European Council

Statement by President Charles Michel on Russia's violent attacks against Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine

The Council declared the head of the Mission of the Republic of Nicaragua to the European Union persona non grata.

Le président du Conseil européen, Charles Michel, a pris la parole lors de la conférence annuelle des ambassadeurs de l'UE, qui réunit les ambassadeurs des délégations et bureaux de l'UE dans le monde entier.

The press briefing ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council will take place on Tuesday, 11 October 2022 at 17:00.

The EU issued a declaration on the occasion of the European and World Day against the Death Penalty firmly reiterating its unequivocal opposition to the death penalty at all times, in all places and in all circumstances.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel, 10 – 16 October 2022

On 7 October 2022, at their informal meeting in Prague, leaders agreed to the proposal of President Michel to nominate Ms Thérèse Blanchet as the next Secretary-General of the Council.

Remarks by President Charles Michel following the informal meeting of the EU heads of state or government in Prague

During his doorstep in Prague, President Michel stressed the need to remain firm, united and support Ukraine as well as address the energy crisis as soon as possible.

Statement following quadrilateral meeting between President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Macron and President Michel, 6 October 2022

The EU issued a declaration strongly condemning the illegal launch by the DPRK of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on 4th October 2022.

The Council formally adopted a Council Regulation on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices. The adoption follows a political agreement reached by EU energy ministers in the extraordinary Energy Council on 30 September 2022.

The Council imposed restrictive measures on an additional 30 individuals and 7 entities in respect of the escalating Russian military aggression against Ukraine, and of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

On 6 October 2022, President Michel attends the first European Political Community meeting in Prague, which brings together leaders from across the continent.

The Council imposed a new package of economic and individual sanctions against Russia in view of the escalation of its aggression against Ukraine.

Ahead of UNFCCC COP27, the Council adopted conclusions underlining its strong commitment to deliver on climate finance. The Council recalled that the EU and its member states are the largest contributor to international public climate finance, and since 2013 have more than doubled their contribution to climate finance to support developing countries. In its conclusions, the Council calls on other donors to step up efforts in this regard, and it expects that the collective USD 100 billion per year climate finance mobilisation goal will be met in 2023.

The Netherlands will be able to use funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to foster its economic recovery and invest in green and digital projects.

Press briefing ahead of the meeting of the European Political Community and the Informal meeting of EU heads of state or government, Prague 6-7 October 2022, will take place on 5 October at 11:00.

The Council adopted conclusions on the revised EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. A total of 12 countries have either not engaged in a constructive dialogue with the EU on tax governance or have failed to deliver on their commitments to implement the necessary reforms.

The Council agreed its position on the REPowerEU proposal, a plan to phase out the Union’s dependency on Russian fossil fuel imports.