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, […]
EU and Morocco agree to extend tariff treatment to Western Sahara
The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have reached an agreement to extend preferential tariff treatment to the territory of Western Sahara. The agreement applies provisionally from 3 October 2025, ensuring continuity and security for traders. The agreement provides that proofs of origin and labelling of products will indicate the region of production (Dakhla […]
Global ocean conservation treaty enters into force
Last September 19 marks a historic milestone for ocean conservation as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement reached 60 ratifications, triggering its entry into force in early 2026. This landmark agreement, the result of over a decade of international collaboration, represents a transformative step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems and addressing the urgent threats posed by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity […]
EU and Indonesia conclude negotiations on free trade agreement
Following the political agreement reached on 13 July by President von der Leyen and President Prabowo Subianto, today the EU and Indonesia finalised negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA). On the EU side, negotiations were led by Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič. Currently in Indonesia, he is marking this […]