European Council

Afghanistan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on Taliban banning Afghan women from working for the UN.

Member states agreed today on a mandate for the presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament on two regulations that aim to phase-out substances that cause greenhouse gas emissions and deplete the ozone layer.

President of the Eurogroup and Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, will travel to Athens today to participate in a conference on the Greek economy - “Resilience, Progress, Perspective” on April 4th, hosted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Council decided to modify several Council acts concerning EU restrictive measures, so as to introduce provisions on a humanitarian exemption.

The Council today adopted a regulation that extends the member states’ voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target, for one year. The regulation, adopted by written procedure, maintains the possibility for the Council to trigger a ‘Union alert’ on security of supply, in which case the gas demand reduction would become mandatory.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/572 of 13 March 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

The Council and the Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement to raise the share of renewable energy in the EU’s overall energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030 with an additional 2.5% indicative top up that would allow to reach 45%. Each member state will contribute to this common target. This provisional political agreement will now need to be endorsed by both institutions.

European Council President Charles Michel sent a written contribution to the Summit for Democracy plenary session.

In his debrief to the European Parliament on the March European Council, President Michel highlighted the main topics discussed by the EU leaders including support to Ukraine and EU’s competitiveness. The economic and financial situation was discussed during a Euro Summit in inclusive format.

European Council President Charles Michel gave a speech at the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement ceremony that took place at the European Parliament.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2023/646 of 20 March 2023 implementing Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran.

The EU issued a statement on Myanmar condemning the decision to dissolve forty political parties.

Member states reached agreement on the Council’s negotiating mandate for a proposed law to ease the access of national authorities to financial information.

The Council agreed its negotiating mandate for a proposed EU law to digitalise the visa procedure.

Provisional agreement reached on EU Drugs Agency regulation. Council and European Parliament agree to turn the existing European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction into a fully-fledged agency and strengthen its role.

The Council today agreed on its negotiating positions ('general approaches') on two proposals that set common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen. The purpose of the legislation is to design the transition of the gas sector towards renewable and low-carbon gases, in particular biomethane and hydrogen, in view of reaching the EU’s goal of climate neutrality in 2050.

Member states today reached a political agreement on a proposal to extend their voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target, by one year.

Following their meeting in Chișinău, President Michel and President Sandu held a press conference where they highlighted the main topics of their discussions: Russia’s war against Ukraine, EU support for Moldova, the European Political Community.

The Council today adopted a decision bringing amendments to the market stability reserve.

The Council today adopted two regulations that will enable the EU to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels: the so-called ‘effort sharing regulation’ and the regulation on the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector.