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Czechia Biomethane Support Scheme 2026-2030 Approved

The European Commission has approved Czechia's biomethane support scheme (SA.119368) under the Clean Industrial Deal Framework (CISAF). The measure provides 15-year direct price support to biomethane producers via a two-way contract for difference mechanism, administered by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Energy Regulatory Office, and OTE a.s. The scheme aims to accelerate deployment of approximately 250-300 small and medium-sized biomethane stations to meet Czechia's target of 500 million Nm3 biomethane output by 2030.

State Aid SA.122033 - Czechia Environmental Protection Scheme, 40M CZK Direct Grants

The European Commission raised no objections to Czechia's State Aid scheme SA.122033 under Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. The scheme, administered by the Ministry of Environment, provides 100% direct grants worth 40,000,000 CZK for preventing, minimizing, and remedying damage caused by selected specially protected animal species, running from 3 August 2023 to 31 December 2029.

OLAF Coordinates SHIELD VI: 3.1 Million Counterfeit Pills Seized Across 14 EU Member States

OLAF facilitated Operation SHIELD VI, coordinating customs authorities from 14 EU Member States in a crackdown on counterfeit medicines, anabolic steroids, doping substances, and unregulated food supplements. Authorities seized over 3.1 million pills, 104,000 packages of illicit goods, 23,014 ampoules and flasks, and more than 1,000 kilograms of products. Many seized items may contain unknown or hazardous ingredients, incorrect dosages, or no active pharmaceutical components. The operation involved Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, and Italy's Guardia di Finanza, with cooperation from Europol and rights holders.

EU Council Decisions 2026/858, 844, 845, 856 on Railway Supervisory Authority, Financial Assistance, and Avian Influenza

The EU Official Journal published four Council and Commission Decisions on 14 April 2026. Council Decision 2026/858 establishes the EU position for the third session of the Supervisory Authority under the Luxembourg Protocol on Railway Rolling Stock. Council Implementing Decisions 2026/844 and 2026/845 make financial assistance under Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 available to France and Czechia respectively. Commission Implementing Decision 2026/856 amends emergency measures concerning highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in certain Member States.

SAFE Financial Assistance: Czechia and France Receive €17.15 Billion in EU Loans

The EU Council adopted implementing decisions enabling Czechia and France to access financial assistance under the SAFE (Support for Accelerated Defence production and deployment of EU defence technologies through Strategic Financing) instrument. Czechia is allocated a maximum loan of €2.06 billion with an initial pre-financing of €309 million, while France receives approximately €15.09 billion with pre-financing of roughly €2.26 billion. The financing supports defence industrial production through common procurement of priority capabilities, enhancing the European defence technological and industrial base.