COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 10 October 2025

● Council of the EU   10/10/2025 22:28 | Statements and remarks | Israel/Palestine: statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict   The EU welcomes the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict put forward by President Trump to secure an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages. We note that all sides agree, including the government of Israel. We call on all parties to fully implement the agreement without delay, allowing for the establishment of a lasting ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and the unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza. The EU commends the diplomatic efforts led by the US and supported, among others, by Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates in negotiating this breakthrough, which we have consistently supported. This is a real chance to end the devastating war and the human suffering, and to forge a credible political path towards lasting peace and security, based on the two-state solution, recalling also the High-Level Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York co-led by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The EU stands ready to contribute to the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict through the variety of the tools at its disposal, based on the EU’s longstanding engagement and substantial support for peace in the region. The EU will continue to support the rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, working closely with the UN agencies and international NGOs, and in accordance with international law. The EU stands ready to contribute to Gaza’s stabilisation and reconstruction, including the full use of the EU’s CSDP missions EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS. The EU will continue to support the Palestinian Authority, including in its ongoing reform, and in view of its return to Gaza, and also through the Palestine Donor Group.   Visit the website

● General Secretariat of the Council

10/10/2025 18:27 | Press release | Forward look: 13 - 26 October 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 13 October 2025 Justice ministers will gather in Luxembourg to discuss rule of law developments in the field of justice, the future of Eurojust and the fight against Russia’s impunity regarding crimes committed in connection with the war in Ukraine. Read more Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 14 October 2025 Ministers of home affairs will hold an exchange about a draft law on a common system of returning illegally staying third country nationals, discuss the future of Frontex and hold a policy debate on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and health emergency preparedness and response. Read more Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), 15 October 2025 The Foreign Affairs Council with defence ministers will exchange views on defence readiness. Read more Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy), 17 October 2025 EU equality ministers will meet in Luxembourg to discuss violence against women and domestic violence, discrimination against LGBTIQ persons, social inclusion of persons with disabilities, and ways to advance disability rights in the EU. Read more Foreign Affairs Council, 20 October 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. They will then hold discussions on EU–Indo-Pacific relations and the situation in the Middle East. They will also be informed about current affairs. Read more Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 20 October 2025 EU energy ministers will seek to agree on the REPowerEU regulation to phase out Russian gas and oil imports. Ministers will also exchange views on the role of electrification in EU’s clean transition and on energy security and resilience in Ukraine and Moldova. Read more Environment Council, 21 October 2025 Ministers will seek to adopt two sets of Council conclusions: on the preparations for COP30 on climate change; and on the European water resilience strategy. At the same meeting, environment ministers will also exchange views on the environmental aspects of the European ocean pact. Read more General Affairs Council, 21 October 2025 Ministers for EU affairs will hold a policy debate on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 and take note of a progress report on omnibus simplification legislative packages. Ministers will also continue preparations for the October European Council and hold a hearing on the Article 7 procedure concerning Hungary. Over a working lunch, ministers will discuss the Commission’s upcoming proposal on the European Democracy Shield. Read more European Council, 23-24 October 2025 EU leaders will discuss Ukraine, Middle East, European defence and security, competitiveness and twin transition, housing, and migration. Read more Other meetings Informal meeting of trade ministers, 13-14 October 2025 EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council, 21 October 2025 Tripartite Social Summit, 22 October 2025   Indicative calendar of meetings under the Danish presidency (1 July - 31 December 2025) Danish presidency   Visit the website • Council of the EU ­ 10/10/2025 | Press release | EU ministers united: Minors must be protected better online EU digital ministers have concluded two days of discussions on how to better protect minors online. The meeting resulted in a joint ministerial declaration on the need for further EU measures in the coming years.   Read the full presidency press release in EN. Read more about the Informal meeting here: EU Ministers will meet to discuss better protection of minors online For general press inquiries, contact media@eu2025.dk. Danish presidency website   ● Council of the EU   10/10/2025 12:59 | Press release | Economic governance: Council approves Germany’s fiscal expenditure path and its flexibility to increase defence spending   The Council today adopted a recommendation endorsing the maximum net expenditure path for Germany over the next five years, as well as the requested extension of the fiscal adjustment period to seven years, as laid out in its national medium-term fiscal-structural plan. At the same time, the Council activated the national escape clause under the stability and growth pact (SGP) for Germany to help it transition to higher defence spending at national level while ensuring debt sustainability.  Net expenditure path The medium-term fiscal-structural plans are a cornerstone of the EU’s new economic governance framework. The plans contain member states’ fiscal trajectory, together with envisaged reforms and investments. They contribute to strengthening member states' debt sustainability and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth. The net expenditure paths as set by the Council constitute the most important operational indicator for fiscal surveillance at EU level. This budgetary constraint will frame Germany’s national fiscal policies for the next five years and help determine whether it is maintaining healthy finances. National escape clause The clause covers a period of four years and a maximum of 1.5% of GDP in flexibility. In practice, this activation means that a new excessive deficit procedure would not be opened for Germany, even if it runs a government deficit exceeding the 3% reference value set in the Treaties, provided that this excess is due to increased defence spending. For all other expenses, member states remain bound by the budgetary rules and must remain committed to the implementation of the revised economic governance framework irrespective of the clause’s activation. 15 other EU member states - Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia – have also had their requests to activate the national escape clause approved. The use of this flexibility should contribute substantially to bolstering the defence and security capabilities of the European Union and the protection of citizens. It will also reinforce the EU’s overall defence readiness, reduce strategic dependencies, address critical capability gaps and strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base. Council recommendation endorsing the national medium-term fiscal-structural plan of Germany and activating the national escape clause for Germany Economic governance framework (background information) The European Semester explained (background information) National escape clause for defence expenditure (background information) Boosting European defence expenditure (background information)   Visit the website