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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13805
Contents Publication in full By article 36 / 38
NEWS BRIEFS / Economy/defence

SAFE instrument - green light from EU Council for national investment plans of sixteen Member States

Brussels, 10/02/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 10 February, the ambassadors of the Member States to the European Union (Coreper) endorsed the national investment plans submitted by sixteen countries under the European SAFE instrument for granting loans to increase investment in the defence sector (see EUROPE 13763/2). On Wednesday, the EU ‘Defence’ Council will approve an initial series of plans submitted by eight Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal and Romania - see 13788/14). On Tuesday 17 February, the Ecofin Council will do the same for the plans of the eight other countries concerned (Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia - see 13794/22). Of the nineteen Member States participating in the SAFE instrument, the European Commission has yet to validate the plans for France (estimated funding: €16.2 billion), for Hungary (€16.2 billion) and for the Czech Republic (€2 billion). (MB)

Contents

Informal EU leaders' retreat
COMPETITIVENESS: informal retirement at Alden Biesen should launch a new cycle of policies and measures to reinvigorate European businesses
COMPETITIVENESS: CAN Europe network opposes climate “deregulation”
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
DEFENCE: MEPs call for strengthening of European defence, both at industrial level and on ground
SUDAN: MEPs call for greater diplomatic pressure from EU
UN: Annalena Baerbock urges EU to defend rules-based multilateral system within “trans-regional alliance”
MIGRATION: MEPs approve two texts on ‘safe third countries’ and ‘safe countries of origin’
MERCOSUR: European Parliament validates safeguard clause in trade agreement
HEALTH: MEPs divided on anti-smoking and anti-alcohol measures to combat cancer
AGRICULTURE: MEPs approve agreement with EU Council on measures to support wine sector
CLIMATE: European Parliament validates provisional agreement on 2040 emissions reduction target
BANKS: European Parliament gives green light to reappointment of Frank Elderson as Vice-Chair of Supervisory Board
ECB: European Parliament reaffirms importance of independence of Frankfurt institute’s monetary policy
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
DEFENCE: military support for Ukraine at heart of discussions of European defence ministers on Wednesday
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED STATES: European Parliament rapporteurs on EU-US relations reach a compromise on trade negotiations
CHINA: European Commission makes it possible for Chinese exporters of electric vehicles to circumvent countervailing duties
DEVELOPMENT: Court of Auditors highlights budgetary risks of a future ‘Global Europe’ fund, proposed in EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: Raffaele Fitto goes through lessons learned from ‘Recovery and Resilience Facility’ with view to 2028-2034 MFF, with MEPs
BUDGET: 2027 budget - Member States approve EU Council conclusions on budget guidelines
SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: European Commission unveils new tools to combat cyberbullying
HOME AFFAIRS/TRANSPORT: European airline industry to call for at least a partial suspension of Entry/Exit System until October
TRANSPORT: ASD expects European Commission to come up with strategy to maintain competitiveness of European aviation and aeronautics sectors
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: ACEA calls on European leaders to strengthen automotive industry through innovation, open markets and pragmatic green policy
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: Europe’s cities and regions call on European Parliament to maintain CO2 emission standards for cars and vans
CIVIL PROTECTION: European Court of Auditors sceptical about Civil Protection Mechanism in EU’s 2028–2034 financial framework
ANIMAL HEALTH: European Commission partially registers a European Citizens’ Initiative on stray dogs and cats
FISHERIES: European Commission proposes strengthening rules on open registers and flags of convenience
SEA: European Commission launches call for applications for group of ocean experts
ENVIRONMENT: Pierfrancesco Maran elected chair of European Parliament’s Committee on Environment
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: MEPs express frustration at European Commission’s withdrawal of five proposals
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
HOUSING: EU funds for renovation, easier access to property, simpler procedures - European Parliament sets out its ideas for tackling housing crisis
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
EU LAW: EU Court of Justice upholds WhatsApp’s appeal against decision by European Data Protection Board
NEWS BRIEFS
CHINA: European Commission makes imports of certain steel welding wires from China subject to registration
COHESION: European Commission launches ‘REGIOSTARS 2026’ competition to reward best projects funded by EU cohesion policy
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Davinia Wood appointed Director for Budget, Communication and General Affairs at Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy
CULTURE/MEDIA: European Commission launches consultation to assess impact of Audiovisual Media Services Directive
ECONOMY/DEFENCE: SAFE instrument - green light from EU Council for national investment plans of sixteen Member States
EGYPT: European Commission supports two new projects to promote renewable energies
CORRIGENDUM
COHESION: CoR members urge European Commission to provide assistance in implementing new performance framework