# European Democracy Shield Canonical URL: https://digital-acquis.eu/strategy/european-democracy-shield-2 Entry type: strategy Source edition current through: 17 July 2026 (2026-07-17). This is not a page modification date. Status: not recorded. A delivered initiative is not necessarily legislation in force. Document type: Communication Release date: 2025-11-12 ## Summary The European Democracy Shield combines measures against information manipulation with support for electoral integrity, independent media and public participation. It proposes closer cooperation among authorities, researchers, fact-checkers and international partners, alongside work under the Digital Services Act. Its electoral agenda includes guidance on AI, work on transparency of political funding, and the safety of candidates. Media measures address journalism, plurality and resilience, while education and literacy initiatives aim to help citizens assess information. The programme also covers civic technology, democratic participation and the use of scientific evidence in policymaking and the freedom of scientific research. ## Sources - [Official source]() ## Action items (41; complete published list) ### 1. Action item 470001 In the framework of the Digital Services Act Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 1. Digital dimension: yes. ### 2. Action item 470002 o Prepare a DSA incidents and crisis protocol Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 2. Digital dimension: yes. ### 3. Action item 470003 o Continue its engagement with signatories of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation to strengthen measures to tackle manipulative techniques online Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 3. Digital dimension: yes. ### 4. Action item 470004 Support the preparation of an EU Blueprint for countering FIMI and disinformation Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 4. Digital dimension: yes. ### 5. Action item 470005 Set up a European Network of Fact-Checkers Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 5. Digital dimension: yes. ### 6. Action item 470006 Extend the mandate of the European Digital Media Observatory Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 6. Digital dimension: yes. ### 7. Action item 470007 Support setting up a common research support framework to strengthen monitoring of information manipulation and disinformation campaigns Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 7. Digital dimension: yes. ### 8. Action item 470008 Development by the European Board for Media Services, in consultation with the Commission, of a list of common criteria for EU media regulators when they act against rogue non-EU media operators presenting risks to public security Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 8. Digital dimension: yes. ### 9. Action item 470009 Reinforce capabilities of EU Delegations, CSDP missions and operations, EU Member State Embassies to counter FIMI Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 9. Digital dimension: yes. ### 10. Action item 470010 Deploy proactive strategic communication campaigns in priority regions Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 10. Digital dimension: yes. ### 11. Action item 470011 Provide targeted capacity building and support to EU candidate countries and potential candidates to reinforce resilience to FIMI and hybrid interferences, including through CSDP missions Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 11. Digital dimension: yes. ### 12. Action item 470012 Leverage international partnerships for collective responses against FIMI, including through the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism, EU-NATO cooperation and Security and Defence Partnerships Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 12. Digital dimension: yes. ### 13. Action item 470013 Support reinforced cooperation with Member States under the European Cooperation Network on Elections (ECNE) to enhance electoral integrity and preparedness Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 13. Digital dimension: yes. ### 14. Action item 470014 Prepare guidance on the use of AI in electoral processes Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 14. Digital dimension: yes. ### 15. Action item 470015 Update of the Digital Services Act Elections Toolkit Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 15. Digital dimension: yes. ### 16. Action item 470016 Support the setting up of a voluntary EU network of influencers Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 16. Digital dimension: yes. ### 17. Action item 470017 Support common work with the Member States on the transparency and integrity of funding in politics Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 17. Digital dimension: yes. ### 18. Action item 470018 Prepare a Commission Recommendation and a dedicated guide of best practices on the safety of political candidates and elected representatives Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 18. Digital dimension: yes. ### 19. Action item 470019 Reinforce cooperation with international election observers to strengthen capacities to monitor disinformation on social media during election observation outside the EU Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 19. Digital dimension: yes. ### 20. Action item 470020 Review the Audiovisual Media Services Directive Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 20. Digital dimension: yes. ### 21. Action item 470021 Address challenges to the media ecosystem in the context of the review of the Directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 21. Digital dimension: yes. ### 22. Action item 470022 Provide guidance to maintain competition and foster media plurality and diversity in the context of the revision of the Merger Guidelines Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 22. Digital dimension: yes. ### 23. Action item 470023 Assess the fitness of existing State aid rules for public services broadcasting in the evaluation of the 2009 Broadcasting Communication Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 23. Digital dimension: yes. ### 24. Action item 470024 Launch a Media Resilience Programme to support independent journalism and media literacy Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 24. Digital dimension: yes. ### 25. Action item 470025 Reinforce measures on the safety of journalists and combating abusive litigation (SLAPP) Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 25. Digital dimension: yes. ### 26. Action item 470026 Support quality independent media and journalism beyond EU borders Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 26. Digital dimension: yes. ### 27. Action item 470027 Develop the 2026 Basic Skills Support Scheme for Schools, including citizenship and digital skills Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 27. Digital dimension: yes. ### 28. Action item 470028 Update the Guidelines for teachers and educators on disinformation and digital literacy Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 28. Digital dimension: yes. ### 29. Action item 470029 Develop an EU citizenship competence framework along with guidelines to strengthen citizenship education in schools Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 29. Digital dimension: yes. ### 30. Action item 470030 Support Member States in developing, extending or implementing national or regional action plans on media literacy Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 30. Digital dimension: yes. ### 31. Action item 470031 Roll out measures on media literacy, with new priorities and a reinforced media literacy community Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 31. Digital dimension: yes. ### 32. Action item 470032 Prepare an EU democracy guide for citizens Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 32. Digital dimension: yes. ### 33. Action item 470033 Organise a European Citizens’ Panel on democratic resilience Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 33. Digital dimension: yes. ### 34. Action item 470034 Promote citizens’ and youth participation, including by reinforcing a network of national authorities on citizens participation, with a training package and a multilingual portal for resources at EU level Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 34. Digital dimension: yes. ### 35. Action item 470035 Set up a European civic tech hub to support the civic tech sector Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 35. Digital dimension: yes. ### 36. Action item 470036 Organise a High-Level Event on democracy and an annual award for democratic innovation Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 36. Digital dimension: yes. ### 37. Action item 470037 Roll out dedicated awareness-raising campaigns by the Commission Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 37. Digital dimension: yes. ### 38. Action item 470038 Support building voluntary commitments of the private sector to build a business coalition for democracy Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 38. Digital dimension: yes. ### 39. Action item 470039 Adopt a Commission Recommendation on supporting scientific evidence and its use in public policymaking Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 39. Digital dimension: yes. ### 40. Action item 470040 Enshrine the freedom of scientific research in EU law under the European Research Area Act Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 40. Digital dimension: yes. ### 41. Action item 470041 Assess options for the set-up of a European Centre of Expertise on Research Security Provenance: source document doc-055, paragraph 41. Digital dimension: yes. ## Referenced entries - [European Centre of Expertise on Research Security]() — status: forthcoming. EU work is underway to establish a Centre of Expertise on Research Security, investing in the evidence base for policymaking and creating a community of practice. It sits alongside a due-diligence platform in development to help universities choose international partners. The Commission presents these measures as support for open but secure research cooperation, responding to risks including foreign interference, malign influence and misuse. Source document doc-055, action item 470041: > Assess options for the set-up of a European Centre of Expertise on Research Security ## Citing documents - [Political Guidelines 2024-29]() — status: not recorded. The Political Guidelines link European competitiveness with industrial renewal, digital innovation and simpler rules for businesses. They propose support for AI, data sharing, biotechnology and strategic investment, alongside cleaner energy, circular production and changes to public procurement. A Union of Skills would connect education, training and recognition of qualifications across borders. The programme also covers hospital cybersecurity, protection against online manipulation and harmful platform design, and measures to improve working conditions. International partnerships and economic security form part of this agenda, while institutional reforms and stronger cooperation on lawmaking are intended to support its implementation. Source document doc-002, action item 30034: > This is why I will propose a new European Democracy Shield. As part of this, we will work to counter foreign information manipulation and interference online, building on the examples of Viginum in France or the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency. The aim is to increase situational awareness, by detecting, analysing and proactively countering disinformation and information manipulation. We will focus on societal resilience and preparedness, through increased digital and media literacy and boosting prevention through pre-bunking. We will create a European network of fact-checkers and make it available in all languages. We will also continue to step up digital enforcement to ensure that manipulated or misleading information is detected, flagged and, where appropriate, removed in line with the Digital Services Act. Finally, we will also address the ever-more realistic deepfakes that have impacted elections across Europe. We will ensure that transparency requirements in the AI Act are implemented and that we strengthen our approach to AI-produced content. In protecting our democracy, we will always respect our enduring commitment to preserving and promoting free speech. - [Commission work programme 2025 + Annex]() — status: not recorded. The 2025 work programme brings together planned legislation and policy strategies covering competitiveness, the Single Market and industrial transition. Its programme includes measures on affordable energy, startups and scaleups, savings and investment, and business simplification. Digital priorities span AI, quantum technology, electronic communications, business wallets and the space sector. The programme also identifies work on defence, preparedness, internal security and hospital cybersecurity. Skills, quality jobs, consumer protection and democratic resilience sit alongside these economic and technological measures. Each listed initiative carries an indicative timetable, and the programme distinguishes legislative proposals from non-legislative plans. Source document doc-005, action item 60023: > European Democracy Shield (non-legislative, Q3 2025) - [Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness]() — status: delivered. Source document doc-092, action item 650018: > 1. Launch the Voices of the Future initiative with the Committee of the Regions, inviting local and regional authorities to engage in shaping their regions’ future (announced in the European Democracy Shield). ## Current developments Latest updates from Digital Policy Alert and Global Trade Alert. No reviewed developments available; this does not establish that no developments exist. ## Associated policy priorities - [Research, Technology & Industrial Capacity]() - [Competitiveness, Innovation & Strategic Investment]() ## Broader policy context (shared priority; not a direct citation) - [Advanced Materials Act]() — status: forthcoming. Europe’s competitiveness in the green and digital transitions will depend on its ability to develop, produce and deploy next-generation materials at scale. To achieve this, the Commission will propose an Advanced Materials Act establishing clear framework conditions for the entire value chain; from fundamental research and prototyping to manufacturing and market uptake. The Act will focus on accelerating industrialisation, de-risking private investment and securing resilient supply chains for materials critical to clean technologies, energy, defence and space. By providing a coherent strategic framework, it aims to reduce dependencies, boost technological sovereignty and position Europe as a global leader in advanced materials innovation. - [Charter of Access for Industrial Users to Research and Technology Infrastructures]() — status: forthcoming. This initiative will standardise and simplify industrial access to Europe’s research and technology infrastructures so innovators can prototype, test and scale faster. It will set common, transparent access and contractual terms (e.g. IP use, pricing, liability, data handling) across borders and introduce a streamlined entry point for companies, including startups and scaleups. Linked to the AI Factories ecosystem, the Charter will be backed by dedicated EU support to make AI computing facilities affordable for SMEs. Complementary guidance will clarify how universities and public research organisations can grant access under State aid rules. Together, these measures cut fragmentation, lower transaction costs and speed time-to-market. - [EU Bioeconomy Strategy]() — status: delivered. The EU Bioeconomy Strategy combines regulatory, investment and market actions to support sustainable and circular bio-based activity. The Commission plans work on biotechnology, construction-product standards, biomass monitoring, bio-based plastics, public procurement, biogas and biomethane, and industrial symbiosis. It will also establish forums and investment arrangements, support blue-bioeconomy innovation, provide practical guidance for land managers, and pursue international cooperation, stakeholder dialogue and EU-wide monitoring. - [European Biotech Act 1]() — status: in progress. As a cornerstone of the EU’s Life Sciences Strategy, the law will make Europe the most attractive place for biotech by 2030 by speeding approvals and risk assessments without compromising safety, unlocking risk-tolerant finance and biomanufacturing scale, building EU-wide clusters/infrastructure, closing skills gaps, and enabling trusted AI/data use (incl. supercomputing and EHDS links). It tackles single-market fragmentation across health, agri-food, industrial and marine biotech, strengthening competitiveness and economic security. Expected impacts of the law includes faster time-to-market, deeper investment pipelines, resilient supply chains and environmental benefits, supported by strong EU governance. - [European Biotech Act 2]() — status: forthcoming. The proposed European Biotech Act aims to make Europe's health-biotechnology sector more competitive through easier funding, quicker regulatory processes and stronger safeguards. It would support industry, manufacturing and research, especially start-ups and SMEs; facilitate AI, data and digital solutions; simplify rules on clinical trials and cell and gene therapies; and introduce biosecurity measures. The Commission says the Act should help patients gain timelier, broader access to treatments and products. In 2026 it will address the wider biotechnology sector. - [European Innovation Act]() — status: forthcoming. It will create horizontal, Single-Market-wide conditions to accelerate deployment and diffusion of innovation. The law will (i) simplify and make rules more innovation-friendly (incl. regulatory sandboxes), (ii) unlock IP-backed finance and improve access to EU/national funding, (iii) open research & technology infrastructures to companies, (iv) make public/private procurement more supportive of novel solutions, (v) improve commercialisation of publicly funded R&I (i.e. IP, standardisation, certification), (vi) enable talent attraction/retention (e.g. employee ownership schemes), and (vii) establish EU–Member State coordination of innovation policy, helping to close the EU’s innovation gap. - [European Innovation Council (EIC) Reform]() — status: not recorded. The council will be reformed to operate more strategically and ambitiously, inspired by the US ARPA model. It will shift towards challenge-driven, staged funding for breakthrough, high-risk technologies, focusing on strategic EU priorities and research excellence. The reform will simplify procedures, strengthen the Trusted Investor Network, and build closer ties with Europe’s unicorns to improve policy feedback loops. By combining public and private capital, the EIC will accelerate the scale-up of deep-tech companies in critical sectors and better align innovation funding with Europe’s competitiveness, technological sovereignty, and security objectives. - [European Strategy for AI in Science]() — status: delivered. Adopted alongside the Apply AI Strategy, this initiative fast-tracks responsible AI uptake across disciplines and builds the foundations of RAISE (i.e. a virtual European institute that pools talent, compute, data and funding for “science for AI” and “AI in science”). It launches Thematic Networks of Excellence and RAISE Doctoral Networks; secures priority access to EuroHPC AI Factories and future AI Gigafactories; and links Data Labs with EOSC and other data spaces. Ethics-by-design guidance and “living” rules govern use, while ERA-based coordination, indicators and summits align Member States and industry. Horizon Europe anchors early actions and an investment agenda for 2026-27. - [European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures]() — status: delivered. The strategy aims to improve Europe's research and technology infrastructure capacity, investment and access. It covers criteria and roadmaps for infrastructures of European interest, funding coordination, upgrades, transnational collaboration and services for startups and scaleups. It also addresses FAIR and AI-ready research data, an enhanced EOSC Federation, coordinated governance, skills, international partnerships, resilience, and trusted storage, processing and sharing of critical data. - [Horizon Europe 2026-2027]() — status: not recorded. The next work programme will channel major investments into Europe’s industrial and scientific transformation. A €600 million flagship call under the Clean Industrial Deal will bridge R&I and deployment, fostering synergies with the Innovation Fund and supporting fusion through new PPPs. In life sciences, the Commission will establish a network of ATMP Centres of Excellence (€4 million), pilot stepwise collaborative health research funding, and invest €50 million in multi-modal genAI for biomedical research. €170 million will support a new health–climate agenda, complemented by global research collaboration and foresight on life sciences skills. - [Life Sciences Strategy]() — status: delivered. The Life Sciences Strategy addresses fragmented funding and innovation systems, regulatory complexity and slow market uptake. Its actions include the Biotech Act, coordinated work on new biomedical research methods, a research and innovation agenda for food systems, and a data assembly for cross-regulatory cooperation. The Commission presents these measures as support for innovation, economic growth and job creation in European life sciences. - [Quantum Act]() — status: forthcoming. The Act will make the Quantum Europe Strategy operational, fixing fragmentation by aligning EU and national programmes around a shared RTI agenda and targets. It sets EU-level governance and extends the Chips Joint Undertaking’s remit to quantum technologies, coordinating investments across EU programmes. It anchors a three-stage pipeline—Discover; Lab-to-fab via pilot lines, design tools and standards; Apply & use in lead sectors, while scaling pan-European infrastructures in quantum computing, secure communication (EuroQCI) and sensing. The Act backs skills and industrialisation, strengthens supply chains. It also drives standardisation and interoperability and fosters talent attraction. - [Quantum Europe Strategy]() — status: delivered. **Skills.** The Strategy will launch a European Quantum Skills Academy - initially virtual, then networked - linked to Quantum Competence Clusters and Semiconductors Competence Centres. It will host a Quantum Talent Portal, fellowship schemes and “teach-the-teacher” modules to broaden participation and close the gender gap. Complementary actions include a Digital Europe–funded Quantum Apprenticeship pilot and returnships; Advanced Digital Skills Competitions from 2026; an EIC Researchers-in-Residence scheme placing scientists in quantum startups; and a European Quantum Talent Mobility Programme with fellowships for non-EU PhDs and professionals. Skills intelligence will track needs via the European Skills Intelligence Observatory, ensuring training aligns with fast-evolving industrial demand. **Research.** It contains coordinated roadmaps to speed research-to-industry. The Commission will publish an EU Quantum Computing and Simulation Roadmap, a Quantum Chips Industrialisation Roadmap, and a European Quantum Standards Roadmap, while expanding Quantum Competence Clusters to link labs, pilot lines and design facilities. It adds a coordinated European Quantum Sensing, Measurement and Testing Roadmap. To catalyse uptake, the EU will pilot two Grand Challenges (fault-tolerant computing; quantum PNT) and launch a Pilot Programme for Researchers-in-Residence in quantum startups. For dual-use and space, it will deliver a Quantum Technology Roadmap in space with ESA and a Quantum Sensing Space & Defence Technology Roadmap aligning civil-security priorities. **Infrastructure.** The strategy’s infrastructure track will strengthen secure networks, prove platforms, and link civil–defence use. EuroQCI expands 2025–2035 with cross-border terrestrial links, satellite ground stations and EU certification, converging with IRIS² for end-to-end QKD services. In 2026, a pilot European Quantum Internet will test quantum-safe components and early use cases alongside the EU’s post-quantum cryptography roadmap. Europe will deploy ground/airborne gravimeters and prepare a space-gravimetry pathfinder after 2030. A centralised network of open-access quantum testbeds will serve developers, startups and SMEs. An EU-wide Quantum Technology Risk Assessment concludes in 2026. Spin-in initiatives from 2026 accelerate defence uptake. - [RAISE – European AI Research Council]() — status: not recorded. RAISE has entered a pilot phase as the Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe. The European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU organised the European AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen, where Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva announced its launch. - [Competitiveness Coordination Tool (CCT)]() — status: not recorded. The Competitiveness Coordination Tool joins the EU, Member States and industry to deploy major investment projects and pursue reforms supporting strategic value chains. Current projects range from AI Gigafactories and clean-transport corridors to batteries, energy connections, chemicals, med-biotech, bio-based materials, offsite construction, circularity hubs and advanced chips. Examples include €20 billion being mobilised for AI Gigafactories and €10 million of initial EU funding for the European Med-Biotech Accelerator. The Tool is testing a new way to coordinate investment across Member States. - [Definition of Innovative Enterprises, Startups and Scaleups]() — status: delivered. The Commission will propose a harmonised EU definition of startups, scaleups and innovative companies, building on existing SME and new small-mid cap (SMC) categories to ensure coherence across policies and datasets. This closes today’s patchwork of national and programme-specific definitions that hinders measurement and targeted support. The common taxonomy will underpin a European Startup & Scaleup Scoreboard and KPIs, enable tailored financing and simplification measures, and align eligibility across EU instruments and Member State schemes. It complements the Single Market Strategy’s formal SMC definition so high-growth companies can benefit from rules as they scale across borders. - [EU Antitrust Procedural Rules Reform]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will revise Regulation (EU) 1/2003 and its implementing act to make antitrust enforcement faster, digital-ready, coherent. Options include stand-alone data-preservation orders; inspection powers covering all business records regardless of storage; the ability to summon individuals; streamlined interim measures and time-bound commitment proceedings; and a modernised access-to-file regime via confidentiality-bound external advisors. The review may harmonise complainant and third-party participation and strengthen coordination where Member States use stricter unilateral-conduct laws, safeguarding single-market consistency. The initiative seeks effective application of Articles 101/102 while reducing administrative burden, incorporating case law, and clarifying rules. - [European Competitiveness Fund (ECF)]() — status: in progress. The EU’s investment engine for 2028–2034 will consolidate 14 programmes under a single rulebook and access point to back projects from research to scale-up, deployment and manufacturing. It will operate through four policy windows—clean transition, digital leadership, health/biotech/bioeconomy, and resilience/security/defence/space—and mobilise the full EU financial toolbox, including an ECF InvestEU instrument, alongside project advisory and SME services. The Fund’s indicative envelope is €234.3 billion, with Horizon Europe tightly connected for a seamless journey from idea to market. Overall, the ECF de-risks private capital, cuts fragmentation, and accelerates high-impact investments with EU value added. - [European Innovation Investment Pact]() — status: forthcoming. The Pact will mobilise long-term institutional capital for Europe’s most innovative companies and funds. In coordination with the EIB Group, the Commission will convene pension funds, insurers and other asset owners to make voluntary allocations to EU funds-of-funds, venture capital vehicles and direct investments in unlisted scaleups. Commitments will be benchmarked, transparent and aligned with strategic technologies, complementing InvestEU, the EIC and the Scale-Up Europe Fund. The Pact will drive pan-European deployment, crowd-in private capital through de-risking structures, and deepen capital markets by expanding late-stage equity supply and patient growth finance. - [European VC Funds Regulation Reform]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission is preparing a review of the European Venture Capital Funds (EuVECA) Regulation as part of its savings and investments union strategy, with adoption envisaged later in 2026. In January 2026 it opened two consultations, a targeted one for fund managers, businesses, investors and public authorities and a public one, seeking feedback on the obstacles faced by EU venture and growth capital funds and on possible measures to address them. Both consultations remained open until 12 March 2026. The Commission says it is also considering a possible broader policy initiative beyond the EuVECA framework, which would cover a wider range of venture and growth capital fund managers. It says the feedback will inform its policy work on venture and growth capital funds, which it links to the savings and investments union and to the EU startup and scaleup strategy. - [General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) Review]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will overhaul the GBER to cut red tape and streamline compatibility conditions while preserving a level playing field. The review fixes textual inconsistencies, updates definitions, and reflects new priorities (i.e. social-economy finance, training/employment aid, and SGEI/affordable housing) to ease use by SMEs, start-ups and granting authorities. It will reduce notifications, improve readability, and give Member States more design flexibility, with transparency and monitoring maintained. As the current GBER expires end-2026, the revision will also prolong its application. - [Industrial Accelerator Act]() — status: in progress. This Act will accelerate industrial decarbonisation by clearing permitting bottlenecks, strengthening clean-product demand and de-risking investment. It streamlines access to energy and infrastructure (i.e. building on NZIA, TEN-E and the emergency permitting toolbox) through acceleration areas, one-stop shops and, where allowed, tacit approvals, while maintaining environmental safeguards. It introduces resilience and sustainability criteria (clean, circular, cybersecure) across EU/national programmes and procurement, and pilots a simple carbon-intensity label—starting with steel in 2025, followed by cement—to unlock targeted incentives and enable international alignment. Coupled with the Clean Industrial Deal and related affordability measures, it aims to lower costs, shorten lead times and scale EU clean manufacturing, with a legislative proposal. - [InvestEU Amendment (Omnibus II)]() — status: not recorded. Lifts the EU guarantee by EUR 2.5 billion, provisioned from EFSI surpluses and reflows, to mobilise EUR 25 billion. It is paired with extended combinations of legacy instruments and targets EUR 50 billion additional investment in this MFF. It adds an InvestEU financial instrument under the Member State compartment, enabling funded equity and deployment in non-euro currencies, and encourages swift national transfers. Simplifications reduce reporting and adjust SME rules, delivering EUR 350 million in cost savings. The extra capacity will back higher-risk equity, debt and guarantees for Clean Industrial Deal priorities (i.e. clean-tech manufacturing, grids and energy infrastructure, clean mobility, and recycling) including a Clean Tech Guarantee Facility via the EIB Group. - [Lab to Unicorn Package]() — status: not recorded. The Lab to Unicorn Initiative will turn Europe’s scientific excellence into scaled companies. From 2026, the Commission will back a network of leading university-rooted startup and scale-up hubs to collaborate across borders, opening shared access to services, infrastructures and corporate demand. A common blueprint will standardise licensing, royalty/revenue-sharing and equity models for universities and inventors, while capacity-building strengthens technology-transfer offices and embeds venture-builder roles in research organisations and universities. The Initiative will issue guidance on State-aid and IP rules so public institutions can grant IP and infrastructure access lawfully. Together, these measures compress time-to-market and raise Europe’s scale-up success rate. - [Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-34]() — status: not recorded. The Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034 is the Commission's proposal for the next long-term EU budget, presented on 16 July 2025. The Commission proposes a budget of almost €2 trillion, or 1.26% of the average EU gross national income between 2028 and 2034. It says the budget would invest in people, EU countries and regions, drive prosperity through competitiveness, research and innovation, protect people and build preparedness and resilience, build partnerships for a stronger Europe in the world, and bring in new own resources. The Commission says the design includes more flexibility across the budget, national and regional partnership plans, and simpler, more streamlined and harmonised EU financial programmes. The framework will run for seven years and should come into force in January 2028. The proposal is being negotiated with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before final adoption. - [New Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)]() — status: ongoing. Important Projects of Common European Interest enable Member States to fund cross-border innovation and infrastructure projects with benefits for the Union, the internal market and society. They bring public and private sectors together on large-scale projects that address market or systemic failures and societal challenges. Member States define the scope, select participating companies and projects, and fund them from national budgets. The Commission provides guidance and assesses proposals, while the Joint European Forum supports discussion of possible future IPCEIs. - [Public Procurement Act]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will overhaul the EU procurement framework to make public spending a strategic lever for competitiveness, security and innovation. The revision will enable sustainability, resilience and European-preference criteria in strategic sectors, while staying consistent with EU and international commitments. It will simplify and digitise procedures, embed once-only data reuse, curb overspecification, and promote innovation-friendly tools (e.g. outcome-based/R&D purchases, clearer IP clauses). Rules will be consolidated across legislation to ease use by all administrations and open tenders to startups and SMEs. Defence and security procurement will be modernised and cross-border aggregation strengthened to create lead markets and scale. - [Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines]() — status: not recorded. The Commission will recalibrate state-aid rules so viable startups and scaleups can access temporary support without being misclassified as “undertakings in difficulty.” The review will update static financial tests that penalise high-growth, R&D-intensive firms, clarify eligibility, and enable bridge financing, liquidity support or restructuring aid where appropriate. Safeguards against propping up non-viable firms will remain, with stronger proportionality, time-limits and burden-sharing. Clearer guidance for universities and research organisations complements the effort, reducing uncertainty when IP or infrastructure is involved. The reform removes unintended barriers to growth while preserving a level playing field. - [Savings and Investment Account (SIA)]() — status: not recorded. Savings and Investment Accounts are presented as a voluntary route for individuals to invest alongside everyday bank or savings accounts. They may hold shares, bonds or funds, use simple tax rules and offer tax benefits. The Commission encourages Member States to establish or improve these accounts, while regulated providers must operate within EU investor-protection rules and give clear, comprehensible product information. - [Savings and Investments Union (SIU)]() — status: in progress. The Savings and Investments Union programme seeks to increase retail participation, channel savings into productive investment and strengthen EU capital markets. It includes a blueprint and tax recommendation for savings and investment accounts, a financial-literacy strategy, pension measures and measures on institutional equity investment. Further work covers venture and growth capital, cross-border investment barriers, trading and post-trading rules, supervision, banking integration and a mid-term review. - [Scaleup Europe Fund]() — status: not recorded. A market-based, privately managed vehicle deployed via the EIC Fund to bridge Europe’s late-stage equity gap for deep-tech scaleups. It will mobilise substantial private capital and make direct equity investments in strategic sectors (i.e. AI, quantum, advanced semiconductors, biotech, clean tech, defence and space) reinforcing technological sovereignty and economic security. Operating without prejudice to the next MFF, the Fund will coordinate closely with InvestEU and complement the European Tech Champions Initiative (including ETCI 2.0), alongside EIB Group instruments. By tackling fragmented capital markets and financing needs with ticket sizes above €100 million, it will help Europe retain and scale its most promising companies. - [TechEU Investment Programme 2026]() — status: not recorded. The Commission, together with the EIB Group and private investors, will deploy TechEU to close Europe’s late-stage financing gap for disruptive innovators, using debt, equity and quasi-equity delivered directly and via financial intermediaries. It targets scale-ups in AI, clean tech, critical raw materials, energy storage, quantum, semiconductors, life sciences and neurotechnology, complementing InvestEU and the Clean Industrial Deal. TechEU will also support exit pathways and late-growth rounds, and anchor a deeper pan-European market through ETCI 2.0 to crowd-in institutional capital. The programme aims to build industrial capacity, de-risk strategic projects and mobilise significant private investment at scale. - [Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER)]() — status: not recorded. The Commission is revising the TTBER and accompanying Guidelines to modernise EU rules for IP licensing and speed the diffusion of innovation. The draft updates clarify market-share safe harbours (including a longer grace period), address data licensing, strengthen soft safe-harbours for technology pools, and introduce guidance for licensing negotiation groups, alongside updated case-law on settlements and no-challenge clauses. The aim is greater legal certainty for pro-competitive collaboration (especially in data- and AI-intensive sectors) while safeguarding competition. --- [Reading guide and interpretation notes]() · [Methodology]()