A joint EU press release was issued following the 25th EU-China summit in Beijing on 24 July 2025.

Joint EU-China statement on climate at the occasion of the EU-China summit in Beijing of 24 July 2025.

European Council President António Costa met with the Premier of China Li Qiang as part of the 25th EU-China summit in Beijing on 24 July 2025.

European Council President António Costa met with the President of China Xi Jinping as part of the 25th EU-China summit in Beijing on 24 July 2025.

European Council President António Costa took part in to the 30th EU–Japan summit 2025. In his press statement following the plenary session, he emphasised the importance of strengthening EU-Japan relations, in particular in security and defence, multilateralism, and in trade and economic security.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, representing the EU, met Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba at the 30th EU-Japan summit in Tokyo, Japan. The summit provided an opportunity to show the closeness of the EU-Japan partnership, ever more important in the current turbulent geopolitical context.

On 23 July 2025, European Council President António Costa was in Tokyo, Japan for the 30th EU-Japan summit. In his opening remarks at the start of the plenary session, he emphasised the importance of further deepening the EU-Japan strategic partnership, built on shared values and interests.

Member states’ representatives appoint a judge to the Court of Justice.

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 21-27 July 2025.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1349 of 8 July 2025 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/740 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in South Sudan.

The Council adopted additional restrictive measures against two individuals and two entities for acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses, or which threaten the peace, stability and security of Sudan or for obstructing the delivery of, access to, and distribution of humanitarian assistance in Sudan.

The European Union issued a statement restating its unwavering and unequivocal condemnation of the persistent malicious activities posed by Russia, as part of broader, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its member states and its partners.

The Council adopted its 18th package of economic and individual restrictive measures designed to target vital sectors of the Russian economy such as energy and banking, further weakening the regime’s ability to wage its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Japan and China, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to represent the EU in the EU-Japan Summit on 23 July and EU-China Summit on 24 July.

The Council adopted a regulation regarding the progressive start of the Entry/Exit digital border management system.

The Council today formally adopted new value added tax (VAT) rules for distance sales of imported goods.

Simplification: Council adopts new law to ‘stop-the-clock’ on due diligence rules for batteries.

Today, the Council adopted an amended regulation to extend the requirements established in the gas storage regulation, by an additional two years. 

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, commemorated on 17 July 2025.

Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement to better address current and emerging challenges in the context of EU cohesion policy’s mid-term review.