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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13798
Contents Publication in full By article 28 / 34
NEWS BRIEFS / Justice

European Public Prosecutor’s Office conducts 20 searches in Portugal for suspected fraud involving ERDF funds relating to protection against Covid-19

30/01/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 29 January, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced a number of searches in Lisbon (Portugal) as part of an investigation into suspected fraud involving European subsidies and money laundering. At the request of EPPO, 20 searches were carried out by the Portuguese Judiciary Police at the residences and premises of companies under investigation. One suspect was arrested and is due to be brought before a judge. At issue is a suspected fraud involving ERDF funds, within the PORTUGAL2020 programme, relating to the “the Incentive system for productive innovation” for the prevention of Covid-19. The estimated damage to the European Union is €343,207.50. (NP)

Contents

SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
Interview SPACE: Europe needs its own space capabilities, stresses Joseph Aschbacher
SECTORAL POLICIES
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission reports still limited progress in integrating single market and boosting competitiveness by 2025
COMPETITIVENESS: EU27 ministers invited to Cyprus on 2 and 3 February to discuss health of defence industry
ENVIRONMENT: MEPs divided on simplification of certain requirements for chemical products
ENVIRONMENT: European Chemicals Agency strengthens its policy to prevent potential conflicts of interest
AGRICULTURE: EU Member States divided on origin labelling of products
AGRICULTURE: positive report from European Commission on ‘delivery model’ for 2023–2027 CAP
ENERGY: ACER identifies shortcomings in design of framework for integrated planning of electricity, gas and hydrogen infrastructures
EXTERNAL ACTION
MOROCCO: Kaja Kallas and Moroccan Minister Nasser Bourita call for consolidation of EU-Morocco partnership
HUMANITARIAN AID: European Commission grants €63 million in humanitarian aid to support victims of crisis in Myanmar
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY: Costas Fitiris to make fight against gender-based violence priority, but acknowledges his limited scope for action on number of issues
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: ILGA-Europe analyses exposure of LGBTQI people to “conversion practices” in Europe
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
CUSTOMS: Customs programme is producing good results, according to European Commission
ECONOMY: GDP growth of 0.3% in fourth quarter of 2025 in euro area
TAXATION: Tax Foundation publishes ‘roadmap’ to help European Commission draw up long-term tax simplification programme
BREACHES OF EU LAW
ENVIRONMENT: Romania referred to Court of Justice of EU over failure to close and rehabilitate landfills
COMPANIES/ACCOUNTING STANDARDS: Spain and Malta taken to EU Court of Justice for failing to transpose directive adjusting company size criteria
BIODIVERSITY: Poland ordered to comply with Court of Justice judgment on forest management plans
ENERGY: European Commission calls on 16 Member States to withdraw from Energy Charter Treaty immediately
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: European Commission opens in-depth investigation into Danish scheme in wastewater treatment sector
EUROPEAN COUNCIL: António Costa plans extraordinary European summit in late November to reach agreement on EU’s 2028-2034 budget by end of 2026
DEFENCE: ‘European Peace Facility’ - EU adopts €20 million assistance measure for Armenia
HUMAN RIGHTS: EU Council approves EU priorities in UN fora for 2026
ECONOMY: loan to Ukraine 2026-2027 – question of financial contribution from third countries discussed at EU Council
ENERGY: nuclear electricity generation increased 4.8% in 2024
SPACE: Laurent Jaffart appointed Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity at European Space Agency
JUSTICE: five people charged by European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Germany with suspected VAT fraud worth €20 million
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor’s Office conducts 20 searches in Portugal for suspected fraud involving ERDF funds relating to protection against Covid-19
MIGRATION: Europol announces dismantling of migrant smuggling network active since 2024
FISHERIES: NGOs call on European Commission to oppose text on 2026 quotas in Mediterranean
RESEARCH: EU Member States have launched around a hundred national and regional initiatives to attract global talent
SOUTH SUDAN: EU concerned about “escalating security situation” in Jonglei State
TRANSPORT: Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between EU and Morocco still to be adopted by European Parliament
CORRIGENDUM
MIGRATION: correction of a quote attributed to MEP Marie Toussaint on Commission’s new strategies for migration and visas