This Week in Freight & Ports — Brussels (#24, 2026)
Deal on transport passenger rights; Commission supports submarine cable resilience; Military mobility rules progress; Council renews Russia sanctions; Committee addresses aviation and cohesion fund.
June 21, 2026 to June 27, 2026
Deal on transport passenger rights; Commission supports submarine cable resilience; Military mobility rules progress; Council renews Russia sanctions; Committee addresses aviation and cohesion fund.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
European Commission
Commission funds first Regional Cable Hubs and launches €40 million call for cable repair capacity
On 22 June 2026, the European Commission announced €5.8 million in grants to establish the first two Regional Cable Hubs in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. The initiative, coordinated by Finland and Italy, aims to reinforce surveillance and incident response for critical undersea cables. Alongside this, a €40 million call was opened under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital programme to improve cable repair capacity for the Mediterranean and Atlantic basins. The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) is tasked with managing the funding process. A further call is planned for autumn 2026 to cover additional sea basins.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1437 prolongs restrictive measures related to Russia
On 25 June 2026, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/1437 (OJ L, 2026-06-26, CELEX: 32026D1437) extending restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising Ukraine. The decision amends Article 9(1) of Council Decision 2014/512/CFSP, applying the measures until 31 July 2027.
UN Regulation No. 154 on WLTP emissions and range for light duty vehicles published
The Official Journal L published UN Regulation No. 154 (OJ L, 2026-06-26, Doc ID: L_202601130) specifying uniform provisions on emissions, CO2 output, fuel consumption, energy usage, and electric range (WLTP) for the approval of light duty passenger and commercial vehicles.
EP Committee Work
TRAN Committee debates rail connectivity, considers aviation protocol with Morocco and cohesion fund opinion
On 23 June 2026, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) held an ordinary meeting to address several freight and connectivity matters. The agenda included adoption of the draft report on the Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Morocco (rapporteur Tomas Tobé, PPE), and consideration of the draft report by Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE) on 'Connecting Europe through high-speed rail.' The committee also reviewed an opinion on the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion for 2028–2034, with Rosa Serrano Sierra (S&D) as rapporteur for the opinion.
