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Friday, 21 August 2026
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Friday, 21 August 2026
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European Commission

European Commission — EU executive body setting policy on competition, digital services, banking regulation, and child safety online.

2026-04-242026-08-21

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026
  2. Citizen Digital

    Some observers suggest he could seek a post heading an intergovernmental body such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or European Commission.

    France's President Macron leaves future open as political curtain nears
  3. Citizen Digital

    The European Commission has also made clear its determination to take action to protect children and adolescents, notably by unveiling in mid-April an age-verification app that will soon be made available to European citizens.

    Norway to ban social media for under-16s
World & Region

US sanctions ICC president, citing corruption and politicisation

The News

The United States sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, calling the ICC "corrupt and fatally politicised"; the ICC responded by calling the sanctions a "flagrant attack" on court independence, with EU officials voicing support for the court's autonomy.

20 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Yesterday

  1. US sanctions ICC president, citing corruption and politicisation

    The United States sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, calling the ICC "corrupt and fatally politicised"; the ICC responded by calling the sanctions a "flagrant attack" on court independence, with EU officials voicing support for the court's autonomy.

    20 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 14 August

  1. EU bans Chinese solar inverters in public-funded projects

    The European Union imposed a ban in May on public funding for utility-scale solar inverters from "high-risk" countries, mainly China, citing concerns that internet-connected inverters could disrupt Europe's power grid. The restriction is expected to shift market share towards European suppliers like SMA Solar.

    14 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 12 August

  1. Meta, TikTok to strengthen fact-checking on migrant disinformation

    The EU said Meta and TikTok agreed to boost fact-checking of disinformation linked to a recent Ceuta migrant rush, where experts say social media false claims about an open border helped drive 72,000 migrants from Morocco into Spain's territory. The European Commission set up a coordination mechanism with the platforms and fact-checkers, though it did not rule out compelling the tech giants to do more.

    12 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 29 July

  1. German chancellor urges EU budget cuts for competitiveness

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the EU to reduce its proposed 2028-2034 budget by several hundred billion euros and strengthen competitiveness, arguing that the European Commission's two-trillion-euro spending plan is too high.

    29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 25 July

  1. Over 160,000 evacuate as wildfires ravage France, Spain

    More than 160,000 people evacuated from France and Spain on Saturday as unprecedented forest fires spread near Madrid and Bordeaux. French President Emmanuel Macron mobilised the army and requested EU assistance as the largest wildfire in French history threatened the region.

    25 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 24 July

  1. EU fines Google €890 million for self-favouring search, app practices

    Google was fined €890 million ($1 billion) by the European Commission for violating EU rules: €460 million for favouring its own services in shopping, hotels, transport and sports search results, and €430 million for restricting Google Play to prevent app developers from directing users to cheaper offers on rival platforms. EU regulators noted the company has made progress toward compliance.

    24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. EU accuses TikTok of inadequate child safety protections

    The European Union accused TikTok on Friday of failing to protect children, saying default account settings expose minors to cyberbullying and predatory behaviour rather than providing high-level protection automatically. The company faces potential fines for non-compliance with the Digital Services Act.

    24 July 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 22 July

  1. France's parliament approves social media ban for under-15s

    France's Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to bar children from apps such as TikTok. President Emmanuel Macron championed the ban and pledged to enforce it by September.

    22 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 21 July

  1. France to become first EU country banning social media for under-15s

    French lawmakers are expected to approve a bill banning social media access for children under 15, with the ban set to roll out in stages beginning September 1, when under-15s will be blocked from creating new accounts. President Macron has championed the law as a flagship reform and pledged enforcement by September, which would also include a mobile phone ban in secondary schools.

    21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. France set to approve social media ban for under-15s

    French lawmakers are expected to approve a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to introduce such a digital age limit. The ban will be rolled out in stages, starting with blocking new account creation for under-15s from September 1.

    21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 17 July

  1. EU seeks bigger banks to compete with US lenders

    The European Union published a report on the banking sector aimed at boosting the European economy, proposing to ease rules for European banks including lower capital requirements to help them compete with US rivals.

    17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. EU seeks bigger banks to compete with US lenders

    The European Union published a report on the banking sector as part of efforts to boost the European economy, saying it wants to ease rules for European banks including lower capital requirements to help them catch up with US rivals.

    17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. EU summons Burkina Faso envoy after diplomat expulsions

    The EU summoned Burkina Faso's ambassador on Thursday in protest over the "unjustified" expulsion of two EU diplomats, with no explanation provided. The spokeswoman announced retaliatory measures will follow.

    17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 16 July

  1. Ukrainian men in Poland caught between war and legal uncertainty

    Thousands of Ukrainian men who fled to Poland to avoid military mobilisation face declining living standards and legal limbo as Poland tightens refugee policies while Kyiv increases pressure to conscript more men in the fifth year of Russia's invasion.

    16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Ukrainian men in Poland caught between mobilisation and refuge

    Thousands of Ukrainian men who fled mobilisation to Poland now face legal uncertainty as Warsaw toughens refugee policies and Kyiv increases pressure for military conscription in the fifth year of Russia's invasion. Young men like 18-year-old Dmytro are caught between declining living standards in Poland and the risk of being sent to the front if they return home.

    14 July 2026 · The Standard

Monday 13 July

  1. EU expert panel delivers advice on possible social media ban for children

    An expert panel of doctors, academics, youth representatives and parents will deliver recommendations on Monday to help the European Union decide whether to ban children from social media. Greece, France and Spain have pushed for limiting minors' access, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has tasked the panel to advise on how the bloc should address the issue, with a legal proposal expected this summer.

    13 July 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 12 July

  1. Over 20 countries move to restrict children's social media access

    A growing number of countries are implementing or proposing restrictions on children's access to social media, with more than 20 countries now involved and five already enforcing measures, mostly targeting children under 15 or 16. The European Union is considering similar regulations, with an expert committee set to submit recommendations to the European Commission.

    12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 11 July

  1. EU foreign ministers to discuss Israeli settlements trade ban

    EU foreign ministers will discuss imposing an import ban on products from Israeli settlements at a Monday meeting in Brussels, after pressure from member states. Several EU countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain have already imposed their own trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

    11 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 10 July

  1. EU drafts procurement rules to favour European companies, reduce foreign dependence

    The European Union is developing new procurement rules that would allow authorities to exclude bids with less than 50% European content from major public contracts and favour EU companies in strategic sectors, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and narrow a widening trade gap.

    10 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 9 July

  1. EU poised to restrict children's social media access

    An expert report expected July 13 is anticipated to recommend limiting minors' access to online platforms, potentially leading to EU restrictions as early as summer. Options under consideration range from a blanket ban on under-16s to restrictions on certain services and features, following Australia's similar move.

    9 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 2 July

  1. EU carmakers lobby for UK parts in Made-in-Europe rules

    European automakers called for British vehicles and car parts to be included in the "made in Europe" definition under new EU rules tying companies' access to public money to minimum thresholds for EU-made parts. The ACEA car lobby argues that the European automotive industry operates an integrated value chain with the UK even after Brexit.

    2 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Swedish court orders Google to pay damages for unfair search practices

    A Swedish market court ordered Google to pay approximately 14.3 billion kronor ($1.46 billion) in damages plus interest to price comparison site Pricerunner for unlawfully promoting its own shopping comparisons in search results over many years. The damages cover Sweden, Denmark, and the UK.

    2 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 22 June

  1. EU chief praises Starmer after announcing resignation

    EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen praised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for strengthening European and Ukrainian security after he announced his resignation, saying he became a statesman in just two years.

    22 June 2026 · The Standard

Monday 15 June

  1. EU welcomes US-Iran deal to end Middle East conflict

    The European Union's top officials welcomed a US-Iran agreement to end the Middle East war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. EU leaders called for swift implementation of the deal and said Europe was ready to contribute to lasting peace in the region.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 14 June

  1. Anthropic suspends two AI models following US national security order

    Anthropic has suspended access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models after receiving a US government directive banning foreign nationals from accessing them over national security concerns. The company said the letter from US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick did not specify the government's concerns, though Anthropic understood the government to be aware of a method of "jailbreaking" Fable 5 that could aid hacking.

    14 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 11 June

  1. EU allocates 300 million euros for farmers affected by fertiliser prices

    The European Union announced an additional 300 million euros in emergency funds for farmers impacted by rising fertiliser costs linked to the Iran war, adding to 200 million euros already pledged. The allocation requires approval from the bloc's 27 member states and the European Parliament.

    11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 10 June

  1. EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots

    The European Commission ordered Meta on Tuesday to give rival AI chatbots access to its WhatsApp platform for free within five working days during an antitrust investigation into Meta's policy of blocking access for non-Meta AI providers, or face a heavy fine.

    10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. EU disputes Apple's claim that DMA blocks Siri AI launch

    Apple says it cannot offer its AI-enhanced Siri in Europe because of the EU's Digital Markets Act, but EU digital affairs spokesman Thomas Regnier countered that the decision is Apple's alone, stating the DMA does not prohibit introducing new products in the EU and that Apple must ensure interoperability with rival features under the rules.

    10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 7 June

  1. EU delivers 100 tonnes of aid to Ebola-hit eastern DRC

    The European Union has airlifted 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid including medicine, tents and protective gear to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where an Ebola outbreak declared in May has caused 452 cases and 82 deaths across DRC and Uganda.

    7 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 23 May

  1. Zelensky pushes for full EU membership, rejects associate-member plan

    President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted Ukraine deserves full EU membership rather than the "associate member" status without voting rights proposed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Zelensky argued that Ukraine's presence in the EU must be complete with full rights, citing his country's defence of Europe against Russian invasion.

    23 May 2026 · The Standard

European Commission — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute