We have a varied edition today, with the most notable story being the mobilised EU funds to support Belgian and Austrian laid off workers, which combined reach above 3 million euros, about 10% of the total European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for the year. Alongside that, we hae new braking rules for electric vehicles, updated animal health measures, and a new Have Your Say consultation, this time on fertiliser materials. Here is what was published today:
Aviation
Commission Blocks Dublin Airport Night Flight Restrictions Over Procedural Flaws (Commission Decision (EU) 2026/836 – adopted 10 February 2026) – Ireland’s planned night movement cap at Dublin Airport is put on hold after the Commission finds that the authority which imposed it skipped a mandatory step: assessing whether less restrictive noise-reduction measures could have achieved the same outcome before resorting to an operational cap. Irish authorities must now review the decision and report back before any restrictions can enter into force.
Labour & Social Policy
EU Mobilises Over €3.7 Million for Laid-Off Workers in Austria and Belgium – Two EGF decisions activated today for workers made redundant at motorcycle maker KTM in Austria and home furnishings retailer Casa in Belgium, totalling €3.7 million in retraining and re-employment support.
Animal Health & Agriculture
Import Restrictions Updated as Bird Flu Outbreak Hits US and Chile – Eight new restricted zones added for the United States and one for Chile, while Canada is cleared following the resolution of the British Columbia outbreak.
New EU Entry Rules for Cats, Dogs, and Other Pets – Two Delegated Regulations update the legal framework governing non-commercial pet travel into the EU, ahead of the expiry of the transitional period under the old Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 on 22 April. The substantive requirements for microchipping, rabies vaccination, and parasite treatment are unchanged, but the legal instruments underpinning them have been replaced.
Feedback Open on Draft to Expand Animal By-Products Used in Fertilisers (Draft Commission Delegated Regulation – feedback open until 11 May 2026) – The Commission is consulting on a draft that would add eight new animal-derived materials to the list of permitted ingredients in CE-marked EU fertilising products.
Transport & Automotive
UN Regulation Hits EVs With New Braking Rules (UN Regulation No 13-H, 02 series of amendments – published as 2026/502) – The EU publishes the consolidated text of the international passenger car braking standard, incorporating for the first time a comprehensive framework for electrically transmitted braking systems, the brake-by-wire technology increasingly common in EVs. New requirements cover battery ageing indicators, energy management systems, and a fail-safe that automatically limits speed to 20 km/h if the braking battery runs critically low. Full phase-out of old approvals by September 2030.
New Harmonised Standards for Railway Interoperability Brings Forth Changes on Accessibility (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/803 – adopted 10 April 2026) – The official list of harmonised standards under the Railway Interoperability Directive is updated, with new additions on traction power coordination and electromagnetic compatibility, and revised accessibility standards for passengers with disabilities. Six of the new PRM-related standards come with restrictions, as they do not fully cover the requirements of the applicable Technical Specification. Superseded standards are withdrawn with a transition deadline of 13 October 2027.
