This Week in Social Affairs — Brussels (#34, 2026)
Commission approves Sweden's final NextGenerationEU payment; Bulgaria faces excessive deficit finding; new PPE standards adopted; EU amends 2026 budget; General Affairs Council meets informally.
August 30, 2026 to September 05, 2026
Commission approves Sweden's final NextGenerationEU payment; Bulgaria faces excessive deficit finding; new PPE standards adopted; EU amends 2026 budget; General Affairs Council meets informally.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL): On September 10, the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Chair’s announcements; Commission Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights.
European Commission
Commission greenlights Sweden's final payment request of €332.8 million under NextGenerationEU
On 30 August 2026, the European Commission positively assessed Sweden's third and final payment request for €332.8 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), part of NextGenerationEU. This payment will bring Sweden's total receipt to €3.45 billion, corresponding to all targets and milestones set out in its national recovery and resilience plan. Key reforms delivered include amendments to employment protection legislation, a pension system reform, and clean transition measures such as the 'Industry Leap' initiative. The payment request was submitted by Sweden on 2 July 2026 and forms part of the EU-wide implementation deadline for the RRF. The Council's Economic and Financial Committee has four weeks to issue its opinion before the Commission can disburse the funds.
NextGenerationEU reaches implementation deadline
30 August 2026 marks the final implementation deadline for reforms and investments set out in national recovery and resilience plans under NextGenerationEU. President Ursula von der Leyen noted that the initiative supported the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, while accelerating clean and digital transition policies. Member States have until 30 September 2026 to submit their final payment requests, and the Commission will complete all payments by 31 December 2026. To date, €440 billion has been disbursed under the RRF, with up to €133 billion to follow before closure.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Amending budget No 1 of the European Union for the financial year 2026 definitively adopted
On 3 September 2026, Definitive adoption (EU, Euratom) 2026/1855 confirmed the approval of Amending budget No 1 for 2026. This adoption process involved consultation of Parliament and Council in accordance with Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The budget amendment follows the established interinstitutional framework and reflects ongoing financial management for the Union.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1971: New harmonised standards for PPE
On 4 September 2026, the Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1971, which amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1279 to include harmonised standards for protective gloves for hairdressers, protective clothing against rain, and eye and face protection for occupational use. These standards, including EN ISO 374-6:2025 and EN ISO 24232:2025, support conformity with Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Certain outdated standards relating to personal protective equipment were also withdrawn, with postponement periods for impacted products.
Council Decision (EU) 2026/1758: Excessive deficit found in Bulgaria
On 1 September 2026, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2026/1758 finding that Bulgaria is in excessive deficit. The decision refers to deficits above 3% of GDP for 2025 and a projected 4.1% for 2026, concluding that the excess cannot be fully explained by increased defence spending under the 'national escape clause'. Bulgaria's government debt remains below the 60% of GDP threshold.
EU Council
Informal meeting of the General Affairs Council
On 3 September 2026, an informal meeting of the General Affairs Council took place.
What We're Reading This Week
- Average wages no longer buy a standard-size home in most of Europe: Homeownership is becoming increasingly unattainable for average wage earners across Europe due to surging property prices.
