Creative Europe reinforces support for Ukraines cultural and creative sectors
The European Union continues its support for Ukraines cultural and creative sectors with the selection of four new large projects, bringing Creative Europe funding for Ukraine to €7 million in 2024-2025. These projects are ZMINA Resilience, Culture Helps, Culture Horizons, and UkrAinian cultural eXchange with the European Union (UAxEU).
In October 2024, the European Commission published a special call under Creative Europe to support the Ukrainian cultural and creative sectors with an initial budget of €5 million. At the Ukrainian Recovery Conference in July 2025, Commissioner Glenn Micallef announced a €2 million top-up as part of the Team Europe approach for Cultural Heritage in Ukraine, raising total financial support to €7 million.
Through this funding, the EU supports Ukrainian cultural and creative organisations, as well as professionals and artists addressing the ongoing and future consequences of Russias war of aggression, in cooperation with organisations from other Creative Europe countries. The funding supports cultural heritage preservation and artistic performances both inside and outside of Ukraine.
Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport said: Europe stands steadfast with Ukraine. Culture plays a vital role in preserving unity and building resilience, especially in times of war. Ive said this several times: to destroy a nation, you target its culture. This is why we have increased our financial support under the Creative Europe call for Ukraines cultural and creative sectors. I warmly congratulate the projects selected under the 2025 call, which will contribute to strengthen the resilience and post-war recovery of Ukraines cultural and creative sectors.
Find out more about the selected projects online.
(For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 460 76 57 13)
EU and São Tomé and Príncipe renew sustainable fisheries partnership
The European Union and São Tomé and Príncipe have signed a new protocol to continue their 40-year-old partnership on fisheries.
The new four-year protocol will allow EU vessels to fish around 6,500 tonnes of tuna and other migratory species per year in São Tomé and Príncipes waters.
Increased EU financial support will also foster the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in São Tomé and Príncipe. The EU contribution over four years will amount to €3.3 million, i.e. €825,000 per year. €500,000 will be dedicated every year to support São Tomé and Príncipes sustainable fisheries management, control and surveillance capacities, artisanal fishing and local fishing communities.
In addition to EU funding, EU shipowners will pay São Tomé and Príncipe a licensing and catch fee of €85 per ton of fish caught to operate in the countrys waters.
The new protocol includes provisions to enhance working conditions for fishers employed on EU vessels, ensuring safer and fairer labour practices.
Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said: “Today marks a significant milestone as we have a new implementing protocol to our Fishery Partnership Agreement with São Tomé and Príncipe. This protocol reinforces our shared commitment to responsible, sustainable fisheries and shows the power of cooperation in preserving the ocean. Together we secure the future of our shared resources, supporting local communities and ecosystems. Our collaboration sets a model for sustainable fishing that benefits all and fosters long-term ecological and economic resilience”.
The new protocol will apply provisionally as of 6 October 2025 and will enter into force as soon as the ratification process by both parties has been completed. On the EU side, this requires the consent of the European Parliament.
You can find more information on the renewed sustainable fisheries partnership online.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki — Tel.: + 32 2 2996 64 83; Anna Wartberger – Tel: +32 2 28 20 54)
EU and Japan to strengthen research ties with Horizon Europe deal by end-2025
The EU and Japan have agreed to deepen cooperation in research and innovation, with negotiations on Japans association to Horizon Europe set to conclude by the end of 2025.
Meeting in Kyoto, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva and Japanese State Minister for Science and Technology Policy Minoru Kiuchi underlined the importance of working together to tackle global challenges and drive competitiveness.
The agreement would open the door for Japanese researchers to join EU partners on equal terms in the 2026/2027 Horizon Europe Work Programme, especially under Pillar II, which funds projects on climate, energy, mobility, digital, industry, space, and health.
Commissioner Zaharieva said: “Europe and Japan have the talent and the technology, but we need to use them together. Horizon Europe association will make that possible, giving our researchers the chance to deliver breakthroughs that people will see in their hospitals, in their energy bills, and in the technologies they use every day. This is cooperation in action.”
The two sides also welcomed a new report from the EU-Japan Expert Group on Advanced Materials, highlighting shared needs in construction, energy, mobility, electronics, and data-driven research. These priorities will guide future projects and policy dialogues.
Japan has been a strategic partner for the EU in science and innovation for more than two decades. Formal negotiations on Horizon Europe association began in November 2024.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Nika Blazevic — Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17)
EU and Morocco reach agreement to extend preferential tariff treatment to Western Sahara
The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have reached an agreement to extend preferential tariff treatment to the territory of Western Sahara. The agreement provisionally applies as of 3 of October 2025, ensuring continuity and certainty for traders.
The agreement ensures that proofs of origin and labelling of products indicate the region of production (Dakhla and Laayoune), and further ensures that advantages will be granted to the concerned beneficiaries.
This agreement reinforces the long-standing partnership between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco. Discussions with the Council of the EU and in the European Parliament will take place in the coming weeks and months, and their consent will be needed for the agreement to be concluded.
Over the years, the European Union and Morocco have established a profound friendship and a solid and multi-faceted cooperation. Both parties look forward to taking this cooperation to the next level in the coming months, by concluding a Strategic Partnership Agreement.
The full text of the Agreement and Declaration is available online.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Saul Louis Goulding – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)
Commission approves Austrian scheme to support security of electricity supply
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an Austrian scheme to safeguard security of electricity supply.
The scheme will support security of electricity supply for a period of 5 years starting in October 2026. It is an extension and update of the existing network reserve that was approved in 2021 and will end in 2026. Among various technical changes, the new scheme includes monthly contracts and other updates designed to increase participation of smaller resources, in particular electricity consumers that can provide demand response by reducing energy use.
Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, said: “The measure approved today will help to ensure the security of Austrias electricity supply. This also supports the security of the wider European electricity grid. The measure will be open to all types of capacity in a competitive process, which will help keep costs down.”
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commission clears acquisition of Somers Re by Arch, TPG, Kelso and Warburg
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Greysbridge Holdings Ltd. (‘Somers Re) by Arch Capital Group Ltd. (‘Arch), both of Bermuda, TPG Inc., Kelso & Company L.P. (‘Kelso) and Warburg Pincus LLC (‘Warburg), all of the US.
The transaction relates primarily to the provision of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11924.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
STATEMENTS
Statement by High Representative/Vice President Kallas and Commissioner Kos on Georgia
On the occasion of the elections held in Georgia, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Marta Kos have issued the following statement:
“This Saturday in Georgia was the day of local elections, amid a period of extensive crackdown on dissent.
Months of raids on independent media, the passing of laws targeting civil society, the jailing of opponents and activists or amendments to the electoral code favouring the ruling party, drastically reduced the possibility of having competitive elections. A large part of the opposition boycotted these elections, and the turnout was relatively low.
In addition, the refusal by the Georgian authorities to invite international monitors in due time, in particular OSCE/ODIHR, undermined the transparency of the electoral process and prevented credible international monitoring. Domestic organisations also refrained from observing due to the repressive environment.
Large numbers of people constantly protested the repressive policies of the governing party, Georgian Dream. We call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained.
We urge calm and restraint in the post-election period and call on the authorities to uphold citizens rights to freedom of assembly and expression. A constructive and inclusive dialogue involving all political actors and civil society is essential, and we call on every side to refrain from violence.
Finally, the European Union firmly rejects and condemns the disinformation regarding the EUs role in Georgia and denounces the personal attacks against the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia.”
(For more information: Anitta Hipper – Tel.: +32 229-85691; Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 229-80564)
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
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