Europäischer Rat (Nachrichten)

During his visit to the Western Balkans, European Council President António Costa met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. At the joint press conference, he reaffirmed the EU’s strong commitment to Albania’s accession, praised the country’s reform progress, and commended its role in hosting the upcoming European Political Community summit. He also welcomed the opening of a College of Europe campus in Tirana, highlighting Albania's deepening ties with the EU.

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council will take place on 16 May 2025 at 14.30.  Press briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs (Defence) Council will take place on 19 May 2025 at 16.30.

During his visit to the Western Balkans, European Council President António Costa met with the President of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski in Skopje. At the joint press conference, he reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the country's EU accession path and commended North Macedonia on its progress on the reform agenda. He also stressed that these efforts must continue and that the EU is ready to support North Macedonia in this process.

Remarks by President Antonio Costa after his meeting in Pristina with President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu.

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

During his visit to the Western Balkans, European Council President António Costa met with the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović in Podgorica. At the joint press conference, he highlighted that enlargement is crucial for the stability and prosperity of the region, praising Montenegro's progress towards EU membership. He also stressed the importance of continuing reforms and maintaining good neighborly relations.

In the context of a visit to the Western Balkans, European Council President António Costa met with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. During the joint press conference, he reaffirmed the EU’s full commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession process, while addressing concerns about the persisting challenges in the country, namely the need to accelerate progress on the necessary reforms and the recent developments in República Srpska.

The Council approved the Commission’s positive assessment of the amended recovery and resilience plans submitted by the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain.

The Council reached a general approach on the directive on value added tax (VAT) rules for distance sales of imported goods and import VAT.

In the context of a visit to the Western Balkan region, European Council President António Costa met in Belgrade with the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić. During the joint press conference, he reaffirmed the EU’s strong commitment to Serbia’s accession, emphasising that now there is a momentum that must be seized through swift reforms. He stressed that accession is a merit-based process, highlighting the need for full alignment with EU foreign policy, including support for Ukraine and strong condemnation of Russia's war of aggression.

Main agenda items, approximate timing and press opportunities.

The Council has approved conclusions evaluating the legal framework for audiovisual media services and video-sharing platform services in the EU, ahead of the upcoming review of the audiovisual media services directive.

The Council has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a new regulation to ensure complete, coherent and comparable European statistics on population and housing.

Remarks by Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe after the Eurogroup meeting on the European banking sector, European Stability Mechanism, global trade tensions, and the progress on the digital euro.

The Council prolonged the EU restrictive measures (sanctions) against cyber-attacks threatening the EU and its member states until 18 May 2026. The legal framework is extended until 18 May 2028.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2025/774 implementing Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/690 of 4 April 2025 amending Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/700 of 7 April 2025 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.

The Council has adopted a recommendation and approved a parallel resolution laying the groundwork for the implementation of a joint European degree label and setting out the next steps towards the possible introduction of a joint European degree.

Council approves conclusions assessing cohesion policy’s action for Ukrainian refugees in Europe.