European Council

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 24 February–2 March 2025

Council and European Parliament reach a provisional agreement on the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova.

Report by President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, at the Economic dialogue with the ECON Committee on strengthening economic resilience, fostering investment, and enhancing competitiveness through coordinated fiscal policies, capital markets and banking union advancements.

At the 1st plenary session 2025 of the European Committee of the Regions, the President of the European Council, António Costa, emphasized the crucial role of local and regional governments in shaping the future of Europe and its citizens. He called for a united effort to strengthen Europe’s defence, security, and competitiveness, highlighting the importance of multi-level governance to tackle the current challenges that Europe is facing.

The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the targeted revision of the waste framework directive.

The Council today approved conclusions setting guidelines for the EU’s annual budget for 2026. The guidelines will provide political guidance to the Commission in preparing the budget for next year.

In the context of the implementation of the EU’s new economic governance rules, the Council endorsed Hungary’s medium-term fiscal-structural plan and set its net expenditure path.

The Council today approved the Commission’s positive assessment of the amended recovery and resilience plans submitted by Latvia and Belgium.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference 2025, European Council President António Costa highlighted that the EU will continue to support Ukraine as an integral part of its project for peace.

The Council prolonged the mandate of the EU maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red sea crisis (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) until 28 February 2026.

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

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 17–23 February 2025

On Friday 14 February, in Munich, the President of the European Council António Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had a meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymir Zelenskyy.

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

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/207 of 30 January 2025 updating the list of persons, groups and entities covered by Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2056.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/204 of 30 January 2025 amending Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism.

Press briefing ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will take place on 14 February at 09.30 The briefing will be "off the record".

The first EU-Central Asia Summit will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 3-4 April. The European Council President Costa and the European Commission President von der Leyen will discuss with the leaders of the five Central Asian countries how to intensify bilateral engagement and enhance cooperation between the two regions. They will also address the current geopolitical challenges facing the region, namely Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing developments in Afghanistan.

European Council President, António Costa, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to South Africa for the 8th EU-South Africa summit on 13 March 2025. The summit aims to strengthen the EU-South Africa strategic partnership and address key global and regional issues, including geopolitical challenges and bilateral cooperation in trade, security, energy, and innovation.

European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Brussels to discuss the importance of Canada-EU relationship, including trade, economic security, and global stability. They emphasized cooperation in tackling current global challenges, reiterating their full support for Ukraine, and promoting a rules-based international order.