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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13882
Contents Publication in full By article 32 / 35
NEWS BRIEFS / Women’s rights

European Prize for Women Innovators 2026 - Katerina Spranger, Marta Oliveira and Ella Frances Cullen named winners

05/06/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 4 June, the European Commission unveiled the winners of the 12th edition of the European Prize for Women Innovators, which honours women entrepreneurs whose innovations contribute to European competitiveness. The prize is divided into three categories: EIC Women Innovators, for women entrepreneurs from Member States and Associated Countries of Horizon Europe; EIC Rising Innovators, reserved for women under 35; and EIT Women Leadership, which honours members of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Community. In the EIC Women Innovators category, first place went to Katerina Spranger (Ukraine/UK), founder of Oxford Heartbeat, which develops artificial intelligence tools to improve the treatment of brain aneurysms. Marta Oliveira (Belgium), co-founder of ATMOS Space Cargo, was honoured in the EIC Rising Innovators category, and Ella Frances Cullen (Portugal), co-founder of Minespider, in the EIT Women Leadership category. (NP)

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
ENLARGEMENT: EU and Western Balkans see a new impetus in enlargement process, with Montenegro set to join Union as early as 2028
SOUTH KOREA: EU and Republic of Korea to develop ‘Competitiveness Alliance’ 
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE/RUSSIA: EU welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for direct talks with Russia
WAR IN MIDDLE EAST
LEBANON: 11 foreign affairs ministers and EU High Representative call for full respect for ceasefire
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
DEFENCE: Ukraine, maritime security and European security strategy on agenda of informal meeting of European defence ministers
SECTORAL POLICIES
HEALTH: Ebola - despite estimated low risk for EU, European ministers step up coordination and maintain vigilance
JUSTICE: recognition of parenthood - EU Member States still grappling with issue of surrogate motherhood
JUSTICE: European ministers approve a partial general approach on future 2028-2034 programme
DIGITAL: EU Telecommunications Council should agree on European portfolio of companies and discuss technological sovereignty
COMPETITIVENESS: shipbuilding sector - EU Council to call for tools to defend against unfair global competition
TRANSPORT: ‘Transport’ Council in Luxembourg - automotive package undergoes initial political test on greening of company fleets
TRANSPORT: CO2 emissions from light vehicles - seven countries defend ambitious electrification target and call for avoiding a “strategic mistake”
ENERGY: EU climate investments have stagnated since 2023, causing deficit of €344 billion in 2025, according to I4CE
ENERGY/DIGITAL: no new investments announced by European Commission to fund digitalisation and inclusion of AI in energy systems
FISHERIES: European Commission highlights continuing fragility of EU fisheries sector
FISHERIES: EU fishers sound alarm ahead of reform of Common Fisheries Policy
ANIMAL HEALTH: European Commission focuses on digital technology to monitor animal transport
COHESION: informal ministerial meeting—next steps take shape for ‘Right to Stay’ strategy and European strategy for islands
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: 2028-2034 MFF - “doubts” expressed in EU Council on feasibility of own resources plans proposed by European Parliament
TRANSPARENCY: European Ombudsman calls on Commission to keep all future SMS exchanges with Heads of State, Prime Ministers or Ministers
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: cost of living, defence, digital giants - S&D Group in European Parliament has set 6 priorities to face future and challenges ahead
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
GENDER EQUALITY: faced with delayed transposition of Pay Transparency Directive, employers cite significant “technical challenges”
ECONOMY - FINANCE
BANKS: Madrid, Paris and Rome say competitiveness of banking sector depends on rules to facilitate activities of cross-border groups
ECB: European Parliament’s negotiations on digital euro pave way for end-of-June committee vote
FINANCES: ‘retail investment’ - Member States’ ambassadors to EU approve final compromises on PRIIPs Directive and framework
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: European Commission approves €100 million in Austrian aid to strengthen clean technology industry
CLIMATE: Commission signs five-year contract with European Energy Exchange AG for its EU ETS auction platform
CLIMATE: ETS2 market stability reserve - negotiations between EU Council and European Parliament to be held on Wednesday 10 June
TRADE: European Commission opens anti-dumping investigation into aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters from China
TRADE: European Commission opens anti-dumping investigation into imports of welded steel mesh from China and Türkiye
DEVELOPMENT: EU countries close to reaching partial political agreement on ‘Global Europe’ regulation
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: European Prize for Women Innovators 2026 - Katerina Spranger, Marta Oliveira and Ella Frances Cullen named winners
ENVIRONMENT: ECHA consultation on PFAS exceeds 3,500 contributions
ENVIRONMENT: Ingeborg Ter Laak suggests reducing scope of provisions on extended producer responsibility
DIGITAL: European Commission expects “limited” impact following cancellation of Meta’s designation as gatekeeper for Marketplace