The Council and the European Parliament reached agreement on the EU’s annual budget for 2024. Next year’s budget strongly focuses on the EU’s main policy priorities and reacts to the currently difficult geopolitical context. Total commitments are set at €189 385,4 million. €360 million have been kept available under the expenditure ceilings of the current multiannual financial framework for […]
Spanish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities
Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council. Committee on Culture and Education On 7 September, acting Minister for Education and Vocational Training Pilar Alegría said the presidency will focus on educational responses to support Ukraine, ambitious implementation of the European Education […]
EU ministers reach agreement on Baltic Sea catch limits for 2024
Fisheries Fishing opportunities for 2024 in the Baltic Sea Fisheries ministers reached a political agreement on next year’s total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the most commercially significant fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. The agreement is in line with the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and with […]
Council agrees to tighten CO2 emission standards for heavy duty vehicles
The Council has reached an agreement (‘general approach’) on a proposal to update and strengthen the regulation on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The aim of the proposal is to further reduce CO₂ emissions in the road transport sector and to introduce new targets for 2030, 2035 and 2040. The new rules will contribute to […]
Council greenlights Post-Cotonou agreement
The new partnership agreement between the EU and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will guide relations for the next twenty years. It will replace the Cotonou agreement, adopted in 2000. The Council adopted a decision on the signature and provisional application of the European Union and Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Partnership Agreement, […]
Deal on boosting the production of ammunition and missiles in the EU
The Council presidency has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament representatives on the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP). The agreed regulation will urgently mobilise €500 million from the EU budget (in current prices) to support the ramp-up of the manufacturing capacities for the production of ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition as well as missiles. In doing so, it […]
President von der Leyen and the College of Commissioners will participate in the inauguration of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU in Madrid
President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Madrid today, Monday, together with the other European Commissioners, to participate in the inauguration of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They will first visit the Galería de las Colecciones Reales and will be received by Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, and members […]
EU fisheries ministers discuss fisheries policy and fishing quotas for 2024
Common Fisheries Policy and fishing opportunities for 2024 On the basis of the communication published by the Commission, ministers discussed the state of play of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and their priorities for fishing opportunities for 2024. After the Commission took the floor to outline the main aspects of its communication and its approach to formulating […]
Council reaches agreement on new European Media Freedom Act
EU member state ambassadors have agreed the Council’s position on a new law to safeguard media freedom, pluralism and independence in the EU. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) will establish a common framework for media services in the EU internal market and introduce measures aimed at protecting journalists and media providers from political interference while also making it easier for […]