European Council

Press briefing ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit of 15 December 2021.

EU ambassadors today approved a provisional political agreement reached between the Council presidency and the European Parliament’s negotiators on 1 December, regarding the 8th Environmental Action Programme (EAP). The 8th EAP will serve as a guide for environmental and climate policymaking and implementation until 2030.

United States President Joe Biden hosted a virtual summit focussing on challenges and opportunities facing democracies. It was a platform for leaders to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad.

The Council concluded that Croatia has fulfilled the necessary conditions for the application of all parts of the Schengen acquis.

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

The EU issued a declaration on the occasion of the Human Rights Day, stressing that achieving human rights is not only an imperative of human dignity; it is a cornerstone of democracy, peace and security, and sustainable development.

At the end of their meeting in Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel and German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will hold a joint press conference

Today the Council appointed three new directors-general: Isabel Riaño as the new Director-General for Competitiveness and Trade (COMPET), Cesare Onestini as the new Director-General for Agriculture, Fisheries, Social Affairs and Health (LIFE), and Thomas Westphal as the new Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN).

The Council extended existing restrictive measures against several individuals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until 12 December 2022.

The Council today adopted the regulation establishing the EU asylum agency. This regulation aims to improve the application of asylum policy within the EU, by turning the current European asylum support office (EASO) into a fully-fledged agency.

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place on 10 November 2021 at 15.00.

The EU’s roam like at home scheme will be extended until 2032, according to the provisional agreement reached today.

The main aim of this system is to enable the digitalisation of cross-border judicial communication and facilitate better access to justice for citizens and businesses.

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

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming General Affairs Council will take place on 10 December 2021 at 17.00.

Media advisory and press arrangements for the upcoming European Council of 16 December 2021.

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

European Council President Charles Michel addressed the annual EU Ambassadors' conference, which brings together ambassadors from the EU delegations and offices around the world.

Media advisory and press arrangements for the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit of 15 December 2021

Press briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council of 13 December will take place on 10 December 2021 at 14.00.