COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 02 May 2025

● General Secretariat of the Council   02/05/2025 17:05 | Press release | Forward look: 5 - 18 May 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council, 12-13 May 2025 Ministers for youth, education, culture and sport will meet in Brussels, where they will seek to adopt a recommendation on a European quality assurance and recognition system in higher education. They will also aim to approve conclusions on the assessment of the legal framework for audiovisual media services and video-sharing platform services. Other topics on the agenda include the impact of disinformation on the lives of young people, and an integrated approach to sport and physical activity in education. Read more Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 13 May 2025 The Council will be invited to reach a general approach on the directive on VAT rules for distance sales of imported goods and import valued added tax (VAT). The Council will hold a policy debate on the proposed Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a new financial instrument to help member states increase expenditure on common defence procurement. Other agenda items include an exchange of views on the recently proposed savings and investments union. Read more Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 15 May 2025 Ministers will hold a policy debate on EU–US trade relations. The Council will exchange views on European economic security, including the review of the FDI Screening Regulation, export controls, and outbound investment controls. Ministers will dedicate the working lunch to ongoing trade negotiations. Read more Other meetings Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers - Gymnich, 7-8 May 2025 Eurogroup, 12 May 2025 Informal meeting of energy ministers, 12-13 May 2025 Meeting of the European Political Community, 16 May 2025 Indicative calendar of meetings under the Polish presidency (1 January - 30 June 2025) Polish presidency

● European Council

02/05/2025 11:04 | Press release | President Costa to head to Barcelona on 5-6 May 2025 to highlight Europe’s industrial and innovation efforts   The President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Barcelona, Spain on 5 and 6 May 2025 to meet with regional leaders and visit key industrial and research infrastructures in the areas of the automotive sector, artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation. The visit highlights the important role played by European regions such as Catalonia in further advancing European integration and contributing to the EU’s strategic priorities. It also reflects EU’s continued commitment to enhancing Europe’s industrial capabilities, promoting innovation and competitiveness, and supporting the twin green and digital transition. “Europe is at a critical crossroads. In an era defined by geopolitical disruption, technological change and climate challenges, our response must be both bold and united. Innovation is the cornerstone of Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage. I look forward to my visit to Barcelona and to seeing first-hand what the EU can achieve by investing in innovative solutions and strategic industrial developments. This is how we can secure a stronger, more prosperous and resilient Europe for generations to come.” — António Costa, President of the European Council The visit to Barcelona will begin with a tour of the SEAT factory, a key hub for Spain car manufacturing industry and an important contributor to the EU’s industrial and green transition to a cleaner automotive future. There, the President will have the opportunity to meet with the acting CEO of the company and learn more about its crucial role in the shift to zero-emission vehicles. The President will then deliver a speech at the Cercle d’Economia, an independent civic organisation founded in 1958. By bringing together business, academia and administration, its goal is to shape public discourse on the main challenges and opportunities of economic, social and political progress. The President will address the Cercle’s annual meeting focusing on the EU’s response in a time of geopolitical disruption. Throughout the visit, President Costa will have the opportunity to meet with regional leaders, including the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa i Roca, to exchange on the most pressing European and local issues and the role of Catalonia as one of the most economically vibrant and industrialized regions in Southern Europe. President Costa will also visit the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC) and Synchrotron ALBA, two leading research institutions driving forward Europe’s ambitions in digital innovation and AI development. These institutions are leading efforts in high-performance computing and advanced materials research, which are central to the EU’s broader agenda of research and technological leadership. Artificial intelligence (background information) Competitiveness (background information) Press opportunities President Costa will hold two press points to brief the press after visiting the SEAT and BSC facilities. The journalists and media representatives interested in attending must register by sending an email to the addresses below indicating their full name, the media organisation they work for, and their ID number. Monday 5 May at 18:15 SEAT, Entrada Norte Autovía A-2, Km. 585 08760 Martorell Christian Keller Estalrich, International Corporate Communications christian.keller@seat.es Tuesday 6 May at 16:00 Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC) Plaça d'Eusebi Güell 1-3 Les Corts, Barcelona Núria Noriega Esteban, Head of Communications nuria.noriega@bsc.es Videos and photos of the visits will be available in the Council newsroom. ● General Secretariat of the Council   No strings attached? Europe’s security reimagined   Europe is at a turning point in shaping its approach to security and defence, with growing challenges prompting urgent reflection and action. The Council Library invited POLITICO Europe’s Research & Analysis Division to discuss the key choices shaping Europe’s security future.

● Council of the EU

02/05/2025 15:07 | Press release | World Press Freedom Day: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union   The struggles of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty this year, as well as the pressure on many other media outlets around the world, underline the immense risks that free and independent media face in 2025. Massive funding cuts, compounded by growing political repression and increasing violence towards journalists, are driving the media sector into a deep crisis. As public interest media struggle for survival, authoritarian regimes and disinformation actors move swiftly to fill the void, distorting facts and manipulating public opinion. We are increasingly concerned by the growing threats to journalists and other media professionals, including online and offline intimidation and attacks, arbitrary detention, legal persecution and transnational repression, all aimed at silencing their work. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can intensify these risks by enabling pervasive surveillance and targeted harassment. The European Union supports the vital efforts of UNESCO to protect journalists globally, with particular attention to women journalists who face heightened, gender-specific risks. UNESCO’s data and monitoring efforts play an essential role in informing effective policy responses to address the widespread impunity for crimes against journalists. Across the world, free and independent media need urgent and decisive support. Without their survival, democracy falters, along with the safety, security and freedom of citizens. The European Union welcomes the OECD Development Co-operation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment as our common roadmap to strengthen media ecosystems worldwide. These principles must inspire concrete, transformative action to restore and expand support for independent journalism. On this World Press Freedom Day, the European Union reaffirms its resolute commitment to defend free and independent journalism in the face of unprecedented threats. Without press freedom, our right to information, freedom to think critically and ability to hold people in power to account are compromised. A thriving, independent and pluralistic media sector is essential for the resilience and survival of democracy. We must act now to secure its future.

• European Council

­ 02/05/2025 | Media advisory G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, on 15-17 June 2024 – Media accreditation open until 1 June 2025 European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will represent the European Union at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, on 15, 16 and 17 June 2025.   The Canadian Government has opened the procedure for media accreditation for the G7 summit. Journalists can apply for official accreditation until 1 June 2025.   To apply, please complete the form here https://accreditationcanada.gc.ca/Registration-Enregistrement/ and include all requested documentation. The registration code for media is: xz#p738CtN_x   We would be grateful if you could inform us about your accreditation requests so as to facilitate the flow of relevant information to you. press.president@consilium.europa.eu   More information on the summit can be found on the G7 website of the Canadian Presidency G7 Kananaskis summit 2025.   Meeting page on the Council website