The Council adopted last March 17 conclusions on the EU’s new Bioeconomy Strategy, which welcome the vision of a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy by 2040, promote the use of circular and bio-based solutions across all relevant sectors—as non-fossil alternatives—and support innovation and investment. The bioeconomy uses renewable biological resources, such as plants, animals and microorganisms, […]
The Council agrees on a position to simplify the rules on artificial intelligence.
On 13 March, the Council agreed on its position regarding the proposal to simplify certain rules relating to artificial intelligence (AI). The proposal forms part of the so-called‘Omnibus VII’legislative packageunder theEU’ssimplificationagenda. This package includes proposals for two regulations aimed at simplifying the EU’s digital legislative framework and the application of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence. […]
Council gives final green light to measures to improve the efficiency and robustness of the EU asylum system
The Council formally adopted the first EU-wide list of safe countries of origin, as well as a revision of the concept of safe third country. These two legislative acts aim to better harmonise the EU’s migration and asylum framework and increase its efficiency. The EU-wide list of safe countries of origin will help Member States […]
El Consejo establece orientaciones para el presupuesto de la UE del próximo año
El Consejo adopta unas Conclusiones que establecen orientaciones para el presupuesto anual de la UE para 2027. Las orientaciones ofrecen orientación política a la Comisión en lo que respecta a la elaboración de la propuesta de proyecto de presupuesto para el presupuesto del próximo año, el último ejercicio presupuestario anual del marco financiero plurianual (MFP) […]
The first EU-Egypt summit will be held in Brussels on 22 October
The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the first EU-Egypt summit, which will take place in Brussels on 22 October 2025. President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi will represent Egypt. The summit will discuss bilateral relations and ways to further […]
Council establishes position for the progressive launch of a new digital border management system
The Council today set out a general approach on a Regulation that would allow Member States to gradually introduce, over a period of six months, the digital Entry/Exit System (EES) for border management. The Regulation allows Member States to start taking advantage of the system and gives border authorities and the transport sector more time […]
EU defence policy in figures
The EU and its Member States are determined to increase and enhance joint defence spending in response to the unprecedented security challenges and threats facing Europe today. How much do EU member states spend on defence? Between 2021 and 2024, total defence expenditure by EU Member States increased by more than 30%. In 2024, it […]
EU annual budget 2026: Council sets guidelines for next year’s EU budget
The Council today approved conclusions setting guidelines for the EU’s annual budget for 2026. The guidelines provide political steer to the Commission in preparing the draft budget proposal for next year’s budget. In its conclusions, the Council underlines that the EU budget for 2026 has a key role in the development and delivery of the […]
António Costa “There will be no credible and successful negotiations no lasting peace without Ukraine and without the European Union”
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference 2025, European Council President António Costa highlighted that the EU will continue to support Ukraine as an integral part of its project for peace. “On 24 February 2022, the European Union changed. On the very first day of the war in Ukraine, at 7 pm, European leaders gathered for […]