European Council

The Council appointed new Heads of Mission for EUCAP Sahel Niger and EUAM Ukraine.

The EU issued a statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia confirming the EU’s commitment to protect and promote the full enjoyment of human rights by LGBTI persons in all aspects of their lives, within the EU and around the world.

The Council reached agreement on its position (general approach) on the ‘DAC8’ proposal which introduces updates to the directive on administrative cooperation in the area of taxation.

The Council gave the final go-ahead to a regulation that aims to minimise the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products that are placed on or exported from the EU market.

The Council adopted a regulation which will make it more difficult for criminals to misuse crypto-assets for money laundering purposes.

The EU brings crypto-assets and crypto-assets service providers under a regulatory framework for the first time. The Council today adopted a regulation on markets in crypto-assets (MiCA).

Press briefings ahead of the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs (Defence) Council will take place on 17 May 2023 at 15.00.

Remarks by Paschal Donohoe after the Eurogroup meeting of 15 May 2023, focusing on the spring economic forecast, the European banking system and the digital euro.

The presidents of the European Council and the European Commission spoke to the press ahead of the Council of Europe Reykjavik summit, the G7 summit in Hiroshima and the EU-Korea summit in Seoul.

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming Competitiveness Council will take place on 16 May 2023 at 16.00.

The Council appointed Luigi di Maio as EU Special Representative for the Gulf from 1 June 2023 until 28 February 2025.

The Council has approved conclusions on the social dimension of a sustainable Europe for young people.

Council will sign an agreement with Montenegro on cooperation with Frontex to allow joint border management operations.

President Michel hosted Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev for a fifth meeting in the Brussels format focusing on progress on the path towards Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization.

The participants of the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors issued a communiqué at the end of their meeting in Niigata, Japan. At this meeting, Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe represented the EU together with ECB President Christine Lagarde and Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel, 15 - 21 May 2023

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

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

Press briefing ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will take place on 15 May 2023 at 11:00. The briefing will be "off the record".

The European Council on 29 and 30 June 2023 will take place in the Europa building in Brussels