On 20 July 2026, the European Commission adopted 30 decisions by written procedure, spanning agriculture, digital, social, energy, finance, maritime, transport, research, health, legal, and taxation policy areas. The batch includes new rules on AI transparency, approval of Latvia's Social Climate Plan, updates to novel food authorisations, and a decision to bring an annulment action against the Council over fisheries gear.
The decisions were taken under the Commission's written procedure, which allows adoption without a formal meeting. In the digital sector, the Commission adopted detailed rules for proceedings under the AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) and transparency guidelines for certain AI systems, building on the regulatory framework established by the AI Act. On social policy, the Commission approved Latvia's Social Climate Plan for 2026-2032 financing and launched a second-phase consultation on a Quality Jobs Act, following the European Pillar of Social Rights action plan. In energy, the Commission issued guidance on net-zero technology manufacturing under Article 26 of Regulation 2024/1735 and harmonised standards for gas water heaters, supporting the Net-Zero Industry Act.
In the health sector, the Commission amended rules on enforcement for non-compliance with withdrawal periods and maximum residue limits (MRLs), and updated novel food authorisations for several products including galacto-oligosaccharide, lutein extracts, yellow mealworm, Locusta migratoria, chia seeds, Siraitia grosvenorii, oxygenated saltwater, and Lasius fuliginosus. It also authorised a PET recycling process and approved L-valine as a feed additive. On maritime policy, the Commission amended conservation measures in Baltic Sea protected areas (Finngrunden, Svenska Högarna, Norra Midsjöbanken, Ottenby rev) and deleted measures for the Northern Midsea Bank, following scientific advice. In a legal move, the Commission decided to bring an annulment action against the Council regarding a non-paper from the OSPAR Commission's June 2026 meeting on phasing out dolly ropes, a type of fishing gear used in bottom trawling.
Other decisions include amendments to wine-sector data reporting rules under the Common Agricultural Policy (Implementing Regulation 2022/1475), setting reporting standards for third-country bank branches under Directive 2013/36/EU, an implementing decision under the EU blocking statute (Council Regulation 2271/96), mandating the EU Agency for Railways to review common safety methods and targets under Directive 2016/798, amending Horizon Europe financing for 2025-2026 and adopting the 2027 work programme for the European Research Council, and correcting Annexes I and IV of Implementing Regulation 2025/2621 on taxation.
The decisions will now be formally notified to the relevant parties and published in the Official Journal. The legal action against the Council will proceed before the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Commission's actions reflect ongoing efforts to implement EU legislation across multiple sectors, balancing regulatory oversight with support for innovation and sustainability.