report, assessing the state of the rule of law across all EU Member States, as well as four candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. This year’sReport confirms a broadly positive trajectory, showing continued progress inmany Member States, with significant reforms completed or underway across allareas monitored under the report. While the picture is uneven across MemberStates and policy areas and some challenges persist, the Report and itsrecommendations continue to drive reform and change through sustainedengagement with Member States. The rule oflaw underpins Europe’s prosperity, democracy and security. Independent justicesystems, effective anti-corruption frameworks, free and pluralistic media, andstrong checks and balances protect citizens’ rights and sustain trust in publicinstitutions and democracy. They provide the legal certainty that supportsinvestment, competitiveness, and economic growth. Over time, the Rule of Law Report has become an established tool for engaging in dialogue with Member States on key issues related to the rule of law. Its recommendations are a driver for reform in Member States. Competitiveness of the EU banking sector Lastly, Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque presented the latest communication on the competitiveness of the EU banking sector, setting out measures to strengthen the single market for banking. The objective of this Communication – which is is a key pillar of the Commission's savings and investments union (SIU) strategy – is to build a more integrated, efficient, and competitive banking sector that can strengthen Europe's economy by financing growth, innovation, and strategic priorities, underpinned by a better-balanced regulatory framework, creating the conditions for banks to take prudent risks while safeguarding the sector's resilience, delivering better services to households and businesses, all while preserving financial stability and fostering sustainable growth.
Ukraine Statehood Day: President von der Leyen in Ukraine
On 15th July 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on the occasion of Ukraine Statehood Day. Her visit involved a ceremony for the day of Ukrainian Statehood and for the fallen soldiers of Ukraine at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv. The President also delivered a press conference and attended a bilateral meeting with President Zelenskyy, as well as the Southeast Europe Summit. Please find more information on our Press Corner.
Child Safety Online
On 13 July 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, received the final report on child safety online from the co-chairs of the special panel of experts. In her statement to the press, President von der Leyen highlighted that the EU must do more to protect children online, arguing that social media platforms and their algorithms expose young people to addiction, harmful content and mental health risks during a vulnerable stage of development. She stressed that tech companies, not children or parents, must bear responsibility for making their services safe. She also highlighted EU measures under the Digital Services Act and supported age-appropriate limits, underpinned by privacy-friendly age verification. Referring to the panel’s evidence, President von der Leyen says there is a stronger case for a clear minimum age for starting to use social media, with access introduced gradually by age. For the full transcript of the President's statement, see here.
Livestock Strategy and Protein Action Plan
On 7th July 2026, the European Commission adopted the Livestock Strategy to ensure Europe’s valuable livestock sector remains strong and resilient over time. The Strategy is the first of its kind, and sets out actions to help livestock farmers address economic, environmental and market challenges. This long-term vision recognises the essential role of sustainable livestock farming in Europe’s future to protect Europe’s food security and support rural communities in all their diversity. The Livestock Strategy comes out with a Protein Action Plan. Together, these initiatives aim to reduce strategic dependencies, reinforce European food security and contribute to a stronger, more resilient and more strategic European agri-food system. The Protein Action Plan also aims to increase the supply and use of EU-grown protein. In 2025, only 25% of the oilseeds and protein crops used to feed animals in the EU were produced inside the EU. The Plan aims to increase the share to 35% by 2035. The Commission will support European protein crop production and improve the competitiveness of EU-grown proteins. By recognising the strong links between food, feed, energy and industrial value chains, it will also encourage innovation, investment, diversified diets, and improved monitoring of protein dependencies. More information is available in our press release, questions and answers and factsheet.
Action Plan on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence
On 7th July 2026, the EuropeanCommission presented an Action Plan for a structured response to addressthe risks and harness the opportunities of advanced artificial intelligence(AI) models for cybersecurity. New advancedAI models are redefining cybersecurity. AI can be misused to identifyvulnerabilities, automate attacks and increase the scale and speed of cyberincidents at an unprecedented speed. Building onthe EU’s unique legal framework for AI and cybersecurity, the Action Plan willbring together Member States, industry and EU-level organisations to strengthenthe cybersecurity of our digital landscape against the vulnerabilities posed byadvanced AI. A pressrelease and factsheetare available online
2026 NATO Summit
The 2026 NATO Summit took place on 7-8 July in the Beştepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Türkiye. Leaders from the 32 member countries of NATO, as well as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, attended the summit which was chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Key issues such as defence spending, military support for Ukraine, the scale up of weapons production, and the ongoing conflict in Iran, were discussed. In a panel discussion on 7 July, President von der Leyen highlighted that the EU and NATO must work much more closely together as European countries rely on a shared pool of forces, making alignment with NATO capability targets essential. She stressed that the EU is sharply increasing defence spending through instruments such as ReArm Europe, SAFE and the next long-term budget. These investments strengthen Europe’s own defence industrial base, promote jobs and research. She also emphasized the need for broad cooperation with non-EU allies such as Türkiye and Canada, closer defence innovation ties with Ukraine, and a whole-of-society approach to counter hybrid threats and build resilience.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visits Azerbaijan and Armenia
On 1st and 2nd July 2026, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Azerbaijan and Armenia in the South Caucasus region. In Baku, they met with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to discuss ways to foster peace in the region through greater connectivity and support to border communities. They also discussed bilateral EU-Azerbaijan trade and energy partnerships. During the visit, President von der Leyen unveiled concrete actions to advance regional cooperation, as well as initiatives to anchor Azerbaijan in the Connectivity Agenda. To support this ambition, the President announced a Global Gateway investment package of up to €200 million for connectivity projects across the South Caucasus. An additional €20 million will be dedicated to a peace-fostering programme for local populations in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The President also stressed the significance of investing together in energy and specifically on renewable energies. In Yerevan, the President and Commissioner met with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The visit follows the recent general elections that showed the strength of Armenia's democracy and its commitment to continuing the path of reform and closer partnership with the EU. As the South Caucasus moves towards greater regional cooperation, new opportunities are emerging to deliver greater stability, prosperity, and security for its people. Broader cooperation between the EU and Armenia is central to this vision. The EU remains firmly committed to supporting Armenia in strengthening its resilience, boosting connectivity, and deepening ties with the Union. In the current context, Armenia also faces growing external economic pressure. In response, the EU is stepping up its support to help diversify trade. Find out more on our Press Corner.
Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU
On 1st July 2026, Ireland took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU which will last 6 months. To commemorate the beginning of the Presidency, the Commissioners as well as President von der Leyen travelled to Cork. A press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin took place on 3rd July. President Ursula von der Leyen outlines the key priorities for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. She highlights the need to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, scale up innovation, diversify trade, and complete the Single Market agenda. Her speech also focuses on Europe’s security and defence readiness, continued support for Ukraine, preparations for the next long-term EU budget, action on the housing crisis, and progress on EU enlargement.
Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026
The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026) is taking place in Gdańsk, Poland, on 25th and 26th June 2026. It is co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine and seeks to bolster international support for the country's reconstruction as well as catalyze investments for Ukrainian businesses. The event focuses on the sectors most impacted by Russian aggression: energy, critical infrastructure, and logistics. On 25th June 2026, President Ursula von der Leyen announced the disbursement of €3.2 billion to Ukraine as the first instalment of the new macro-financial assistance (MFA). The MFA is a segment of the Ukraine Support Loan, under which €90 billion are expected to be made available to Ukraine in 2026 and 2027, covering both budget support and defence-related needs. As a country at war, Ukraine's capacity to defend its territory depends on the rapid availability of critical products in the required quantities and within very short timeframes. The first instalment of the €6 billion defence package to support drone procurement will be disbursed in the coming days. More information is available online in the press release.