COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

Press material Monday, 20 October 2025

● Council of the EU   20/10/2025 09:40 | Press release | Joint Press Release — 4th EU–Iraq Cooperation Council   The European Union and the Republic of Iraq held the 4th EU–Iraq Cooperation Council in Luxembourg on 19 October 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by the EU High Representative Kallas and Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, with the participation of Commissioner Šuica and EU Foreign Ministers. It was an opportunity to exchange on bilateral EU-Iraq relations under the 2012 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, as well as on key regional developments, notably the situation in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine and Iraq’s relations with its neighbours. The two sides also discussed key priorities in their bilateral cooperation, such as migration, trade, democracy and human rights, development cooperation and energy, reaffirming their commitment to maintain regular institutional dialogue and upgrade exchanges across all areas of mutual interest. The EU commended Iraq’s constructive diplomatic role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation in the Middle East and reiterated its strong support for Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Iraq also acknowledged the continued contribution of the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) towards reforming the Iraqi civilian security sector. The EU recalled Iraq’s significant progress in consolidating stability and preparing for the upcoming parliamentary elections on 11 November 2025 as a crucial step in the country’s democratic path, noting the importance of a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process. Iraq reaffirmed its commitment to shifting focus from security to economic recovery and investments, which the EU continues to support through projects, such as the flagship project around rehabilitation of the old cities of Mosul and Basra, and the engagement with European Financial Institutions. Iraq’s leadership in repatriating its citizens from camps in North-East Syria, to which the EU provides substantial ongoing and upcoming support, such as a new €8 million package, was particularly highlighted and commended.     Visit the website

● Council of the EU   20/10/2025 11:27 | Press release | Council agrees its position on rules to phase out Russian gas imports under REPowerEU   The Council today agreed on its negotiating position on the draft regulation to phase out imports of Russian natural gas. The regulation constitutes a central element of the EU's REPowerEU roadmap to end dependency on Russian energy, following Russia's weaponisation of gas supplies and repeated disruptions of gas supplies to the EU with significant effects on the European energy market. The proposed regulation introduces a legally binding, stepwise prohibition on both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia, with a full ban to apply from 1 January 2028. The Council agreement maintains this deadline, and therefore represents an ambitious signal of willingness to deliver on the phase out. It will contribute to the overarching goal of achieving a resilient and independent EU energy market, while preserving the EU's security of supply. “An energy independent Europe is a stronger and more secure Europe. Although we have worked hard and pushed to get Russian gas and oil out of Europe in recent years, we are not there yet. Therefore, it is crucial that the Danish Presidency has secured an overwhelming support from Europe’s energy ministers for the legislation that will definitively ban Russian gas from coming into the EU.” — Lars Aagaard, Minister for climate, energy and utilities of Denmark Main changes agreed by the Council Transition phase for existing supply contracts The Council confirmed that imports of Russian gas will be prohibited from 1 January 2026, while maintaining a transition period for existing contracts. In particular, short-term contracts concluded before 17 June 2025 may continue until 17 June 2026, whereas long-term contracts may run until 1 January 2028. Amendments to existing contracts will be permitted only for narrowly defined operational purposes and cannot lead to increased volumes. , except for some specific flexibilities for landlocked member states affected by recent changes in supply routes. Customs procedures and authorisation Compared to the Commission's proposal, the Council has streamlined customs obligations by establishing lighter documentation requirements and procedures for imports of non-Russian gas. In such cases, only must be provided to the authorising authorities before gas enters the EU's customs territory, while more information is requested for gas imports from Russia during the transitional phase (including the date and duration of the supply contract, the quantities contracted and any amendments to the contract). The Council included the requirement that both categories of gas imports be subject to a prior authorisation regime in order to ensure that the prohibition will work in practice: for Russian gas and those imports falling under the transition period, the information required for authorisation must be submitted at least one month before entry for non-Russian gas, the proof must be provided at least five days before entry in the case of mixed LNG cargos, the documentation must prove the respective shares of Russian and non-Russian gas in the mixture, with only the non-Russian amounts being allowed to enter the EU In order to reduce the administrative burden, member states agreed that this prior authorisation procedure would not apply to imports from countries fulfilling a list of criteria outlined in the proposed regulation. This ensures that only the imports that are most relevant to check will be subject to prior authorisation. According to the agreed text, the Council tasks the Commission with drawing up the list of exempted countries within five days of the entry into force of the regulation. Additional monitoring and notification mechanisms have also been introduced to prevent Russian gas from entering the EU under transit procedures (i.e. gas passing through the EU on its way to another destination, without entering the EU market). National diversification plans The proposed regulation requires all member states to submit national diversification plans outlining measures and potential challenges to diversifying their gas supplies. The Council has agreed to exempt those member states that can demonstrate that they no longer receive any direct or indirect imports of Russian gas. The same requirement to submit a national diversification plan will apply to those member states that are still importing Russian oil, with a view to discontinuing those imports by 1 January 2028. Other elements Compared to the Commission's proposal, the Council further developed provisions on information exchange between national authorities, the EU Agency for the cooperation of energy regulators (ACER) and the Commission, and required the Commission to review the implementation of the regulation within two years of its entry into force, including the provisions on the prior authorisation procedures. It also clarified the suspension clause, specifying which types of disruption to the security of supply could justify a temporary lifting of the import prohibition or of the prior authorisation requirement. Next steps The Council presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament with a view to agreeing on the final text of the regulation, once the latter has adopted its position. Background Following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, EU leaders agreed, in the Versailles Declaration of March 2022, to phase out dependency on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible. As a consequence,gas and oil imports from Russia to the EU have both decreased significantly in recent years. However, while imports of oil have dropped to below 3% in 2025, Russian gas still accounts for an estimated 13% of EU imports in 2025, worth over €15 billion annually. This leaves the EU exposed to significant risks in terms of its trade and energy security. In order to address this vulnerability, in May 2025, the Commission adopted the REPowerEU roadmap to ensure a stepwise approach to the phasing out of the remaining Russian energy imports and to boost the EU's energy independence and security. In June 2025 the Commission put forward a proposal focusing on a gradual phasing out of the remaining pipeline gas and LNG, with a full prohibition by 1 January 2028. Council position on the REPowerEU proposal on phasing out Russian natural gas imports REPowerEU regulation proposal Energy prices and security of supply (background information) Liquefied natural gas infrastructure in the EU (infographic) REPowerEU roadmap REPowerEU (background information)   Visit the website

● European Council

20/10/2025 09:47 | Media advisory | Press briefing - European Council meeting of 23 October 2025   The press briefing ahead of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025 will take place on Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 14.00 in the Justus Lipsius building press room. It will also touch upon the upcoming EU-Egypt Summit taking place on 22 October 2025. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists or journalists accredited for the summit will be able to participate and ask questions either in person at the Justus Lipsius press room or remotely. To attend the event remotely, please use the link below to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Deadline for registration: Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 13.00 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   18/10/2025 09:36 | Meetings | Foreign Affairs Council, 20 October 2025   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council of 20 October 2025   View meeting page

Council of the EU

17/10/2025 17:40 | Meetings | Main results - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy), 17 October 2025   EU equality ministers met 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.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   20/10/2025 12:43 | Press release | New strategic EU-India agenda: Council approves conclusions   Today, the Council approved conclusions on a new strategic EU-India agenda, in which it welcomes the strong impetus in relations between the European Union and India. The conclusions endorse the Joint Communication on a “New Strategic EU-India Agenda” by the High Representative and the European Commission, and its objective of deepening EU-India ties, including prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues. The Council welcomes in particular efforts to conclude a balanced, ambitious, mutually beneficial and economically meaningful free trade agreement, which the European Commission and the Indian government  aim to finalise by the end of the year. Such agreement must include enhanced market access, removal of trade barriers, and provisions on sustainable development. Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex geopolitical outlook, the Council also welcomes closer collaboration between the EU and India on security and defence matters based on the principles of mutual trust and respect. The Council takes note of the intention to pursue work towards the establishment of a Security and Defence Partnership, which could also facilitate defence industrial cooperation when appropriate. The Council will continue to engage with India on all aspects of Russia’s war of aggression against the Ukraine. The Council also emphasises the joint capacity and responsibility of the EU and India to safeguard multilateralism and the rules-based international order with the UN Charter at its core, as well as the multilateral trading system, in particular the WTO. The promotion and protection of democratic values and norms, international law and human rights, including the rights of women and children, is an intrinsic part of the EU-India strategic agenda. The Council invites the High Representative and the Commission to take forward the articulation and implementation of the new strategic EU-India agenda on the basis of the priorities set out in the Joint Communication. Council conclusions on the new Strategic EU-India Agenda (2025) Joint Communication on a new strategic EU-India agenda Factsheet EU-India Relations (EEAS)   Visit the website 20/10/2025 12:44 | Press release | EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: Council approves conclusions   Today, the Council approved conclusions on the implementation of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific stressing that the EU should further intensify its strategic focus, presence, visibility and actions in the Indo-Pacific with the aim of contributing to our joint stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development, underpinned by the promotion of democracy, rule of law, human rights and international law. The EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, which was launched in September 2021, continues to provide a sound framework for EU engagement in a region spanning from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific islands. Important steps have been taken to implement the strategy in the seven key priority areas, both at the EU and member state level, with a particular focus on three core areas of engagement: security and defence challenges, the green and digital transition, and trade and economic security. The Council underlines that the EU and the Indo-Pacific face increasingly complex security challenges, being directly impacted by Russia's war of aggression against the Ukraine and ongoing tensions in the South and East China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, amongst others. The Council also reiterates its serious concerns about the current situation in both Afghanistan and Myanmar, and its unwavering commitment to achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the two-State solution. The Council looks forward to the fourth EU-Indo Pacific Ministerial Forum, to be convened by the High Representative in Brussels on 20-21 November 2025. EU-Indo Pacific Ministerial Fora constitute a unique platform for strategically interacting with audiences in both regions. They reflect the strong and shared interest of the EU and the Indo-Pacific partners in fostering concrete cooperation, including on a region-to-region basis, enhancing mutual security, prosperity and resilience and laying the foundations for an ever more ambitious partnership. Together with the EU-African Union ministerial in May in Brussels, this is one of the two largest foreign ministers’ diplomatic gatherings hosted by High Representative Kaja Kallas in Europe this year. Council conclusions on EU Strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific (2025) Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on the EU Strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific (2021)   Visit the website