EU High Representative Issues Statement on Abolition of Death Penalty in Lebanon
On 11 August 2026, the EU High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the European Union concerning Lebanon and the abolition of the death penalty. The statement aligns with the EU's longstanding policy against capital punishment and is primarily political. It does not introduce new regulatory requirements for financial institutions.
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Euro area annual inflation rises to 3.3% in August 2026
Eurostat's flash estimate puts euro area annual inflation at 3.3% in August 2026, up from 2.9% in July. Energy prices drove the acceleration, while core inflation remained subdued at 2.1% excluding energy and unprocessed food. The release reflects the EA21 composition following Bulgaria’s entry into the euro area in January 2026.
01 Sep 2026
Eurostat: Euro Area Construction Output Falls 1.3% in June 2026
Eurostat's first estimate shows seasonally adjusted production in construction fell by 1.3% in the euro area and 1.0% in the EU in June 2026, compared with May 2026. On an annual basis, euro area construction output declined by 0.7%, while EU output rose by 0.2%. Among Member States, Romania (+4.9%) and Sweden (+2.0%) recorded the strongest monthly gains, while Slovakia (-4.6%) and Hungary (-3.9%) saw the largest declines.
20 Aug 2026
Euro Area Annual Inflation Rises to 2.9% in July 2026
Eurostat reported that annual inflation in the euro area rose to 2.9% in July 2026, up from 2.8% in June, remaining above the ECB's 2% target. The increase was driven mainly by energy and services prices. For compliance officers, the data signal sustained inflationary pressures that may influence prudential provisioning and stress-testing assumptions.
19 Aug 2026

