COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 23 September 2025

● Council of the EU   23/09/2025 19:58 | Press release | Water pollution: Council and Parliament reach provisional deal to update priority substances in surface and ground waters   Today, the Council presidency and the European Parliament’s representatives reached a provisional political agreement on a proposed directive to review and update the lists of pollutants affecting surface waters and groundwater and corresponding regulatory standards. This agreement updates environmental quality standards for a number of pollutants and adds new ones, aligning EU water policy with the latest scientific evidence. The revision is an important step in safeguarding water quality in Europe. It strengthens the framework for tackling harmful chemicals, enhances monitoring, and ensures that rules remain coherent with the river basin management plans that guide water policy implementation across the EU. “This agreement ensures that Europe’s water legislation keeps pace with science and emerging pollutants. It strikes a careful balance between ambition and flexibility for member states, while strengthening the protection of our rivers, lakes and groundwater. Above all, it safeguards the health of EU citizens and future generations by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals in our water.” — Magnus Heunicke, Denmark’s Minister for Environment and Gender Equality Main elements of the agreement Updated list of pollutants  The agreement introduces new substances into the priority lists, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, bisphenols, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a breakdown product of certain PFAS, will be added to the initially proposed sum of 24 PFAS for surface water. A sum standard of pesticides for surface waters is also introduced and set at 0.2 µg/l, covering substances already listed as priority substances. Bisphenol-A is designated as a priority hazardous substance. Certain substances no longer relevant at the EU level, such as atrazine, are deselected, while the standards for others are tightened in line with the latest scientific advice. Monitoring and reporting  The agreement both strengthens and streamlines monitoring and reporting obligations for EU member states, to improve the monitoring and transparency of water quality across the EU without placing excessive administrative burdens. Member states will now be required to: report biological quality data every three years, on the health of aquatic ecosystems in surface waters report chemical quality data for both surface water and groundwater every two years — with the option for member states to report data annually on a voluntary basis. Report on the overall status of water bodies remains every six years, in line with the six-year cycle for river basin management plans. Effect-based monitoring (EMB) will be introduced for surface waters, improving the ability to detect harmful chemical mixtures. EBM is an advanced approach used to assess water quality, focusing not just on specific chemicals but on the overall impact of pollutants on ecosystems and organisms in the water. Instead of just measuring individual chemicals, EBM evaluates how a combination of chemicals affects the environment. In particular, a limited and targeted use of EBM will be mandatory for estrogenic substances, during a 2-year period. To assist member states in developing new methods and monitoring the increased number of priority substances, the agreement provides for the possibility of setting up a joint monitoring facility at EU level. The Commission will assess options for its establishment, financing and functioning. Use of the facility would be voluntary and accessible to all interested member states. Non-deterioration and exemptions  The water framework directive (WFD) already requires member states to prevent deterioration of the status of water bodies. Until now, this obligation was framed generally in the WFD and clarified over the years through Court of Justice case law. The co-legislators agreed on a definition of deterioration consistent with existing jurisprudence. Two additional exemptions will be introduced: one for short-term temporary deterioration and another for cases where pollution is relocated without increasing overall loads. Safeguards, particularly in relation to drinking water, will apply. Compliance and timelines  Member States will have until 2039 to achieve compliance with the new standards both for surface water and groundwater, with an additional and strictly conditioned extension possible until 2045. In the case of substances with revised and more stringent environmental quality standards in surface water, the deadline for compliance is 2033. The 20-year deadline for phasing out priority hazardous substances is kept, ensuring progressive elimination of the most dangerous pollutants. Next steps  The provisional agreement will now be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament, before being formally adopted and entering into force. Member states will have to transpose the directive into national law by 21 December 2027. Background According to data from the River Basin Management plans, a key tool of the water framework directive (WFD), 46% of surface waters and 24% of groundwater in the EU fail to achieve good chemical status, with extreme differences among member states. The 2019 WFD fitness check highlighted the need to update the list of polluting substances of concern (including pesticides, fertilisers and chemicals) to compensate the shortcomings of the current list, which omits some emerging substances and focuses on individual substances disregarding cumulative or combined effects of mixtures. The fitness check also identified implementation deficits which translate into incomparable data between MSs and poor data management and reporting. The proposed directive will amend the water framework directive, the groundwater directive and the directive on environmental quality standards, and will contribute to the EU’s zero pollution ambition of having an environment free of harmful pollution by 2050. Surface water and groundwater: Council agrees negotiating mandate to update list of pollutants (press release, 19 June 2024) Water (background information) Pollution (background information)   Visit the website

● European Council

24/09/2025 00:31 | Statements and remarks | Speech by President António Costa at the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine   First of all, I would like to thank the South Korean Presidency for convening this meeting. Ukraine is fighting for the very principles of the United Nations Charter. Sovereignty. Territorial integrity, the respect for internationally recognized borders. The right to choose its own destiny. We cannot rewrite history. This war started with an unjustified and illegal attack by Russia. There is only one root cause to this war – Russia’s refusal to accept Ukraine’s right to choose its own future. Peace in Ukraine is not just Ukraine's interest. It is not just Europe’s interest. It is the interest of the global community. If we accept Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, no country will ever be safe. The pursuit of peace must be the top priority of the global community. The European Union will continue to work to end this war of aggression and to support Ukraine in every way. A ceasefire, to which Ukraine has already agreed to, is the first step. I call on Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, to agree to come to the negotiation table. To stop the killings. To stop the destruction. To stop threatening its neighbouring countries. I call on the international community to be actively engaged on peace efforts in full respect of the United Nations Charter. The European Union supports President Trump’s efforts for peace. And I would like to see China, also a permanent member of this Security Council, contribute towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. To achieve an end to the aggression, the European Union will continue to apply pressure on Russia through sanctions. To ensure a lasting peace, the European Union, in the context the Coalition of the Willing, is ready to contribute with concrete security guarantees to Ukraine. To fulfil the aspirations of the Ukrainian people, we will continue to support Ukraine on its path to full membership in the European Union. The time for peace is now. And now is the time for Russia to stop this aggression. Thank you.   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   23/09/2025 21:08 | Press release | InvestEU: Council and Parliament agree to make the programme easier and more efficient   The Council presidency and European Parliament’s negotiators reached today a provisional agreement to simplify the InvestEU programme to further boost EU competitiveness. The deal will increase the EU's investment capacity to mobilise additional public and private investments. This simplified InvestEU programme will further support certain EU policies, notably related to the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, defence industrial policy and military mobility. The revised legislation also seeks to make it easier for member states to contribute to the programme and simplify administrative requirements. “Today is a good day for European businesses – and for the EU as a whole. Across the Union, companies are facing mounting regulatory burdens and limited access to financing. This agreement is a necessary first step to reverse that course. If Europe is to stay competitive, we need less complexity, smarter rules, and stronger investments. And we must follow up with further action.” — Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark “The Draghi report left no doubt that Europe desperately needs more investments. We live in a world, where countries such as China and the US are racing ahead. Today, we deliver just that. With this deal, we will mobilise at least further €50 billion in investments via the InvestEU programme. At the same time, we are cutting red tape for companies applying for the funds and for the implementing partners. All in all, this is a good day for European competitiveness.” — Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs The draft regulation forms part of the ‘Omnibus II’ package to simplify legislation in the field of EU investment programmes. Boosting the EU guarantee with an extra €2.9 billion The provisional agreement reached today improves and reinforces the existing ‘Invest EU’ programme by: increasing the size of the EU guarantee by €2.9 billion (from €26.2 billion to €29.1 billion), and facilitating the combined use of the ‘Invest EU’ guarantee with existing capacity available under three legacy programmes: the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) debt instrument and the so-called ‘InnovFin debt facility’, an initiative launched by the EIB group in support of research and innovation Furthermore, the revised regulation is expected to increase the attractiveness of the ‘Invest EU’ member state compartment, which focuses on specific national priorities. Simplification push The revised regulation will also reduce the administrative burden of implementing partners, financial intermediaries and final recipients, with an estimated cost saving of about €350 million. In particular, the provisional agreement revises the definition of SMEs and reduces the number of indicators on which implementing partners will need to report for small-size operations not exceeding €300,000. It also reduces the frequency and scope of reporting obligations from implementing partners, going from semi-annual to annual reporting. Next steps Today’s provisional agreement must be endorsed by the co-legislators before the formal adoption of the legislative act. Background In October 2024, the European Council called on all EU institutions, member states and stakeholders, as a matter of priority, to take work forward, notably in response to the challenges identified in the reports by Enrico Letta (‘Much more than a market’) and Mario Draghi (‘The future of European competitiveness’). The Budapest declaration of 8 November 2024 subsequently called for ‘launching a simplification revolution’, by ensuring a clear, simple and smart regulatory framework for businesses and drastically reducing administrative, regulatory and reporting burdens, in particular for SMEs. On 26 February 2025, as a follow-up to EU leaders’ call, the Commission put forward the proposal in question, as part of its ‘Omnibus II’ package. On 20 March 2025, EU leaders urged the co-legislators to take work forward on the first two Omnibus packages as a matter of priority and with a high level of ambition, with a view to finalising them as soon as possible in 2025. Regulation as regards increasing the efficiency of the EU guarantee under Regulation (EU) 2021/523 and simplifying reporting requirements, Council mandate, 14 April 2025 Regulation as regards increasing the efficiency of the EU guarantee under Regulation (EU) 2021/523 and simplifying reporting requirements, Commission proposal, 26 February 2025 Invest EU programme, Commission background information   Visit the website ● European Council   23/09/2025 00:21 | Speech | Discours du président António Costa à la Conférence de haut-niveau sur la solution à deux États   Je veux remercier de cette initiative la France et l’Arabie saoudite, de nous réunir à un moment critique pour la paix au Moyen-Orient. La région a connu trop de guerres. Trop de violence. Trop de terrorisme. Trop de morts. Aujourd’hui, à Gaza, nous sommes devant une catastrophe humanitaire qui défie les mots. Des villes rasées. Des familles brisées. La famine utilisée comme arme de guerre. Ce désastre doit cesser. L’Union européenne appelle, une nouvelle fois, à : Un cessez-le-feu immédiat, Un accès humanitaire sans restrictions et en sécurité, La libération immédiate et inconditionnelle de tous les otages. Nous condamnons l’offensive militaire en cours à Gaza-ville. Nous condamnons aussi avec fermeté l’escalade violente en Cisjordanie. Nous appelons Israël à mettre un terme à ces opérations. À cesser les colonies illégales. Aujourd’hui, grâce à l’impulsion de cette conférence l’État de Palestine a été reconnu par la majorité des États membres de l’Union européenne. Mais il faut être lucides sur le « jour d’après » : Pas de place pour le Hamas. Pas de place pour le terrorisme. Pas de place pour les colonies illégales. Pas de place pour la mort de civils innocents. Nulle part : ni à Gaza, ni en Cisjordanie, ni à Jérusalem-Est, ni en Israël. Il n’existe qu’une seule voie : la solution à deux États. Un État d’Israël sûr et reconnu par tous les états membres de cette Assemblée Générale. Un État de Palestine indépendant, démocratique, viable. Les deux, côte à côte. En paix. Le moment de la paix est venu. Et nous avons le devoir d’être à la hauteur. Je vous remercie.   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   22/09/2025 18:55 | Meetings | Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 22-23 September 2025   During the first day of their meeting, EU agriculture and fisheries ministers discussed the post-2027 common agricultural policy, as well as the proposed EU support for the common fisheries policy, the European ocean pact and the EU's maritime and aquaculture policy post-2027. Among other topics, ministers also exchanged views on the upcoming EU-UK and EU-Norway and coastal states fisheries consultations for 2026. Over the course of an informal lunch, fisheries ministers addressed ways in which to unlock smarter and simpler fisheries regulations.   View meeting page