EC Briefing — Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Key Points

• Moldova has made significant progress on its EU accession path amid hybrid threats.
• The EU has opened the first negotiation cluster with Moldova focusing on rule of law and anti-corruption.
• The remaining negotiation clusters for Moldova are ready to be opened, pending Member States' approval.
• The EU is working on a new sanctions package against Russia, aiming for swift adoption.
• The Commission plans to propose trade measures to support Armenian businesses affected by Russian restrictions.
• Discussions with Anthropic regarding access to Mithos are ongoing, with meetings scheduled in San Francisco.

Full Transcript

Transcribed automatically from EbS (Europe by Satellite) · English audio track · AI-generated · May contain errors · Verify before quoting

Belarus political visit concerns

Q: I'm a journalist from Slovakia. I would like to ask you, maybe it's a difficult question, what was your experience of being imprisoned in Belarus? And the next question is, like a Slovak government is going to official political visit to Belarus, and I would like to know your opinion about it, if it's convenient for them to go there for official political visit.

Spokesperson: It is very difficult for me to comment any political situation. Please try to imagine I spent the past five years in a prison, so I've been pulled out of the world. Today I'm gathering new information. I would not like to repeat someone else's opinions. Only when in September I go back to Belarus and see for myself what the situation is like, will I be able to answer such concrete questions. Today I do not have an opinion. What can I say is that politics ought to be effective, bring tangible results. If it brings tangible results, it makes sense. If it does not, if it does not make situation better in Belarus, it makes no sense or even harmful.

Moldova EU enlargement process

Q (TVP World): Hello, Julia Cervan, TVP World and VTAC Moldova. My question is regarding Moldova and enlargement. I want to ask if there will be an opening of the remaining clusters in July and if it will be a common IGC for Moldova and Ukraine or they will go already separated path. Thanks.

Spokesperson: Thank you. Markus joining me replacing Guillaume these days. Let me just with the occasion remind you of the statement that President von der Leyen and President Kosta have published on Friday last week on the agreement to open the first succession negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova. I'm sure you have seen it, but just as a reminder. Markus. Thanks very much for the question. Moldova belongs to the European family. In the face of continuous hybrid threats and attempts to destabilize the country, Moldova has significantly advanced and made progress on its accession path as described also in the 2025 enlargement report. Last year, Moldova completed the bilateral screening process for all the negotiating clusters in record time. We welcome the Council's decision to formally open the first negotiating cluster on fundamentals with Moldova. Moldova can now formally proceed with the work on the interim benchmarks which focus, among others, on the rule of law, judicial reform, anti-corruption and fundamental rights. Regarding the remaining clusters, and here we get to the question that you asked precisely, the Commission's assessment stands. The remaining clusters are also ready to be opened with Moldova. We encourage Member States to move forward on this matter and stand ready to support the Council. Thank you. Other questions on Moldova or on, let's say, enlargement topics? Looking at Jonathan, if there's anything from remote. No? Okay, thank you. Apologies, it will be like this today.

Q: Mamcil, you had your hand raised. Is it on enlargement or for Marcus with his Guillaume hand? No, no, it's not about enlargement. Okay, then we will come back to you in a moment. Since I have Marcus here with me, any questions for Marcus with his Marcus hat, with his usual self, on the files he covers? No, not the case, not from remote. Okay, thank you, Marcus. Then let's go back to Mamcil. Mamcil is probably for me. So, for you? Okay, in any case, Mamcil then. Good afternoon. My question is related to the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. Can you confirm that Bulgaria is opposing a part of this 21st package?

Spokesperson: Thank you, Mamcil. Nice try, but you have been long with us in this press room to know that we will not be commenting on negotiations, on discussions that are ongoing at this time on the proposal we have put forward last week. We are talking with Member States and, of course, we will continue working constructively with them, hoping to adopt as soon as possible the package of sanctions against Russia, because, as the President has been repeatedly saying, and the G7 statement by the leaders yesterday has said, it is the moment to continue putting pressure on Russia, and it's what we're working towards. Other questions for us today?

Emergency trade relief for Armenia

Q (TVR Moltova): Yes. Hi, Karina Miller, TVR Moltova. I have a question, I think, for Olaf. The Financial Times published an article today stating that they are preparing emergency trade relief for Armenia to help offset Russian import restrictions. Would this be a more systematic, long-term form of support, or either an emergency assistance package? And when could such a proposal be realistically put forward and implemented? And would you share some more details about this? Thank you.

Spokesperson: Thanks very much for your question. All I can say is really what we've already said, which is that the Commission will propose autonomous trade measures to help more Armenian businesses access new market opportunities in the European Union, and this will support the country's economy where it has been most affected. We can't provide more details at this stage. We're working hard on it, and when there are more details to share, we will do so. Thanks, Olaf. Other questions for Olaf on trade? Not in the room, not from remote. Thanks, Olaf. Any other questions for us today on different topics?

Mithos saga and access issues

Q (Bloomberg News): Yes, go ahead. Jabo Pishali, Bloomberg News. I have a question about the ongoing Mithos saga and the access to it, or lack thereof. I'm aware that the Commission is meeting Anthropic on Thursday in San Francisco. I'd like to know whether we can get a sense of what will be discussed there and whether that discussion will include a request to get access again to the program. Thomas.

Spokesperson: Thanks, Jan. Thanks, Arianna. Let's first start with indeed what happened previously with Anthropic. We had received an invitation for ENISA to join Glasswing and indeed get access to Mithos. This is where we had left it before we had seen the statement. But meetings had been scheduled precisely for the onboarding and to get that access. These meetings are indeed still taking place, and one of them will be taking place tomorrow in San Francisco. And I can indeed confirm that in this context ENISA will join and will be there to get access potentially.

Q: You have a follow-up, Jan. Go ahead. Just to get this absolutely right, the meeting had been scheduled before the entire export restriction saga. So this is a pre-existing meeting that is still going through. Is that what you said?

Spokesperson: I would invite you to double-check this with Anthropic, but I can confirm indeed that this meeting had been scheduled prior to the statement that we have seen, and this meeting is still scheduled and will take place tomorrow, and ENISA will indeed participate. So let me say one thing additional, more generally here, is that our discussions with all companies continue beyond the statements, not only on this topic, but generally speaking on topics when it comes to compliance with our cyber legislation, AI legislation, we cooperate very well with the companies, and of course when there is a meeting we usually honor the invitation and attend. Other questions for Thomas? Not the case in the room, not online. Thank you.

EU budget and own resources discussion

Q (Helsingin Sanomat): Other questions for us today? Go ahead. Jarno Artikainen, Helsingin Sanomat. This is MFF. Ahead of the discussion at the European Council, I would like to hear, because the EU is supposed to discuss the ideas for new own resources, so I would like to hear what is the Commission's assessment at this stage, or the view at this stage, about those ideas that have been put forward by the European Parliament, those three proposals. I've seen the preliminary assessment that the Commission has done, but if there is a political assessment, are these feasible ideas that the European Parliament have put forward? Thank you.

Spokesperson: Thank you. I will see if Balazs has anything to say and join me on the podium. In general, of course, we are engaging constructively with the co-legislators to reach an agreement on the EU budget as soon as possible. We have, well, the President has welcomed the agreement on the structure, on the pillars that has been reached the other day. I don't think we will enter in much details of the ongoing negotiation right now, but Balazs is, of course, welcome to add anything he wants. Just to set the tone a bit and be sure that we are on the same page, so we've got quite a few proposals on the table. Those were put forward by the Commission, including in the context of the MFF proposal in July last year, and we are focused on those proposals that came from us. Now, regarding the Parliament, of course, it's always welcome when other institutions also demonstrate their interest in terms of looking at new own resources for the EU budget, because they are essential. We have looked at the proposals of the Parliament. We have also shared our analysis with the Council on those, but at this point in time we are not intending to propose new own resources other than the five which are already on the table. Thank you, Balazs. Other questions for Balazs, as he's here with me?

Ukraine loan disbursement timeline

Q (European Pravda Ukraine): Yes, go ahead. Tetyana Vasotskaya, European Pravda Ukraine. My question is already traditional. It's about the first disbursements of 90 billion loan for Ukraine. Today is already 17th of June, so the June is going to end soon. When Ukraine should expect these first tranches of defense and budget support from the European Union? Do you have any news? Thank you.

Spokesperson: Traditional question and traditional answer. We have still 13 days until the end of the month and until the end of the second quarter. I can reassure you that the disbursement will commence in the course of the second quarter, so within this month we are making the final preparations and hopefully we'll be able to break the news very, very soon. And if I can recall, a post on social media by the President yesterday, I believe, she has confirmed the support to Ukraine, to President Zelensky, with whom she of course met at the G7, and she has said, relating to your questions, the first disbursement of the 90 billion support loan is imminent with a strong focus on drones and defense capabilities. So we will not go in the definition of imminent, but I hope it can give you an indication. Other questions for Balazs? Not from the case, not from remote. Thank you, Balazs.

EU relations with Jordan

Q: Other questions for us today? Not in the press room. Mose from remote. Yes, thank you very much, Yana. I have a question related to EU's relations with Arab countries, in this case Jordan, with which I think EU has a partnership agreement. There was a summit last January. I would like to ask in which way EU support to a project, Yana, are leveraged to promote peace and regional stability. I'm thinking about a new project. This is called the Aqaba Amman Desalination and Conveyance Water Project, which is being launched now, and will get started I think this summer. And it involves the building of a huge desalination plant in Aqaba, in the Red Sea. And it's replacing another project which was supported by the World Bank. We were supposed to save the Dead Sea and bring water there, but this is not going to happen in this project. I have two questions. Whether there has been an environmental impact assessment of the impact of this desalination plant on the coral reefs in Aqaba and neighboring Eilat in Israel? Has Israel been consulted on this project? And if any water will be allocated also to save the Dead Sea, which is also a common lake with concerns for Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority? We know that sea levels have been shrinking there, and it's heading for ecological disaster. Thank you.

Spokesperson: Thanks, Mose. I take this as a demonstration of the infinite trust you have in our knowledge, because I find it a very specific question, and I'm afraid that it would be difficult for any of us to have the answer on the spot. Perhaps this is the type of question that is best approached bilaterally, I have to say, because it's extremely narrow. Markus will give you a few words, replacing Guillaume, as I was saying, but perhaps we will have to complement with a part of the answer later today. Thanks, Arianna. And just adding to what you just said, Mose, we also know that you sent this question to us in writing, and we're working on it, and we'll be happy to reply to you in writing. A couple of general points. Jordan is a key partner for Europe in the Middle East and a cornerstone of regional stability. The EU and Jordan have taken their unique relationship to the next level by signing a strategic and comprehensive partnership in January 2025. With this partnership, the EU and Jordan have taken the opportunity to deepen their longstanding relationship to better meet common challenges and advance shared values of peace, democracy, and human rights. Thanks, Markus. And for the rest, Mose, we will, of course, revert to your written question as soon as we can. Are there questions for us today? Not in the press room, not from remote. Okay, this brings us to the end of midday, then. I thank you for having participated in the room, remote, interpreters, colleagues. We will be back tomorrow with our next midday press briefing. Goodbye.

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