The European Council represents EU heads of state and government. It is responsible for the general political direction of the EU.
The Council of the European Union is made up of EU government ministers who meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws.
Readout of the telephone conversation between President Charles Michel and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
President Charles Michel spoke on the phone with Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed to follow-up on their meeting in the margins of the AU-EU Summit and on the recent visit of Commissioner Lenarcic to the country.
President Charles Michel took note of the recent efforts […]
Digital finance: agreement reached on European crypto-assets regulation (MiCA)
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
The EU brings crypto-assets, crypto-assets issuers and crypto-asset service providers under a regulatory framework for the first time.
The Council presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the markets in crypto-assets (MiCA) proposal which covers issuers of unbacked crypto-assets, and so-called “stablecoins”, as well as […]
Foreign subsidies distorting the internal market: provisional political agreement between the Council and the European Parliament
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
The Council and the European Parliament today reached a provisional political agreement on the regulation on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market.
The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union was built on the principle of economic sovereignty. Economic sovereignty depends on two key principles: […]
Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting in Prague with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
Good evening every one. First of all let me thank you, dear Prime Minister, dear Petr, for your warm welcome. It’s a great pleasure for me to be back in Prague, and to be back for an important moment, because in a few hours it […]
Sanctions: Council requests European Parliament consent to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
The Council today requested the European Parliament’s consent on a decision to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of ‘EU crimes’ included in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
The EU has adopted a number of restrictive measures in the context […]
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU to mark the 20th anniversary of its entry into force
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
20 years ago, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered into force.
The adoption of the Rome Statute has been a major step forward in the evolution of the international legal order and a breakthrough in the global fight against impunity. The ICC […]
European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measure in support of the Moldovan Armed Forces
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
The Council today adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility worth €40 million for the benefit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova.
The assistance measure will strengthen the capacities of the Moldovan Armed Forces’ logistics, mobility, command and control, cyber-defence, unmanned aerial reconnaissance and tactical […]
Joint EU-U.S. statement following the EU-U.S. Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
On 23 June 2022, the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted the EU-U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs in Paris. The United States was represented by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. […]
Anti-money laundering: Provisional agreement reached on transparency of crypto asset transfers
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
The EU is making it more difficult for criminals to misuse crypto currencies for criminal purposes. Negotiators from the Council presidency and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on the proposal updating the rules on information accompanying the transfers of funds by extending the […]
Visas: Council approves negotiating mandate on visa liberalisation for Kuwait and Qatar
(Source: Council of the EU and European Council)
The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) approved the Council’s negotiating mandate on the liberalisation of short-stay visas for Kuwait and Qatar. On the basis of this mandate, the presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament.
The Council confirmed the Commission’s proposal to provide for visa-free travel […]