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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13799
Contents Publication in full By article 18 / 26
NEWS BRIEFS / Economy

Euro area enterprises report tighter financing conditions in fourth quarter of 2025

02/02/2026 (Agence Europe) – According to a survey by the European Central Bank (ECB) published on Monday 2 February, credit conditions for enterprises in the euro area tightened significantly in the fourth quarter of 2025. More companies reported a rise in interest rates on bank loans than a fall, with a net balance of +12%, compared with +2% in the previous quarter, among both SMEs and large companies. The same applies to loan fees and commissions (+28% net) and guarantee requirements...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
COMPETITIVENESS: European leaders invited on 12 February to consider “rules that allow for European preference in some strategic areas”
COMPETITIVENESS/INDUSTRY: critical materials - initial compromise in EU Council clarifies European Commission’s powers to address companies’ vulnerabilities
COMPETITIVENESS/INDUSTRY: EU critical raw materials strategy - few projects likely to succeed by 2030, say European auditors
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT: European ministers to debate climate and water resilience strategy on 6 February
ENVIRONMENT: MEPs call for an end to cetacean hunting in Faroe Islands
ENERGY: application of ‘REPowerEU’ Regulation - “All Member States must comply with European legislation”, insists Dan Jørgensen
ENERGY: CREA warns against lagging investment in clean energy in EU and dependence on US fuels
TRANSPORT/ENERGY: EESC recommends increased funding for ‘Connecting Europe Facility’
EXTERNAL ACTION
HUMANITARIAN AID: latest War Watch report highlights “rampant impunity” for war crimes, Hadja Lahbib issues a “call to action” from EU
MIDDLE EAST: Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt partially reopened in both directions, almost two years after it was closed
MIDDLE EAST: more than 400 former EU ambassadors and Member State ministers urge European leaders not to sit on ‘Board of Peace’
INSTITUTIONAL
EU INSTITUTIONS: strike warning from trade unions against reform of EU delegation network
FUTURE OF THE EU: economic competitiveness and security form European People’s Party’s top priorities for 2026
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: according to European Commission, non-discrimination law is applied unevenly in Member States
GENDER EQUALITY: ‘Parity Now!’ - European Women’s Lobby launches campaign to institutionalise parity in all spheres of decision-making
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
GEORGIA: Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights warns of threats to civil society in Georgia
NEWS BRIEFS
CHINA: Eucolait regrets imposition of definitive customs duties by China on certain EU dairy products
ECONOMY: euro area enterprises report tighter financing conditions in fourth quarter of 2025
ETHIOPIA: EU fears renewed instability in Tigray region
ENERGY: regulation on move away from Russian gas published in Official Journal of EU, Hungary refers matter to EU Court of Justice
ENERGY: ACER unveils how it will conduct cross-border investigations into suspected European energy market abuse
ITALY: ‘Italian System’ to unveil its strategic priorities for EU on 4 February in Brussels
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor’s Office announces a new wave of arrests and searches in ‘Nimmersatt’ investigation in Lithuania
DIGITAL: EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement enters into force
SYRIA: EU calls for implementation of agreement between Syrian transitional authorities and Syrian Democratic Forces
TRANSPORT: European Commission consults on rules for noise-related flight restrictions at airports