European Council

EU ambassadors approved a deal with the European Parliament on a directive and a regulation on electricity market design.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Member states are fighting to reduce marine litter by endorsing new rules which ban the use of certain throwaway plastic products for which alternatives exist.

European Council President Donald Tusk congratulated Stefan Löfven on his reappointment as Prime Minister of Sweden

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1656 of 6 November 2018 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela.

On 21 December 2018, the Council prolonged economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until 31 July 2019.

The EU and Japan today notified each other of the completion of their respective ratification procedures of the EU-Japan economic partnership agreement. The agreement will become effective on 1 February 2019.

Weekly schedule of President Donald Tusk 7-11 January 2019

The Council placed 7 additional individuals under restrictive measures for serious human rights violations in Myanmar/Burma.

The Council extended the mandate of the EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia until 31 March 2019.

The EU's flagship programme for nature and biodiversity conservation as well as climate action is set to continue beyond 2020.

The Council has agreed on a general approach to set CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles.

A joint press statement was issued after the 8th meeting of the Association Council between the EU and Egypt.

The EU is establishing its future space policy programme for the years 2021-2027. EU ambassadors meeting in Coreper on 19 December agreed on the Council's position on the draft regulation on an EU space programme. This position enables negotiations to begin with the European Parliament.

Creative Europe: Council agrees its position for 2021-2027

More accessible products and services for EU citizens: Presidency reaches provisional agreement with the European Parliament

The .eu governance rules are being revised, and today EU ambassadors endorsed the provisional deal on this reform.

The agreed Cybersecurity Act was approved by member states, including EU-wide cybersecurity certification and a permanent EU Agency for Cybersecurity.

The EU is combating the dumping into the sea of rubbish from ships by providing incentives for ships to discharge their waste in ports.