COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Meetings Friday, 11 July 2025

● Council of the EU   11/07/2025 18:51 | Meetings | Foreign Affairs Council, 15 July 2025   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council of 15 July 2025   View meeting page

● Council of the EU

11/07/2025 18:07 | Press release | EUAM Iraq: new head of mission appointed   The Council appointed Ralf Schröder asnew head of mission for the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq). He will take up his duties on 16 August 2025. Ralf Schröder is a high-ranked German police officer with 30 years of experience in the security sector, specialised in counterterrorism. He has also served in different international positions -e.g. in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he was head of the Embassy Security Team – and in international missions: UNMIS and UNSOM. Since November 2024, Ralf Schroeder serves in EUAM Iraq as Deputy Head of Mission. The decision was taken by the Political and Security Committee on 8 July 2025. EUAM Iraq was launched in October 2017 in response to a request by the Iraqi government for advice on how to undertake civilian security sector reform. The civilian mission, headquartered in Baghdad and with an office in Erbil, had an initial mandate of one year which was regularly extended, following the assessment of Iraqi needs. The mission’s overarching task is to assist in the development and coherent implementation of the Iraqi National Security Strategy, associated national strategies and other national security priorities. This process, supported by several international partners, involves inter alia support to institutional reform, anti-organised crime, anti-corruption, protection of cultural heritage, Integrated Border Management and counter-terrorism. EUAM Iraq is mandated to advise officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Interior and other relevant authorities in charge of civilian related aspects of security sector reform. The mission can conduct visits at regional and provincial levels in support of Iraqi efforts to strengthen countrywide coordination as it relates to civilian security sector reform. Ralf Schröder CV Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/1394 of 8 July 2025 on the appointment of the Head of Mission of the European Union Advisory Mission in support of Security Sector Reform in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) EUAM Iraq website Delegation of the EU to Iraq   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   11/07/2025 16:27 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 14 July 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: Europa building, Brussels Chairs: Jacob Jensen, Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries from 08.30 Arrivals and doorsteps (live streaming) 09.00 Doorstep by Minister Jensen (live streaming) 10.00 Beginning of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting Adoption of the agenda Approval of 'A' items: Non-legislative list +/- 10.10 Work programme of the presidency (public session) +/- 10.30 Any other business: - Plant protection products (public session) - Use of recovered nitrogen from manure (RENURE) (+/- 11.00 public session) +/- 11.35 Proteins for food and feed (public session) +/- 14.35 Market situation +/- 16.35 Any other business: - Sixth African Union – European Union Agriculture Ministerial Conference (public session) - Joint declaration of the ministers of agriculture of the frontline member states (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) on the agricultural aspects of the EU-Ukraine trade agreement (+/- 16.55 public session) At the end of the meeting (+/- 17.35) press conference in live streaming from Justus Lipsius press room. Videos and photos from the event ● Council of the EU   11/07/2025 15:14 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) of 14 July 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: Europa building, Brussels Chair: Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs from 08.30 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.30 Doorstep by Lars Løkke Rasmussen (live streaming) 09.30 Beginning of the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) (roundtable) Adoption of the agenda Approval of "A" items - Non-legislative list +/-13.30 Working lunch At the end of the meeting (+/- 14.30 in Justus Lipsius main press room) press conference in live streaming. Videos and photos from the event   Visit the website • Council of the EU ­ 11/07/2025 | Press release | Presidency press release: Denmark sets a green course for EU at informal ministerial meeting (Aalborg, Denmark, 10-11 July 2025) The path toward a stronger and climate neutral EU, a visit to the nature area of Store Vildmose showcasing the Agreement on a green Denmark in practice, and an important debate on the upcoming negotiations for an international legally binding agreement on plastics pollution. That was on the agenda at the recently concluded informal meeting of the EU’s environment and climate ministers.   Read the full presidency press release below.   Denmark sets a green course for EU at Informal Ministerial Meeting Informal meeting of Environment and Climate ministers (Danish presidency website) Further information Danish presidency website

● European Council

11/07/2025 12:14 | Speech | Speech by President António Costa at the ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide   We are gathering with heavy hearts to remember the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. A tragedy that shattered families, communities, and humanity. We honour the memory of those brutally killed and those still missing. We honour those whose absence leaves an unfillable void. We stand in solidarity with the loved ones left behind. We offer you our deepest solidarity. Your grief is shared by all of us. And we pledge to keep the memory alive. In this moment of remembrance, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to accountability and truth. There is no room in Europe - or anywhere else - for genocide denial, revisionism, or the glorification of those responsible. Denying such horrors only poisons our future. It is our duty to confront and acknowledge the full truth. This is the first step in ensuring that such atrocities never happen again. In today’s solemn remembrance, there is hope. Hope for the children and grandchildren of those who perished. To pursue their dreams, to rebuild, and to forge a future free from hate and violence. Even as we are all together to mourn and remember, we also carry the promise of renewal. A commitment rooted in the European promise of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A journey from war and genocide to peace and prosperity. The European Union is a project of peace, born from the ashes of a tragic war and driven by a vision of reconciliation. This is the same vision that inspires us on the enlargement to the Western Balkan countries. We believe the place of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the European Union. And the European Union is a safe space, an inclusive society, a place of respect for diversity and religious freedom. And we will continue to support your journey towards the European Union built on reconciliation, respect, peace and prosperity. Let us honour the victims by reaffirming our dedication to truth, justice, hope, and the enduring promise of a better tomorrow. May their memories inspire us to build a future where such tragedies never repeat again. Thank you.   Visit the website ● International ministerial meetings   11/07/2025 10:46 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - EU-Central America Association Council, 14 July 2025   The EU and the six Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama will meet in Brussels on 14 July 2025.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   11/07/2025 09:37 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Foreign Affairs Council, 15 July 2025   The Foreign Affairs Council will exchange views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Georgia, the situation in the Middle East, and Mediterranean 2025: the Pact and the reform of the Union for the Mediterranean. Under current affairs, the Council will be informed about EU-CELAC relations, Somalia, Moldova, China, Japan and Libya.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   10/07/2025 15:09 | Meetings | Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 14 July 2025   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) of 14 July 2025   View meeting page ● General Secretariat of the Council   11/07/2025 21:23 | Press release | Forward look: 14 July - 27 July 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. No Council meetings are scheduled to take place in August. The next forward look will be issued on 29 August 2025. Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 14 July 2025 The Danish presidency will give a presentation of its work programme and priorities for the second half of 2025. The Council will also exchange views on the market situation, in particular following Russia's war against Ukraine, and on the supply, production and sustainability of proteins. Read more Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 14 July 2025 Ministers will exchange views on the current state of EU–US trade relations. They will also hold a policy debate on EU–China trade relations. Finally, they will discuss the ongoing trade negotiations and the status of various trade agreements. Read more Foreign Affairs Council, 15 July 2025 The Council will exchange views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference. EU ministers will then hold discussions on Georgia, the situation in the Middle East, and on “Mediterranean 2025: the Pact and the reform of the Union for the Mediterranean”. They will also be informed about current affairs, notably EU-CELAC relations, Somalia, Moldova, China, Japan and Libya. Read more General Affairs Council, 18 July 2025 Ministers responsible for European affairs will hear a presentation by the Commission on its first package of proposals on the EU’s post-2027 long-term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework) and will hold a policy debate. The Council will also discuss the request by Spain to include Catalan, Basque and Galician in regulation No 1/1958, which governs the EU’s language regime. Read more Other meetings Informal meeting of research ministers and ministers for internal market and industry, 16-18 July 2025 Informal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers, 22-23 July 2025 Indicative calendar of meetings under the Danish presidency (1 July - 31 December 2025) Danish presidency   Visit the website