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We wish our subscribers and loyal readers a merry Christmas and a very happy 2026! We are closed from December 23 to January 2 inclusive. Issue 13779 will be dated 6 January 2026.

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Beacons: continued funding for Ukraine, mission accomplished for António Costa

Winter break: Christmas/New Year

BEACONS

Beacons: continued funding for Ukraine, mission accomplished for António Costa

CYPRUS PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

EU2026CY: security, competitiveness and budget - Cyprus sets out EU Council Presidency priorities for “an autonomous Union - open to the world”

CLIMATE/ENERGY: Cyprius Presidency wants to advance negotiations on new European Grids Package

TRANSPORT: Cyprus Presidency of Council of EU wants to advance connectivity of island and peripheral regions

FINANCE: six key legislative initiatives to drive forward Savings and Investment Union under Cyprus Presidency of EU Council

Russian invasion of Ukraine

RUSSIA: by stepping up sanctions against Russia, EU intends to keep up pressure on Kremlin

HUMANITARIAN AID: European Commission delivers thermal power plant to Ukraine

ECONOMY: European Commission disburses €2.3 billion in macro-financial assistance to Kyiv under ‘Ukraine Facility’

EXTERNAL ACTION

TRADE: new tariffs on EU dairy products - European Commission deems China’s new announcements “unjustified”

SECTORAL POLICIES

HOME AFFAIRS: European Commission highlights continuing difficulties with Georgia in its eighth report on visa liberalisation schemes

CONSUMERS: European citizens want Commission to take stronger action to regulate addictive designs and features of online platforms

ENERGY: revising electricity pricing can boost European heat pump industry, says Ember

REGIONS: EU to develop macro-regional strategy for Atlantic

RESEARCH: EU leads world in green inventions but lags behind in twin transition, according to European Commission

SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT

SOCIAL: Member State experts invited on 8 January to discuss draft EU Council conclusions on child poverty

EMPLOYMENT: according to Eurofound, collective agreements improve job quality for workers in low-paid sectors

ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS

STATE AID: European Commission validates reform of French capacity mechanism in electricity sector

STATE AID: European Commission opens in-depth investigation into Czech Republic’s support for construction of two nuclear reactors

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

COUNCIL OF EUROPE: in 2025, Council of Europe consolidated its support for Ukraine and defended democratic values on international stage

NEWS BRIEFS

AGRICULTURE: EU agri-food trade surplus reaches highest level in over a year

EYCS: ‘Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values’ programme initiates its first wave of calls for proposals for 2026

ENERGY: ACER approves move to 30 minutes before delivery for closing of electricity trades on intraday market

MIGRATION: ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’ - Member States approve first ‘solidarity pool’ for second half of 2026

DIGITAL: Apple fined €98.6 million by Italian competition authority

RESEARCH: EU and Japan decide to work more closely together through Horizon Europe framework programme

REGIONS: Czechia receives aid from EU Solidarity Fund

Op-Ed

SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: Minimum wages in Europe - a ruling that changes everything, by Torsten Müller and Thorsten Schulten