Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1978 of 8 September 2026 setting up the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for Agri-Food (EDIC for Agri-Food)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/1978 9.9.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2026/1978 of 8 September 2026 setting up the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for Agri-Food (EDIC for Agri-Food) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Decision (EU) 2022/2481 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030(1)and in particular Article 14(3), point (a) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Decision (EU) 2022/2481 empowers the Commission to set up European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDICs).

(2) On 13 February 2026, Austria, Croatia, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, and the region of Flanders submitted to the Commission an application in accordance with Article 14(1) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481 to set up the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for Agri-Food (EDIC for Agri-Food) while Poland joined this application on 8 June. Germany, Ireland, Latvia, and Spain joined the application as observers.

(3) As the host Member State, France has provided a declaration in accordance with Article 14(1), point (d) of Decision

(EU) 2022/2481 recognising the EDIC for Agri-Food as an international body within the meaning of Article 143(1), point (g) and Article 151(1), point (b) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC(2) and as an international organisation within the meaning of Article 11(1), point (b) of Council Directive (EU) 2020/262(3).

(4) The Commission has assessed the application pursuant to Article 14(2) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481. It has concluded that the application contains all elements required in accordance with Article 14(1) of Decision

(EU) 2022/2481. Taking into account the general objectives of the Digital Decade Policy Programme, notably the contribution of the proposed EDIC to developing a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem of interoperable digital infrastructures, and practical considerations related to the implementation of the multi-country project, in particular the proposed EDIC’s technical, financial, administrative capacity, the Commission has concluded that the EDIC meets all the specific requirements laid down in Articles 13 to 21 of Decision (EU) 2022/2481.

(5) In accordance with its Statutes, the mission of the EDIC for Agri-Food is to enhance the European Agri-food digital ecosystem through the development and implementation of EU-wide interoperable, use-case-based deployment actions, leveraging digital integration to progress the European agricultural and food sector.

(6) In order to allow for the prompt application of the measures provided for in this Decision namely the start of the operation of the EDIC for Agri-Food, which is urgently needed for the orderly implementation of the proposed actions, this Decision should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Digital Decade Committee established by Article 23(1) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481,

(1) OJ L 323, 19.12.2022, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/2481/oj.

(2) Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (OJ L 347, 11.12.2006, p. 1, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/112/oj).

(3) Council Directive (EU) 2020/262 of 19 December 2019 laying down the general arrangements for excise duty (OJ L 58, 27.2.2020, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2020/262/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1978/oj 1/4EN OJ L, 9.9.2026

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Establishment of the EDIC for Agri-Food

1. The European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for Agri-Food (EDIC for Agri-Food) is hereby set up.

2. The EDIC for Agri-Food shall have legal personality, and it shall enjoy, in each of the Member States, the most extensive legal capacity accorded to legal entities under the law of that Member State. It may, in particular, acquire own and dispose of movable, immovable and intellectual property, conclude contracts and be a party to legal proceedings.

3. The essential elements of the statutes of the EDIC for Agri-Food, as agreed between its members, are set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 Entry into force This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 8 September 2026.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN 2/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1978/ojEN OJ L, 9.9.2026 ANNEX ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE STATUTES OF THE EDIC FOR AGRI-FOOD

1) Essential elements corresponding to Article 17(1), point (c) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481:

Article 2 Name, seat, location and working language

1. The name of the EDIC referred to in paragraph (1) shall be ‘EDIC for Agri-Food’, hereinafter referred to as EDIC for Agri-Food.

2. The EDIC for Agri-Food shall have its statutory seat in France, Paris.

2) Essential elements corresponding to Article 17(1), point (d) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481:

Article 28 Duration The EDIC for Agri-Food shall exist for an indefinite period of time.

Article 29 Winding up

1. The winding up of the EDIC for Agri-Food shall be decided by the Assembly of Members in accordance with Article 10.

2. Without undue delay and in any event within 10 days after adoption of the decision to wind up the EDIC, the EDIC for Agri-Food shall notify the European Commission about the decision.

3. Assets remaining after payment of the EDIC for Agri-Food debts shall be apportioned among the Members in proportion to their accumulated annual contribution to the EDIC for Agri-Food as specified in Article 9 or transferred to another legal entity to the extent that this entity continues EDIC’s activities.

4. Without undue delay and in any event within 10 days of the closure of the winding up procedure, the EDIC for Agri-Food shall notify the Commission thereof.

5. The EDIC for Agri-Food shall cease to exist on the day on which the European Commission publishes the appropriate notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

3) Essential elements corresponding to Article 17(1), point (e) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481:

Article 21 Liability and insurance

1. The EDIC for Agri-Food shall be liable for its debts.

2. The financial liability of the Members for the debts of the EDIC shall be limited to their respective contributions

provided to the EDIC, as specified in the Annex III.

3. The Union shall not be liable for the EDIC’s debts.

4. The EDIC for Agri-Food shall take appropriate insurance to cover the risks specific to its activities.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1978/oj 3/4EN OJ L, 9.9.2026

4) Essential elements corresponding to Article 17(1), point (i) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481:

Article 20 Tax and excise duty exemptions

1. VAT exemptions based on Articles 143(1)(g) and 151(1)(b) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC, shall be limited to purchases by the EDIC for Agri-Food and by Members of the EDIC for Agri-Food which are for the official and exclusive use by the EDIC for Agri-Food provided that such purchase is made solely for the non-economic activities of the EDIC for Agri-Food in line with its activities.

2. VAT exemptions shall be limited to purchases exceeding the value of EUR 300.

3. Excise Duty exemptions based on Article 11(1), point (b), of Council Directive (EU) 2020/262, shall be limited to purchases by the EDIC for Agri-Food which are for the official and exclusive use by EDIC for Agri-Food provided that such purchase is made solely for the non-economic activities of EDIC for Agri-Food in line with its activities and that the purchase exceeds the value of EUR 300.

4/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1978/oj