Brussels Live · EC midday briefing 2026-11-03
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[12:11:22] Speaker 2 [EN]
Good afternoon and welcome to our midday briefing. We have two announcements for you today.

[12:11:29] Speaker 2 [FR]
And I will begin in French. First of all, following today's meeting with the heads of cabinet of the European Commission, I can I will now speak in French. First of all, following today's meeting with the heads of cabinet of the European Commission, I can present you with tomorrow's agenda for the College meeting, as well as the press events we are preparing. So, the College is expected to adopt a European strategy for sustainable tourism, which will be the subject of the College's minutes and a press conference by Commissioner Tsitsikostas. The College will also adopt the European Commission's work programme for 2027, as well as the 2026 annual report on simplification. And a press conference by Commissioners Dombrowski and Šefčovič will take place on this subject following the College's round-up. Finally, the College will also adopt the enlargement package, which will be presented at a press conference. by the High Representative Callas and Commissioner Koss, and we we have organised a technical briefing

[12:12:44] Speaker 2 [EN]
off the record

[12:12:45] Speaker 2 [FR]
on this subject tomorrow at 10 a.m. So that is the agenda for the College. And the press events related to it. And then, as usual, you will receive more detailed information by email later in the afternoon.

[12:13:10] Speaker 2 [EN]
Now let me also draw your attention to the fact that it's our first daily news of the month and we are publishing a table as we are now systematically doing every month with the legislation which enters into force or in application this month. Which may be useful for your reporting. And it's linked to the daily news at the very end of it. And finally, let me extend a very warm welcome to a group of visitors joining us in our press room today. I understand we have 23 students from the Utrecht School of Journalism. I hope you enjoy your time here among future colleagues. And that you enjoy this midday too. And that's it for our announcements and we can now take your questions. Let me start here.

[12:14:20] Alice Tyree (Rapporteur) [EN]
Thank you. Alice Tyree for Rapporteur. I have a question regarding the meeting that is meant to take place in Brussels this week. With U.S. Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and representatives from NATO, the EU, Germany, France, and the UK, could you give us the name of the person who will be representing the EU? Thank you very much.

[12:14:38] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you. I can confirm that indeed this week Wednesday, so tomorrow, the European Commission will host a meeting with representatives from Ukraine, from the United States, France, Germany, the UK, NATO, and the World Bank. And this meeting will build on earlier talks that took place in Miami. With Ukraine, and with U.S. also at the time, in view of a lasting sustainable peace in Ukraine. And the meeting on Wednesday will focus on Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and prosperity, and on our side it will be at the level of our national security advisor. So high. Level officials. Yes, Gina.

[12:15:42] Speaker 1 [EN]
So I just wanted to quickly follow up. So the Commission is hosting the meeting and did you know that Mr. Witkoff was going to announce it on Twitter last night or on X last night or was that a surprise?

[12:15:54] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you. Indeed I confirm the Commission is hosting this meeting tomorrow and obviously we are in touch with our counterparts in the U.S. also regarding announcements and the upcoming meetings. Yes, Gina, follow up.

[12:16:11] Speaker 1 [EN]
Yeah, thank you. That doesn't quite answer my question though. Did you know that Mr. Witkoff was going to announce it last night?

[12:16:17] Speaker 2 [EN]
I don't know if we knew. I know that we are in contact with Mr. Witkoff and other representatives of the United States regarding these talks. And therefore it's absolutely normal that this is announced at some point and we have the opportunity to confirm that indeed we are hosting this meeting here with you today at the midday. Yes, Vitali.

[12:16:47] Vitali Sizovov (Freedom TV Channel) [EN]
Vitali Sizovov, Freedom TV Channel. Just a short follow up. Do you expect a visit of President of Ukraine because he announced it last week that he was going to visit Brussels but then I think the visit was canceled? Thank you.

[12:17:03] Speaker 2 [EN]
I'm not aware of a visit of President Zelensky to Brussels at least not in order to meet any commission representative. I'm not aware of such meeting and visits for this week. Other. Questions? Laura Dubois. I don't know if it's on this topic. Online.

[12:17:30] Speaker 3 [EN]
Laura.

[12:17:30] Laura Dubois (The Financial Times) [EN]
Yes, hi. Laura Dubois for The Financial Times. Also on the meeting. Can you tell me who will attend from the American side, please? Thank you.

[12:17:38] Speaker 2 [EN]
I cannot not yet. We'll have to wait a bit for that piece of information. Other. Topics that you'd like to raise today? Yes, please. Yeah. Yes.

[12:17:58] Thibault Maillet (Arte) [FR]
Hello Thibault Maillet from Arte.

[12:18:00] Thibault Maillet (Arte) [EN]
Today the Czech public media are on strike to protest against the abolition of the license fee and the cuts to their budget. Under the European Media Freedom Act, member states must ensure that public services media have sufficient, sustainable, and predictable fundings in the. European Commission view are the measures adopted in the first reading in Czechia in breach of the EMFA.

[12:18:24] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you, Thibault. I'll ask Markus to join us. On the media-related legislation in Czechia.

[12:18:40] Speaker 3 [EN]
Thank you very much for your question. We are aware of the decisions by the Czech Parliament's Chamber of Deputies and the approval of the bill at first reading earlier. In October. We will continue to follow closely the developments what I can say more in general on our position on public service media is that public service media play a special role in ensuring that citizens have access to information and a diverse content offering. And as a matter of fact the European Media Freedom Act EMFA contains a number of safeguards to ensure media freedom and pluralism in the EU including in relation to the independent functioning of public service media. The implementation of the EMFA is a priority for the Commission and we are in close contact with all member states including the Czechia to ensure that the EMFA is being complied with.

[12:19:39] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thibault, you have a follow up.

[12:19:43] Speaker 3 [EN]
So have you been in contact with the Czech government and when? And NGOs have also pointed out that most EU member states have not yet fully implemented the EMFA. What is the Commission's response to this concerns and what's your analysis? Thanks very much. Yes, I can confirm that we have been in touch with the Czech authorities. The Czech authorities have also replied to a letter that we've sent earlier. And we are currently assessing the letter. The reply.

[12:20:13] Speaker 2 [EN]
Okay. Other questions for Markus? And Matúš online?

[12:20:30] Speaker 1 [EN]
Hello, can you hear me?

[12:20:32] Speaker 2 [EN]
Yes, Anna we can.

[12:20:33] Speaker 1 [EN]
Perfect. Thank you so much. Anna, much thanks for the Portuguese agency. I have some questions regarding the portrait protest in Portugal. I wonder if the Commission is accompanying a monitoring I'm sorry. The situation and do you have some how some concerns of the police crackdown on the protesters in Portugal? There was also one ruling yesterday. So is the Commission aware about this latest court ruling of the right to demonstrate? All you can say about this. Thank you so much.

[12:21:03] Speaker 3 [EN]
Thanks. Thank you very much, Anna. Well, I can only be very brief on this. You know national authorities are competent for maintaining public order and law enforcement matters so this is something for the national authorities.

[12:21:19] Speaker 2 [EN]
Good. Thank you. Other questions to Markus? I don't see any. Other topics that you'd like to raise today Antoine?

[12:21:42] Antoine Muto (Japanese Public TV and HK) [EN]
Thank you, Paula. Antoine Muto for Japanese Public TV and HK. This is about the latest incidents regarding supermarket fridges across Europe. What is please your assessment of the situation and also how high do you perceive the risk that this could be the result of government sponsored hybrid attack? Example given emanating from Russia. Thank you.

[12:22:10] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you, Antoine. Tomorrow give us the latest on our side on this.

[12:22:17] Speaker 3 [EN]
Thank you, Paula. Bonjour Antoine. So the European Commission is definitely in direct contact with the member states and the relevant national authorities which are the ones currently carrying out the investigations of very important to keep in mind. Now I can confirm that this morning we have convened two meetings a first one early this morning with the EU inter-institutional task force this is together with the EU agencies so you have ENISA you have Europol and you have of course the relevant commission services that were there so that was a first meeting and another meeting in the late morning today this time coordinated with EU Cyclone so this is a meeting with the member states with the national authorities including the ones that were affected here what is important is to have information sharing of course of what happened how to best respond to this collectively because it's not limited to one member states but to several member states and these incidents of course show once again how cyber attacks can disrupt essential services and affect citizens' daily lives now on the attribution let me be extremely careful here it is not for us from this podium to attribute such cyber incidents I just said that the investigations are currently being carried out by the national authorities and we're in close contact with them.

[12:23:35] Speaker 2 [EN]
Yes. Antoine you have a follow up?

[12:23:40] Speaker 3 [EN]
Thank you, Toma. Since it already happened that kind of incident obviously happened as well in France some weeks ago do you see any link between the two since yesterday it happened not only in one country but if I'm not mistaken at least five or even six countries across the European Union and also how. Yeah. What is your level of preparedness preparedness towards the potent the possibility that this could come from a foreign intelligence or a foreign actor or from abroad I mentioned Russia because I can imagine this is right now one of the countries which is maybe not suspected but at least in the radar of many people across Europe so yeah thank you. Thanks again Antoine. I would be extremely careful when it comes to attributions. It's not for us to do for now. Now what do these incidents show? Definitely that I mean these are not isolated incidents and of course we have to be collectively resilient and prepared for such cyber incidents. This is why the EU has of course put an entire toolbox at its disposal to support member states. I mean here you have for example I can mention a couple of them but you have the cyber resilience act which is focusing on devices and to increase the resilience of our manufacturers and companies. For these devices but also of course the cyber solidarity act where we cooperate with member states and NIS2. So these are just some examples of what we have already put in place to tackle what is indeed an increased number of cyber incidents that are affecting the EU.

[12:25:19] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you. Other questions to Toma? Nope. Other topics? Yes please. Elli Hila from Finnish Podcasting Company YLE. I have a question regarding Russian athletes competing in the EU area. Most recently international ice hockey federation welcomed the Russian team to join the games next year in Germany. How does the commission view these developments? Should Russian athletes be competing in Europe? And related to that as the commission is preparing a proposal on visa restrictions for Russians are athletes somehow included in this? And what's the timetable for for this proposal? Thanks.

[12:26:15] Speaker 4 [EN]
Good afternoon everybody. Thank you for the question. I cannot reply on visa. That would be more for my colleague. What I can say regarding the international ice hockey federation and the appeal against against this against the decision of the federation we take note of the decision of the ruling of the court in relation to participation of Russian teams in competitions organized by the international ice hockey federation in line with the autonomy of sport international federations are responsible for their decisions and it's up to them to decide about the organization of the sport events about the participants etc. However both federations and member states should act in line with the EU sanctions and restrictive measures. We also observe that the hockey federation decision to include Russian teams from international competitions had been deemed necessary to protect the safety and security of all participants and safeguard the integrity of its competition. So now we need to wait for the reaction of the international ice hockey federation. We always say that sport. Should not serve as a tool of propaganda and that normalization of Russian and Belorussian athletes in international competitions as long as the war in Ukraine continues is is something what we don't want to support. There is also a decision of the European Council from mid-October where member states expressed their view that as long as there is no just and lasting peace in Ukraine there should not be a normalization of Russia's and Belarus participation in international sports and cultural events. So no Russian anthems symbols and flags in the sports events in Europe are are supported.

[12:28:47] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you. And on the question regarding the visa we have no further comment at this stage to to offer. Other questions to Eva since we have her with us on the podium? No? Other topics that you'd like to raise today? Yes.

[12:29:28] Speaker 3 [EN]
Alors que plusieurs États membres de l'Union européenne mais aussi des pays candidats sont ébranlés depuis des semaines par des manifestations violentes des pillages voire même en France un attentat qualifié par les autorités de terroriste et raciste viennent de s'ouvrir à Dakar les Jeux Olympiques de la jeunesse. Cet événement sportif mondial le premier du continent africain ne nous rappelle-t-il pas l'importance cruciale de la coopération avec ce très jeune continent de plus de 1 milliard 500 000 individus et ce poumon vert de la planète à la veille de la COP 31 et qui regorge aussi de nombreuses richesses comme les minéraux stratégiques etc. Question. Où en est maintenant la coopération avec avec l'Afrique compte tenu que la Russie et la Chine sont aussi sur le terrain? Merci.

[12:30:36] Speaker 2 [EN]
Merci Odile et c'est bien d'avoir des questions aussi concernant comme on a eu tout à l'heure. Le sport et c'est très bien effectivement que l'Afrique soit l'hôtesse de ces Jeux Olympiques la jeunesse que tu as mentionné et pour ce qui est de notre coopération et elle est large très large si tu regardes par exemple tout ce qui concerne les projets Global Gateway et tout ce qu'on fait pour promouvoir les investissements pour promouvoir le bien-être de des populations toutes à travers de l'Afrique ça c'est un des instruments qu'on a pas seulement avec l'Afrique mais aussi avec l'Afrique si tu regardes ce que on est en train de faire par exemple pour tout ce qui concerne les les les matériaux les critical raw materials où on envisage de stimuler que les les nations africaines puissent développer elles-mêmes ces ressources au lieu de les envoyer envoyer tu as mentionné c'est notamment la Chine pour être raffinée là-bas donc on est en train d'avoir des alliances étroites dans si tu regardes pratiquement toutes les politiques que ça soit le commerce que ça soit le digital que ça soit bien évidemment le le développement la connectivité où on est en train notamment de soutenir le développement pour tout ce qui concerne la connectivité qui était essentielle pour le développement tu n'as qu'à choisir la politique préférée et voir que on a une une un rapport très étroit avec l'Afrique qui reste qui reste une priorité pour nous tous ici à la Commission. Voilà. D'autres questions pour nous aujourd'hui? David.

[12:32:49] Speaker 1 [EN]
Thank you Paula. David Price your democracy and In Canada the president made an announcement that in the spring of next year there will be a meeting of the full college and the government of Canada I would like to have a little bit more information about this it seems if you have a meeting of the commission which is supposed to be representative of the European people and also impartial and behind closed doors you have if you have a government presence then you're going to have a super lobbyist involved in European affairs I'm wondering what sort of thought is behind this concept of having a government and college meeting of this nature if it need that it need if it takes place in a democratic framework it needs to be open so will the meeting be open secondarily is this a start of a larger arrangement of having governments sitting in with the commission are we going to see for example Norway Switzerland maybe even United Kingdom sitting in with the the commission to have discussions the commission is supposed to be impartial and I'd like to know what sort of democratic safeguards you've got so that the people can also have their their word rather than just governments.

[12:34:32] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you David. So at last week's I would say historic summit between the EU and Canada indeed one of the points discussed there was the idea of Canada becoming an associate member of the EU and as President von der Leyen had the opportunity to outline notably at her press conference last Friday in Montréal this vision which is shared by by the member states and is translated in a comprehensive joint declaration which came out of this summit these this this vision is then anchored in three very concrete pillars and those pillars are the policies the programs and governance and the question you raised concerns precisely the governance where it is about bringing our institutions much closer together we started with the commission the council of course in the summit with the presence of both President von der Leyen and President António Costa and this could also in the future entail contacts from parliament to parliament even maybe from court to court but the meeting between the college and the government of of Canada as was announced last week would be a very concrete follow-up to the summit and building. On what happened already last week basically last week there were several members of the college who participated in this summit and who had the occasion to discuss with their counterparts in Canada from the government various specific areas where we are willing and ready to engage further in view of this closer partnership and a further meeting between the college members the full college and the full government of Canada is just a building up of this discussions and a follow-up to the summit last week yes please oh. Sorry David yes a follow-up.

[12:36:58] Speaker 1 [EN]
Yes thank you I would like to know whether this these meetings will be open because the commission is set up to be an impartial body which can make proposals if it is a closed door meeting then you have the proposer of European legislation in in behind closed doors with another body which we can call a lobbyist in in the larger sense of the word it's a super lobbyist so will the meetings be open or or how what sort of format do you you do you plan to have these meetings

[12:37:41] Speaker 2 [EN]
Well the meetings will be as open as any other meetings with other foreign governments where we have and we did so already last week share with you a lot of information about the discussions taking place in these type of meetings with notably a press conference and the possibility to go further into what has been discussed so it should not be different from other meetings that take place regularly with governments across the world yes please

[12:38:19] Speaker 1 [EN]
Okay Dutch newspaper Trouw I have a follow-up question on the summit last week EU Canada Prime Minister Carney said that Canada will be on board of Made in Europe program is that so or is it a subject for negotiations the coming month and the same with UK there soon will be a summit with UK will be this subject of this summit as well thank you

[12:38:51] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank. You I. Can only say what actually also President von der Leyen said with a similar question that she got at the press conference on whether the you refer to the Made in Europe that's that is part of the industrial accelerator act and the president has been very clear that according to our proposal the proposal from the commission it includes all the countries with whom we have a free trade agreement that is clearly the case of Canada with whom as you know we have set up so indeed Canada would be part of the industrial accelerator act but again it is still being negotiated. Other questions for us today? Yes please.

[12:39:59] Víbor Vlainić (Croatian Radio Television) [EN]
Thank you. Víbor Vlainić, Croatian Radio Television. A group of MEPs sent a letter to the president of the commission and to the commissioner Šefčovič asking them to remove the protective measures on import of electrotechnical steel which is a critical raw material to produce transformers. And they're arguing that the European producers don't don't have enough of their own domestic steel to produce transformers. Which puts them in a bad position because with the measures which were introduced in September import is becoming more expensive and this situation is making it more affordable to import finished products transformers from third countries namely China. So the question is will you reply to the letter of the members of the parliament and will the commission adjust or maybe remove those temporary measures? Thank you.

[12:41:08] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you. I'm looking at the team and all of here we are not aware yet of this letter but if you say that it's been sent probably it has maybe it hasn't arrived we will check look at the at the exact content of the letter and get back and of course if this letter is received as any letter from an MEP it will get its due attention and response. Other questions for us today? Not the case. So thank you very much. Thank you to our interpreters. Wish you a very good afternoon.