EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 18 September 2025

● Council of the EU   18/09/2025 15:11 | Press release | Moldova: EU takes steps towards the elimination of customs duties for seven agricultural products   Today, the Council adopted a decision on the position that the EU will take in the EU – Moldova Association Committee in Trade Configuration as regards increasing market access for some exports not yet liberalised: plums, table grapes, apples, tomatoes, garlic, cherries and grape juice. These products are not yet fully liberalised for export from Moldova to the EU and would normally be subject to duty free quotas. So far however, they have been covered by the EU’s unilateral trade liberalisation measures for Moldova, introduced in July 2022 following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and further renewed until 24 July 2025. The EU’s objective now is to move from this temporary regime to a long-term framework that provides stability for economic actors on both sides and boosts trade flows, while protecting sensitive EU farm sectors. The future agreement will include robust safeguard clauses against market distortion and make new market access conditional on Moldova’s gradual alignment with specific EU agri-food standards by 2027. Next steps After adoption by the Council, the EU-Moldova Association Committee in Trade Configuration is to adopt the decision on the reduction and elimination of customs duties under the review process of Article 147(4) of the Agreement. Background The EU has strongly condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and taken unprecedented measures to support Moldova, both in this exceptional context and on its path to accession. This includes autonomous trade measures and a €1.9 billion Growth Plan to drive long-term reforms and economic growth. Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022 and accession negotiations began in December 2023. The Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova aims to promote political dialogue and increase Moldova’s association with EU policies and its participation in EU programmes and agencies. It also contains a DCFTA - Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area - to establish conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Moldova's gradual integration into the EU internal market. The agreement entered into force on 1 July 2016 and the DCFTA was provisionally applied from 1 September 2014. Under Article 147(4) of the Agreement, after the entry into force of the Agreement, the Parties may agree to consider accelerating and broadening the scope of the elimination of customs duties on trade between them ('review process'). Moldova (background information)   Visit the website

Eurogroup

18/09/2025 15:13 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Eurogroup meeting and Informal meeting of Economic and Financial Affairs Ministers of 19 and 20 September 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Eurogroup meeting Friday, 19 September  Chaired by Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup 07.45 Arrivals (live streaming) 09.00 Eurogroup meeting in regular format (roundtable) Eurogroup work programme until June 2026 Recent economic developments including an exchange of views with the Chair of the ECON Committee of the European Parliament Miscellaneous At the end of the meeting (+/- 11.00) - Eurogroup press conference (live streaming). Informal meeting of Economic and Financial Affairs Ministers Friday, 19 September 2025 +/- 11.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 11.30 Working lunch 14.00 Working session I Saturday, 20 September 2025 +/- 08.00 Arrivals (live streaming) 08.30 Working session II and III At the end of the meeting (+/- 13.00) - Informal ECOFIN press conference (live streaming). Media guide Meeting page – Eurogroup meeting of 19 September 2025 Meeting page – Informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers of 19 and 20 September 2025   Visit the website

● Council of the EU

18/09/2025 11:03 | Press release | Defence investment: Council authorises negotiations with UK and Canada on their participation in SAFE   The Council adopted today a decision authorising the opening of negotiations with the UK and with Canada, respectively, on their participation in the €150 billion SAFE defence loan instrument. Negotiations will be conducted by the Commission and will centre in particular on the conditions under which British and Canadian companies and products may be involved in procurements under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) funding instrument. In response to the current geopolitical situation and urgent need for massive investments in defence equipment, the EU will provide through SAFE up to €150 billion that will be disbursed to interested member states upon demand, and on the basis of national plans. The disbursements will take the form of competitively priced long-maturity loans, to be repaid by the beneficiary member states. Involvement of third countries SAFE also allows participation of third countries. Acceding countries, candidate countries, potential candidates and countries that have signed a Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, can join common procurements. Ukraine and EEA-EFTA countries will be treated on the same terms as member states. Not only will they be able to join common procurements, but their industries will also be treated on the same terms as that of the member states. The negotiations with the UK and Canada will aim at defining the terms under which that access can also be extended to UK and Canadian companies and products. Next steps The European Commission may now start negotiations on behalf of the EU, based on the mandate set by the Council. The Commission will conduct those negotiations in continuous coordination and permanent dialogue with the Council. Once the agreements are signed, they will be subject to consent by the European Parliament. Background SAFE is the first pillar of the European Commission's ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, which aims to leverage up to €800 billion in defence spending. SAFE was proposed by the Commission following the push from the European Council to decisively ramp up Europe’s defence readiness within the next five years. The other pillars of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 are: boosting national defence funding by activating the Stability and Growth Pact's national escape clause; making EU instruments such as the cohesion funds more flexible to allow greater defence investment; complementing public funding with contributions from the European Investment Bank; and mobilising private capital. Council regulation establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) through the Reinforcement of the European Defence Industry Instrument   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   17/09/2025 19:35 | Statements and remarks | Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the joint strategic military exercise ZAPAD-2025   The European Union has been closely monitoring the joint strategic military exercise ZAPAD-2025, taking place on the territories of Belarus and Russia, for the first time since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022.   In light of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and following the repeated violation of the airspace of our Member States by Russian drones, a drill such as ZAPAD-2025 does not demonstrate a commitment to de-escalation and peace.   The military participation of other countries in ZAPAD-2025, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, including from the territory of Belarus, is a matter of serious security concern for the EU.    The EU expects Russia and Belarus to fully comply with their international commitments, including the OSCE’s 2011 Vienna Document.   The EU remains vigilant of any potential security threats surrounding ZAPAD-2025.   Visit the website ● European Council   17/09/2025 19:01 | Statements and remarks | Déclaration à la presse du président António Costa à l'issue de sa rencontre avec le Premier ministre luxembourgeois, Luc Frieden   Tout d'abord, je tiens à remercier Monsieur le Premier ministre, mon cher Luc, pour ton accueil toujours chaleureux et amical ici au Luxembourg. Comme tu l'as dit, nous nous connaissons depuis plusieurs années et je n'oublierai jamais que la première fois que j'ai participé à une réunion du Conseil, c'était précisément ici, en novembre 1999, c’est à dire le siècle précédent. Je resterai toujours très attaché au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. C'est essentiel dans l'Union européenne de préserver notre nature. Et notre nature, c'est la nature des États membres, des différentes nations, diverses et unies, où la voix de chacun compte de la même manière au sein du Conseil européen. C'est pourquoi ces visites aux capitales pour cette rentrée politique sont pour moi très importantes. C'est l'opportunité que j'ai de parler face à face avec tous les leaders, de les écouter, de prendre note de leurs priorités et de commencer à bâtir l'unité qu'il nous faut toujours bâtir à 27. Le Luxembourg n'est pas seulement au cœur de l'Europe, on peut même dire qu'il en est l'âme de l’unité européenne. Sa contribution au fil de l'histoire a toujours été et reste décisive pour bâtir notre Europe. Les priorités sont claires : nous devons renforcer notre compétitivité et notre sécurité collectives. Ces deux objectifs vont ensemble, car sans une économie solide, sans des entreprises compétitives, sans la création d'emplois dignes, il est impossible de soutenir et renforcer notre sécurité collective. D'autre part, personne n'investira en Europe si nous ne garantissons pas une paix durable et la sécurité pour nos citoyens. Il faut donc travailler main dans la main pour atteindre ces deux objectifs. Pour renforcer la compétitivité, il est essentiel de mettre en valeur les meilleurs atouts de notre Union, à savoir le marché intérieur. Pour que ce marché intérieur fonctionne bien, il faut préserver Schengen. Pas seulement parce que c'est un village luxembourgeois, mais aussi parce que Schengen est un symbole de ce que représente pour nos citoyennes et nos citoyens la liberté de mouvement, une des libertés fondamentales de notre Union. Il faut aussi progresser dans d'autres domaines du marché intérieur, en complétant l'union des marchés des capitaux, en travaillant sur les télécommunications, les marchés de l'énergie. Les crises que nous avons vécues, notamment dans le domaine énergétique, montrent clairement qu'il faut agir rapidement et efficacement. L'Europe doit maintenant faire face à un cadre international vraiment difficile. La paix en Europe est menacée par la Russie. Il faut également affronter l'instabilité des relations transatlantiques et les défis commerciaux que la Chine et d'autres acteurs nous imposent. Pour cela, nous devons à la fois investir davantage dans notre défense, stabiliser les relations transatlantiques et, en même temps, développer des accords commerciaux qui nous offrent un réseau stable de commerce mondial. L'Europe est une économie fortement exportatrice et une puissance commerciale. C'est sur cette base qu'il faut construire la croissance de notre économie et le renforcement de notre compétitivité. En parallèle, il faut concilier nos efforts pour renforcer la compétitivité avec nos responsabilités envers les générations futures et l'avenir de l'humanité, en menant un combat résolu contre le changement climatique, tout en prenant en compte les contraintes que cela impose à nos entreprises et les défis que cela pose pour nos citoyens. C'est une des raisons pour lesquelles, lors des prochains Conseils européens, nous aurons toujours à l'ordre du jour un point concernant un sujet qui touche directement le quotidien des citoyens et des citoyennes, à commencer déjà en octobre par le logement. Ce débat est également essentiel au niveau européen, car il touche à notre cohésion et est fondamental pour avoir une économie compétitive, notamment pour attirer les meilleurs talents, en particulier les jeunes, et renforcer la confiance dans l'avenir. Merci beaucoup, Luc, mon cher ami, pour cette rencontre. * An English translation will be made available soon.   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   17/09/2025 12:51 | Meetings | Environment Council, 18 September 2025   Background brief - Environment Council of 18 September 2025   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   17/09/2025 11:16 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 22-23 September 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place on Friday, 19 September 2025 at 15.00 in the Europa building press room. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person. To attend the event remotely, please use the link below to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Friday, 19 September 2025 at 14.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Registration page Media accreditation for journalists   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   18/09/2025 10:31 | Press release | Cohesion policy mid-term review: Council adopts new laws to better address current and emerging challenges   In the context of the mid-term review of the EU’s cohesion policy, the Council adopted today amendments to existing regulations 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 be better prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. The legislation adopted today will enable member states to spend EU cohesion funds on defence, security, and civil preparedness to better address current and future challenges. This is an important step towards a European Union that takes responsibility for its own security.” — Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark The regulations adopted by the co-legislators in a record time, as tasked by the European Council, provide amendments to 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+) They contain 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 new regulations introduce greater flexibility and incentives to facilitate the rapid deployment of existing resources and accelerate the implementation of the programmes. Next steps The regulations will be published in the EU’s official journal in the coming days and will enter into force the day after this publication. 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). Regulation amending regulations (EU) 2021/1058 and (EU) 2021/1056 as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review, 18 September 2025 Regulation amending regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges, 18 September 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