Press releases and statements
Press releases and statements
29 June 2026
- President Costa travelling to Ireland and France
President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Dublin (1 July) for the opening ceremony of the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU, and to Aix-en-Provence (2-3 July) to participate in the “Rencontres Économiques”. On 4 July, President Costa will visit Marseille, Avignon and the ITER Headquarters in Saint Paul-lez-Durance.
- Research fund for coal and steel: Council gives its final approval
Council gives its final approval to the package to reform the research fund for coal and steel
- European Public Prosecutor's Office: Council appoints new prosecutors for France and Malta
The Council today appointed two new prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutor's Office. European prosecutors supervise investigations and prosecutions and, together with the European Chief Prosecutor, form the EPPO College.
- MFF 2028-2034: Council backs simpler and more efficient rules for cohesion funds
The Council today reached positions on the cohesion-related parts of the next long-term EU budget (MFF): the regulations on the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund.
- Artificial Intelligence: Council gives final green light to simplify and streamline rules
The Council gave its final green light on a new regulation aiming to streamline and simplify certain rules regarding artificial intelligence (AI).
- Wildfires: Council adopts recommendation to strengthen preparedness and enhance prevention
The Council adopted recommendations on integrated wildfire risk management to help member states better prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from wildfires.
- Council greenlights rules for a more circular automotive sector
The Council formally adopted the regulation concerning circularity requirements for vehicle design and the management of end-of-life vehicles.
- Council gives final green light to strengthen farmers’ position in the food supply chain
Council adopts new rules to improve farmers’ position in the EU food supply chain, ensuring they receive a fairer share of value by strengthening their negotiating power.
- Safer online spaces for girls: Council calls for stronger action against cyber violence
The Council has approved conclusions calling on EU countries and the Commission to improve protection for girls and young women in the digital sphere.
26 June 2026
- Weekly schedule of President António Costa
Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 29 June - 5 July 2026.
- Haiti: EU restrictive measures extended until July 2027
The Council renewed the EU framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for threatening the peace, stability and security of Haiti and undermining democracy and the rule of law in the country for one year, until 29 July 2027.
- Press remarks by Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis following his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar and Hungarian Finance Minister Kármán
Remarks by Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis following his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar and Hungarian Finance Minister Kármán on Hungary’s commitment to European cooperation and economic integration.
- European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measure in support of the Togolese Armed Forces
The Council adopted the second assistance measure, worth €5 million, in support of the Togolese navy under the European Peace Facility.
- MFF 2028-2034: Council agrees partial position on new framework to monitor and evaluate the EU budget
The Council today reached a partial negotiating mandate on a new budget expenditure performance tracking framework for the next long-term EU budget.
- European grids package: Council backs modernised energy network for decarbonisation
Member states agreed the Council’s negotiating position on the European grids package, comprising a revision of the trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E) regulation and a permitting directive.
- Council moves ahead on updating the EU workplace pensions framework
The Council today agreed its negotiating position on the review of the EU’s framework for occupational pension funds.
- MFF 2028-2034: Council agrees its position on Horizon Europe, the new and ambitious framework programme for research and innovation
Council reaches an agreement on its partial negotiating position on the main components of the Horizon Europe package in the framework of the next multi-annual budget (MFF) 2028-2034.
25 June 2026
- Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: Council extends economic sanctions for another year
The Council renewed the EU restrictive measures in view of the Russian Federation’s continuing actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine for a further 12 months, until 31 July 2027, following EU leaders’ agreement at the European Council of 18-19 June 2026.
- Council and Parliament agree on more effective enforcement of passenger rights
Council and Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a regulation aimed at strengthening the enforcement of EU passenger rights across the EU.
- Speech by President António Costa at the Ukraine Recovery Conference
President of the European Council, António Costa, delivered a speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference organised in Gdańsk (Poland) on 25 June 2026.