The European Commission has announced the adoption of a regulation introducing new rules on the use of railway infrastructure capacity to improve coordination, reliability and efficiency across the European rail network. The regulation establishes a more harmonised approach to capacity planning, with the aim of making better use of congested rail infrastructure, improving punctuality and reliability for passenger and freight services, and supporting smoother cross-border rail operations.

The European Commission has announced that EU Member States have agreed on new limits for litter on the seafloor. The new thresholds require that areas monitored through trawl surveys show no increase in seafloor litter over time, while areas monitored visually must contain no more than one litter item per 1,000 square metres, noting that current assessments focus mainly on waters up to 200 metres deep. Member States are required to implement appropriate measures in their marine strategies under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) (MSFD). Further technical work will follow to establish limits for the most harmful types of litter and to extend monitoring to deeper waters. The MSFD will be revised to strengthen protection of the marine environment, simplify implementation and reduce administrative burden alongside the development of an Ocean Act under the European Ocean Pact.

The European Commission has announced a pilot programme for coordinated assessment of clinical investigations and performance studies across multiple EU Member States. This initiative, aligned with Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (Medical Device Regulations (MDR)) and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (In Vitro Diagnostic Device Regulations (IVDR)), allows sponsors to submit a single application for review by participating countries. The pilot, which includes 20 Member States, aims to streamline the approval process for eligible Class III and invasive Class IIa/IIb medical devices, as well as certain IVDs. While participation is voluntary until 2027 for MDR and 2029 for IVDR, the Commission encourages sponsors to apply by 30 June 2025 for medical devices, with IVD applications to be opened at a later date.

The European Commission has announced a political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on two Regulations implementing commitments made under the EU-US Joint Statement of 21 August 2025. The Regulations would remove tariffs on all US industrial goods and improve market access for certain US agricultural and seafood products. The texts will now proceed to formal adoption before entering into force.

The European Commission has announced a proposal for a new regulation intended to protect the EU steel industry from the effects of global overcapacity. Under the proposal, tariff-free import volumes would be reduced to 18.3 million tonnes per year, representing a 47% decrease compared with 2024 quotas, and out-of-quota duties would be increased to 50%. The regulation would apply to all countries of origin except those within the European Economic Area (EEA) and would introduce a 'melt and pour' requirement to enhance traceability and transparency in the EU steel supply chain. The proposal follows projections that global steel overcapacity could reach 721 million tonnes by 2027. Negotiations between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council will now seek to finalise the text, with full implementation envisaged by 1 July 2026, when the current safeguard measure is due to expire. If adopted, the regulation is intended to remain consistent with World Trade Organization rules while providing a stable trade framework for the EU steel sector.

The European Commission has announced the publication of two delegated regulations in the Official Journal (OJ) of the European Union expanding the list of well-established technologies (WET) under the Medical Devices Regulation (EU) 2017/745. The changes are intended to make certain regulatory requirements more proportionate and reduce the burden on manufacturers. The delegated regulations will enter into force 20 days after publication in the OJ.

The European Commission has announced an agreement to update the EU-Moldova Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The revised agreement introduces a safeguard mechanism allowing both parties to implement measures against adverse trade effects, and conditions Moldovan market access on alignment with EU production standards. The agreement includes a scheduled 2027 review to assess Moldova's EU membership progress and market integration. Implementation requires final legal revision before proceeding through formal endorsement procedures. The Commission will submit a Council decision proposal in the coming days, followed by formal adoption through the EU-Moldova Association Committee. Trade continues under current DCFTA terms until the revised agreement takes effect.

The European Commission has published the final report of its Special Panel on Child Safety Online, setting out recommendations for a European approach to protecting and empowering children in the digital environment. The report recommends introducing a harmonised EU-wide minimum age of 13 for access to social media and other digital services, supported by privacy-preserving age assurance systems and calls on providers of social media and other digital services to adopt safety-by-design measures, including restrictions on addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and personalised recommender systems. It also recommends placing the burden on providers to demonstrate that their services are safe for minors before granting access, strengthening enforcement of existing EU legislation, including the EU Digital Services Act (EU DSA), Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)) and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act), and promptly adopting legislation to combat online child sexual abuse.

The European Commission has appointed a Scientific Panel and an Advisory Forum to support enforcement of the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. The Scientific Panel comprises 60 independent experts with experience in frontier AI, engineering, technical auditing and industrial and societal impact. Its work will focus on general-purpose AI models, systemic risks, model classification, evaluation methodologies and cross-border market surveillance. The Advisory Forum will provide technical expertise and advice on matters relating to the EU AI Act, including standardisation and implementation challenges, with members drawn from academia, civil society and industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Key EU agencies, including the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, as well as standardisation bodies, will have a permanent role in the forum. Both bodies will advise the Commission's AI Office and national authorities on the application of the rules, with members serving two-year terms.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €76 million German measure to support QuantumDiamonds GmbH to set up a semiconductor testing equipment facility in Munich. The direct grant supports the ‘IPF-ATEST’ project to develop and manufacture advanced metrology and inspection systems based on novel quantum sensors for high‑resolution and 3D testing of modern chips, strengthening the EU’s position in the semiconductor value chain in line with the European Chips Act 2023 , with commitments on security of supply, workforce growth, collaboration with universities and research institutions, priority supply in shortages, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) access and profit sharing.

The European Commission has authorised the mRNA vaccine ‘mResvia’ to protect adults over 60 against lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. This approval is the first vaccine to be authorised using mRNA technology to prevent a disease other than coronavirus (COVID-19). The European Medicines Agency authorisation comes ahead of the autumn/winter season when RSV infections tend to peak. National authorities will now decide on the vaccine’s use according to their vaccination plans.

The European Commission has selected 15 renewable hydrogen production projects across five European Economic Area (EEA) countries for €992m in funding from the Innovation Fund, sourced from the EU Emissions Trading System. The projects are expected to produce 2.2 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen over ten years, avoiding more than 15 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The projects will receive fixed premium support between €0.20 and €0.60 per kilogramme, with three maritime sector projects receiving €96.7m in dedicated funding. Grant agreements are expected to be signed by September/October 2025, with projects required to reach financial close within 2.5 years and begin production within 5 years. A third European Hydrogen Bank auction is planned for end 2025 with a €1bn budget.