At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty, culture and cultural heritage are essential to safeguarding democracy and upholding European values. This is the message put forward by EU culture ministers in conclusions approved in Brussels today. The ministers stress the need to protect and promote culture in all its forms and Europe’s cultural heritage as crucial factors in […]
Child sexual abuse: Council reaches position on regulation to protect children from online abuse
The EU is stepping up its efforts to combat child sexual abuse. Representatives of the EU Member States agreed today on the Council’s position on a Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. Once adopted, the new regulation will establish obligations for digital companies to prevent the dissemination of child sexual abuse material and […]
European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measures in support of the armed forces of Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad
On November 24th, the Council adopted a set of decisions establishing three assistance measures under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in support of Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad. Jordan The Council adopted the third bilateral assistance measure under the EPF worth €35 million to strengthen defence capacities and capabilities of the Jordanian Armed Forces. This measure […]
Council adopts new EU legal act to speed up handling of cross-border data protection complaints
The Council today adopted new rules to improve cooperation between national data protection authorities in enforcing the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), in order to speed up the process of handling cross-border data protection complaints. The measures adopted will streamline administrative procedures concerning, for example, the rights of complainants or the admissibility of cases, thereby […]
Consumer protection: Council approves updated Alternative Dispute Resolution directive
The Council gave its final approval to a directive updating, simplifying and improving the existing framework for alternative dispute resolution. Alternative dispute resolution refers to out-of-court methods of resolving disputes between consumers and traders, usually with the help of impartial third parties. The legal text adopted today aims to make alternative dispute resolution a more […]
Council approves new rules for greater transparency in the funding of European parties and foundations
The Council gave its final green light to changes to the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations. This revision of the regulation is aimed at reinforcing the transparency of European political parties and strengthening the framework for their funding, in particular to counter the risks of manipulation and interference by […]
2026 EU budget deal: EP boosts research, competitiveness and security
MEPs achieved increases for the 2026 EU budget and secured funds for Horizon Europe, transport and energy networks, civil protection and agriculture. On Saturday morning, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the 2026 EU Budget, before the deadline of the conciliation period. Negotiators agreed to set the overall […]
President Costa to travel to Latin America for COP30 and EU-CELAC Summits
In early November, the President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Brazil to attend the COP30 Climate Summit and also to Colombia, where he will co-chair the fourth CELAC-EU summit and the EU-Caribbean leaders’ meeting. COP 30 – 6 and 7 November The UN COP30 Leaders’ Summit will be held in the […]
Joint press release: EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs
The Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of Denmark, representing the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, together with the European Commission, represented by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, met on 30 October 2025 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with their counterparts from the Western Balkans at the annual EU-Western Balkans Ministerial […]