European Council

On 24 March 2022, the European Council re-elected Charles Michel as its president for a second term of two and a half years, from 1 June 2022 to 30 November 2024.

The Leaders of the G7 met in Brussels at the invitation of the German G7 Presidency.

Press briefing ahead of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will take place on Monday 28 March 2022 at 9:00.

The press briefing ahead of the extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council will take place on 28 March 2022 at 10:00. The briefing will be "off the record".

Invitation letter by President Charles Michel to the members of the European Council ahead of their meeting on 24 and 25 March 2022

EU leaders and social partners met, via video conference, at the tripartite social summit to discuss "a united tripartite response to the social and economic impact of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine".

UPDATE - Media advisory and press arrangements for the upcoming European Council of 24 and 25 March 2022

European Council President Charles Michel debriefed the European Parliament about the discussions the EU leaders had during the informal meeting in Versailles on 10 and 11 March 2022

The Council adopted two decisions doubling the reference amount under the European Peace Facility's assistance measures that currently allow the EU to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The EU issued a declaration strongly condemning the ruling by Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court, to extend the imprisonment of the Russian opposition politician Mr Alexei Navalny by an additional 9 years.

Today the EU’s general affairs ministers reached political agreement (a partial general approach) on the recast of the regulation on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and in a Europe shaken by the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and its population, the EU issued a declaration confirming its firm commitment to act against all human rights violations and to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance worldwide.

The Council formally approved the Strategic Compass, an ambitious plan of action for a stronger EU security and defence policy by 2030.

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

Press briefing ahead the European Council of 24 and 25 March 2022

The President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, has sent a letter to the President of the Euro Summit, Charles Michel, taking stock of the economic situation and fiscal policy in light of recent developments, in particular Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The letter will inform the discussion that leaders will hold at the Euro Summit of 25 March 2022.

On 21 March 2022, the Council approved conclusions Cameroon.

The Council adopted a decision extending the framework for restrictive measures in view of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina until 31 March 2024.

UPDATE - Media advisory and press arrangements for the upcoming European Council of 24 and 25 March 2022

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/430 of 15 March 2022 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine