COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 15 July 2025

● Council of the EU   15/07/2025 23:18 | Press release | Cohesion policy mid-term review: Council and Parliament strike a deal to better address current and emerging challenges   In the context of the ongoing EU cohesion policy’s mid-term review, the Council presidency reached today a provisional agreement with the European Parliament’s negotiators to better address current and emerging strategic challenges linked to the economic, social and territorial cohesion. These include, notably, defence and security, competitiveness and decarbonisation, affordable housing, measures related to water and challenges facing Eastern border regions. “The EU must do much more to ramp up its defence. Today’s agreement, building on the work and the Council agreement reached during the Polish presidency, will allow member states to spend EU cohesion funds on defence, security, and civil preparedness.” — Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark The swift provisional agreement, as tasked by the European Council, provides new rules amending the regulations on: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, as well as the Just Transition Fund (JTF), and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) The text contains targeted amendments to the regulatory framework of the cohesion policy funds to align investment priorities with the evolving economic, societal and geopolitical context, as well as with the EU’s climate and environment objectives. Their main objective is to align cohesion policy investments to new priorities, notably defence and security, competitiveness and decarbonisation, affordable housing, access to water, sustainable water management and water resilience, energy transition and challenges facing Eastern border regions. To this end, the text introduces greater flexibility and incentives to facilitate the rapid deployment of resources and accelerate the implementation of the programmes. Main elements of the agreement The agreement includes the following main elements: introducing derogations from the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) - the single rulebook of EU funds jointly delivered with member states and regions - on publicity of operations under the defence-related objectives lowering the threshold for receiving extra bonuses at programme level, such as further pre-financing and an extension by one year of the final year of eligibility, with a special view to member states having only one programme devoting a special attention and exceptional support to the Union’s eastern border regions introducing additional provisions concerning flexibilities for member states that comply with the thematic concentration requirements at the level of category of regions introducing a new article in each regulation to confirm that commitments suspended by measures adopted in the context of the conditionality regulation cannot be subject to programme amendments or transfers. The same stands for amounts exceeding the flexibility amount and corresponding to the specific objectives negatively assessed by the Commission based on the application of horizontal enabling conditions in the CPR Moreover, in the case of the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund regulation, as well as of the JTF regulation, the agreement introduces an extension of scope for specific objectives related to energy infrastructure and defence or dual use infrastructure. Next steps The provisional agreement is subject to confirmation by the Council and the European Parliament. Once approved, the provisionally agreed text will be submitted to legal-linguistic revision in view of its formal adoption at a later stage. Background information In continuation of the ReArm Europe Plan, the Commission published on 1 April 2025 the Communication titled ‘A modernised Cohesion policy: The mid-term review’ alongside two legislative proposals that amend: (i) the regulations on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund and the Just Transition Fund (JTF), and (ii) the regulation on the European Social Fund+. This package takes the opportunity of the ongoing mid-term review of cohesion programmes, which serves to allocate the ‘flexibility reserve’ that corresponds to 50% allocation of all funds for 2026 and 2027, to introduce new priorities that stem from the current geopolitical and economic challenges. The proposals devote special attention to defence and security with a view to competitiveness, eastern border regions, affordable housing (including social housing), secure access to water, sustainable water management and water resilience, energy transition (decarbonisation), and cities. They envisage financial incentives for those programmes that allocate the flexibility reserve towards any of these priorities (higher pre-financing and up to 100% EU financing). In case the programmes devote at least 15% of their allocation to these priorities, they get extra pre-financing as bonus, and an extension of eligibility by one year (until 31 December 2030). Cohesion policy mid-term review: Council agrees positions to better address current and emerging challenges (press release, 18 June 2025) Regulation on specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review, Commission proposal, 2 April 2025 Regulation amending regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund + (ESF+) on specific measures to address strategic challenges, Commission proposal, 2 April 2025 ‘A modernised Cohesion policy: The mid-term review’, Commission communication, 1 April 2025 Cohesion: How the EU supports regional development to create jobs and prosperity across its member countries (background information)   Visit the website

● Council of the EU

15/07/2025 21:30 | Press release | Russian hybrid threats: EU lists nine individuals and six entities responsible for destabilising actions in the EU and Ukraine   The Council today decided to impose additional restrictive measures against nine individuals and six entities responsible for Russia’s destabilising actions abroad, including through Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). The Council is targeting the Federal State-owned Enterprise “Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network” (RTRS), together with its General Director and the Director of the Department for Coordination of Communications Infrastructure Development in New Territories. Under the direction of the relevant Ministry of the Russian Federation, RTRS plays a key role in effectively replacing established Ukrainian broadcasting systems in occupied regions, with a network that transmits content approved by the Russian Government with the aim of suppressing dissent, aligning the local population with Russian policies and delegitimising Ukraine’s governance in the occupied territories. Today’s listings also cover the 841st Separate Electronic Warfare Center, and two high ranking members of its staff overseeing operations in the Kaliningrad region. GNSS signal disruptions in several European countries have been linked to electronic warfare activities from Kaliningrad, including jamming and spoofing of GNSS signals, primarily affecting the Baltic States, and disrupting civil aviation. Furthermore, the EU is targeting the BRICS Journalists Association (BJA), the Foundation to Battle Injustice (R-FBI) and the Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE). BJA and R-FBI were created by Yevgeny Prigozhin, and have been involved in numerous FIMI operations targeting France and Ukraine, including a campaign accusing French soldiers of having kidnapped children from Niger after the military coup d’état in 2023, while CGE was founded by Aleksandr Dugin, and is responsible for orchestrating disinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainian interests, discrediting Western political figures, and influencing electoral processes in Western countries. Lastly, the Council is also listing a GRU officer, various propagandists, and Yevgeny Shevchenko and his web-company Tigerweb. The latter disseminated pro-Russian content targeting several Western countries, including France. In addition to today’s listings, the Council recently imposed restrictive measures on Nathalie Yamb – a social media influencer and outspoken supporter of Russia, who has adopted Moscow’s language targeting the West and France in particular with a view to ousting them from the African continent. Yamb has specific ties with AFRIC, an organisation linked to Russian private military companies, and is responsible for supporting the Russian Federation by the use of information manipulation and interference. Altogether, EU restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities now apply to 47 individuals and 15 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit, is prohibited. In addition, natural persons will also be subject to a travel ban, which will prevent them from entering or transiting through EU territories. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU. Background The framework for restrictive measures in response to Russia’s destabilising actions was set up on 8 October 2024 to target those engaged in actions and policies by the government of the Russian Federation, which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, stability, independence and integrity. The sanctions regime can also target those responsible for hybrid activities, notably FIMI, against international organisations and third countries. On 26 June 2025 the European Council adopted conclusions, in which it condemned Russia’s continued hybrid campaign, including sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, cyber-attacks, foreign information manipulation and interference, and attempts to undermine democracy, including in the electoral process. The European Council underlined that it would make full use of all means available, including the EU hybrid, cyber diplomacy and FIMI toolboxes, to specifically prevent, deter and respond to Russia’s hybrid threats. Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1443 of 15 July 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1444 of 15 July 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 of 8 October 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities (consolidated text dated 26 June 2025) European Council conclusions, 26 June 2025 Timeline – EU sanctions against Russia (Background information)   Visit the website

● Council of the EU

15/07/2025 19:47 | Meetings | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 15 July 2025   The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, Georgia and Mediterranean 2025: the Pact and the reform of the Union for the Mediterranean. Under current affairs the Council was informed about EU-CELAC relations, Somalia, Moldova, China, Japan and Libya.   View meeting page