The European Union and Viet Nam have agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthening ties in areas such as trade, energy, climate and security. This marks an important step forward after 35 years of working together. The EU and Viet Nam will cooperate more closely across a wide range of areas, […]
EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement enters into force
On 1 February, the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement entered into force. This is the EU’s first independent bilateral agreement on digital trade, marking an important step in the growing network of EU digital trade agreements and digital trade chapters in its free trade agreements. The Digital Trade Agreement strengthens trade between the EU and Singapore […]
EU and Ecuador conclude negotiations for Sustainable Investment Agreement
The European Commission has concluded negotiations with Ecuador on a Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA). This SIFA, the first negotiated with a Latin American country, will be instrumental in promoting EU investments in Ecuador. The deal will support the creation of a more transparent and efficient business environment in Ecuador by addressing challenges such as […]
EU-Mercosur: President Costa and President von der Leyen to travel to Brazil and Paraguay
The President of the European Council, António Costa, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend the EU-Mercosur signature ceremony in Asunción, Paraguay on 17 January 2026. Ahead of the ceremony, on 16 January, President Costa and President von der Leyen will visit Rio de Janeiro to meet President […]
EP and Council reach a deal to update safe third country rules
Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a political agreement on updates to the 2024 Asylum Law regarding the conditions for applying the rules on safe third countries. On Thursday the negotiating team of the Civil Liberties Committee informally agreed with the Council new rules under which member states may decide that a non-EU country is […]
Fishing opportunities for 2026 in EU and non-EU waters: Council secures agreement
Fisheries ministers have reached a political agreement on fishing opportunities in the Atlantic, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and other waters for 2026 and for certain stocks for 2027 and 2028. The deal, reached following two days of negotiations, sets out fishing catch limits, known as ‘total allowable catches’ (TACs), and fishing effort […]
EU agrees to permanently stop Russian gas imports and phase out Russian oil
The European Union will effectively and permanently stop the import of Russian gas and move towards the phaseout of Russian oil under the provisional political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council last December 3. This historic decision will end the EU’s dependence on an unreliable supplier, which has repeatedly destabilised European energy […]
Commission welcomes provisional agreement on new rules to improve welfare of dogs and cats
The European Commission welcomes the agreement by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the first ever EU legislation on the welfare of dogs and cats, which will significantly improve the way these animals are treated, when bred, sold or adopted in the EU. The new measures will also help to clamp […]
European Union and Uzbekistan strengthen relations with Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
The European Union and the Republic of Uzbekistan signed last October 24 an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations. It marks an important deepening of regional ties, elevating them to a new level of strategic cooperation following the EU-Central Asia Summit held on 4 April in Samarkand, […]