COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 24 October 2025

● European Council   24/10/2025 20:39 | Statements and remarks | Chairs’ statement following 24 October Coalition of the Willing Leaders’ meeting   The Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron today co-chaired a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, attended by President Zelenskyy. Leaders were united in their support for Ukraine, in particular during the challenging winter period, and desire for a just and lasting peace and an end to the bloodshed.  They welcomed President Zelenskyy’s support for a full, unconditional ceasefire.  They noted that President Putin, by contrast, had rejected a ceasefire, and that Russia had escalated its attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure and recklessly violated NATO airspace. They fully supported President Trump’s comments that the current line of contact must be the starting point for any talks. They reiterated their full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principle that borders must not be changed by force. Leaders underlined the importance of increasing economic pressure on Russia now and until a just and lasting peace for Ukraine has been secured.  They resolved to take further steps to take Russian oil and gas off the global market, end remaining imports into their territories, and deter third countries from trading in Russian oil and gas and fuelling Russia’s war effort. They welcomed the United States’ recent action to that end. In addition, Leaders agreed to pursue additional measures to tackle the threat posed by shadow fleet vessels to the maritime environment and national security. These would include further sanctions, steps to discourage third countries from engaging with the shadow fleet, increased information sharing as well as readiness to make use of regulatory and interdiction powers. They agreed to take forward closer coordination to increase collective impact. They also expressed their intent to address Ukraine’s pressing financial needs for 2026-2027 including working up options to use the full value of immobilised Russian sovereign assets, so that Ukraine has the resources it needs to defend its territory and rebuild its armed forces. They were clear that this should be in addition to existing flows of bilateral military aid, which would not diminish. They strongly condemned Russia’s ongoing campaign to destroy Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure, an effort clearly intended to create a humanitarian disaster and break the resilience of the Ukrainian people. They agreed to ensure Ukraine’s energy resilience and to provide urgent assistance to protect and rebuild energy infrastructure, and to continue to provide additional military support, including air defence. Finally, they reiterated their determination to put in place robust arrangements for Ukraine’s future security, so that it can deter and defend against future attack.  They confirmed that plans are in place to deploy a Multinational Force Ukraine once hostilities have ceased, with a view to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces.   Visit the website

● European Council

24/10/2025 14:12 | Press release | President Costa to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia and to travel to Abu Dhabi   President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 26 and 27 October to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit. It will mark the first time the European Union participates in an ASEAN Summit, showcasing the growing importance of EU–ASEAN cooperation. The two partners have a shared interest in enhancing security, open trade and connectivity. Reaffirming the Union’s steadfast commitment to effective multilateralism and to the rules-based international order will be a key message in President Costa’s interventions. “The EU’s participation in this summit is an important signal of the deepening of the EU–ASEAN relationship. It is a recognition of the EU as a reliable and predictable partner for ASEAN. We are two regional organisations that share the same objectives: building peace, stability and prosperity through cooperation and integration.” —  António Costa, President of the European Council The partnership between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has gained momentum in recent years. In 2020, the EU and ASEAN elevated their cooperation by becoming formal strategic partners, initiating a new era of closer political and economic collaboration. The first-ever EU–ASEAN leaders’ summit, held in Brussels on 14 December 2022, commemorated 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two regions. The EU is ASEAN’s third-largest trade partner. In the margins of the ASEAN Summit, President Costa will hold bilateral meetings with leaders from the wider region. On 28 October, President Costa will travel to Abu Dhabi where he will meet the President of the United Arab Emirates, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. They will exchange about EU-UAE bilateral relations as well as on key international and regional files.     Visit the website ● European Council   24/10/2025 11:58 | Statements and remarks | Joint Statement on the occasion of the signing of the EU-Uzbekistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Uzbekistan   We, the Representatives of the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the occasion of the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) on 24 October 2025, declare: We celebrate the EPCA as a landmark framework document advancing our strategic partnership, building on years of dialogue that have fostered trust and progress in bilateral relations. This agreement strengthens dialogue, trade diversification, and sustainable development, fostering prosperity, stability, and regional integration for the benefit of our citizens. Committed to the EU-Central Asia Summit Declaration adopted on April 4, 2025, we reiterate our full respect to international law, including the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of respect of the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all States within their internationally recognized borders, including relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and to abstain from acts that may be interpreted as granting any legal status under international law.  These principles guide our cooperation in international and regional fora, promoting peace, mutual respect and multilateralism, while addressing global challenges together. We also highly appreciate the decision to elevate relations between the two regions to the level of a strategic partnership, as well as other agreements reached by participating leaders during the Summit, including the holding of the Central Asian- EU Economic Forum and the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor and Connectivity Investors Forum in Tashkent in 2025. We highly value the format of the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which plays an important role in strengthening regional consolidation, expanding cooperation, and enhancing the region’s connectivity with the European Union. The EPCA opens new horizons for collaboration in cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, border security, and preventing hybrid threats. We also commit to deepening ties on digital and sustainable transport connectivity under the Global Gateway strategy and on critical raw materials. The EPCA will facilitate the expansion and diversification of our bilateral trade and investment, driving economic growth. We highlight recent steps by Uzbekistan to enhance labour mobility and recall the ongoing support for economic modernization, innovation, and diversification. The EPCA includes the possibility that the Parties to the EPCA may consider, if conditions allow, the negotiation of an agreement on readmission and an agreement on visa facilitation. We are united in combating climate change through full implementation of the Paris Agreement, welcoming Uzbekistan's decision to join the Global Methane Pledge, and advancing innovative water-energy cooperation to protect resources and revitalise the Aral Sea region. These efforts underscore our joint resolve for environmental resilience and sustainable prosperity. We recognize the ongoing reform agenda as a shared priority, focusing on strengthening rule of law, human rights, and governance, with support for civil society and media development. The EU reaffirms its strong support for these national efforts, alongside progress in labour rights, education, and gender equality. Through the EU-Uzbekistan Civil Society Forum, we will enhance people-to-people contacts, youth exchanges, and cultural dialogues to build resilient societies. We welcome the finalisation of the EU-Uzbekistan negotiations on market access on services and goods as part of Uzbekistan’s accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This underscores the EU’s political support for the WTO accession and underlying economic reform process of Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan’s and EU’s commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. Together, we look forward to deepening our partnership, harnessing the EPCA's full potential to foster innovation, resilience, inclusive growth, and promoting closer regional integration, ensuring a brighter future for our peoples and regions in an interconnected world.   Visit the website • Council of the EU ­ 24/10/2025 | Press release | EU and OACPS reaffirm commitment to multilateralism and the UN on United Nations Day On the occasion of United Nations Day, the European Union (EU) and its Member States, together with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), have reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to the principles of multilateralism and the rules-based international order, with the United Nations (UN) at its core. In a joint statement, the parties underscored the pivotal role of the United Nations in uniting the international community around universal and shared values, including good governance, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. They highlighted the UN’s essential work in fostering global peace and progress, while promoting respect for universal principles such as territorial integrity and the political independence of all states.   Background The EU and the OACPS represent 104 countries, accounting for around 2 billion people and more than half of the UN’s membership. On 15 November 2023, the EU and its member states signed the Samoa Agreement which serves as an overarching legal framework for their relations for the next twenty years. It has been provisionally applied since 1 January 2024. The agreement covers a wide range of subjects such as sustainable development and growth, human rights and peace and security, as well as enhanced OACPS-EU cooperation in international fora.   Read the full joint statement in EN ● European Council   24/10/2025 00:38 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025   Earlier this month, after our informal meeting in Copenhagen, I said today would be decision time. And we delivered. On all fronts. I would like to start by thanking Ursula von der Leyen and the Commission for the excellent cooperation, once again, in the preparation of this European Council.  Starting with Ukraine. We have said many times that we will support Ukraine as much as necessary for as long as it takes. Today, we reached three important agreements: First, European Leaders committed to ensure that Ukraine’s financial needs will be covered for the next two years. We have asked the Commission to put forward ‘options’ as soon as possible, so that Ukraine has the resources it needs to continue defending itself and fight for a just and lasting peace in 2026 and 2027, if it’s necessary. Russia should take good note of this: Ukraine will have the financial resources it needs to defend itself against Russia’s aggression in the foreseeable future. Now the technical, legal and financial aspects of Europe’s support need to be worked on, and we will return to this issue in the December European Council. Second, we adopted the 19th sanctions package, which will increase our pressure on Russia and further damage its war machine. Third, member states agreed to strengthen measures and coordinate actions to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet.  To sum up: we continue to use all means at our disposal to put Ukraine in a position of strength if and when negotiations with Putin start. We hope this moment comes soon. But no matter the circumstances, our message is clear: Europe will not let Ukraine down. Second area where the European Council delivered today: defence. Today we have closed a cycle that we opened last February, when I convened a brainstorming devoted to this topic. In less than a year working closely with the European Commission we outlined the foundations for the Europe of Defence. We defined our priorities, capabilities. We approved new financial tools to develop these capabilities and in full coherence with NATO. Our priorities now are clear, starting with anti-drone and air defence. And we are looking, naturally, at our Eastern flank. Our timelines as well: step 1 will be to finalise by the end of this year the “capability coalitions” that will drive these projects forward; step 2 will be to launch and advance on concrete projects in early 2026.  Member states will be in the driving seat to push our join efforts forward, with a bigger role for the Ministers of defence and the European Defence Agency. Europe’s defence is not just about spending more. It’s about spending smarter, working together and delivering for our citizens. This is how we build Europe’s sovereignty. And the Roadmap on Defence Readiness that the European Commission and the High Representative presented today was a decisive building block for that.  Third: competitiveness and climate. Europe is at the forefront of climate action. Turning this challenge into economic opportunities. Positioning itself as a leader in the technologies of the future.  Today we reaffirmed our commitment to the Paris Agreement and also agreed that we need to be pragmatic and flexible in our strategy. To make sure that Europe’s climate ambitions and the competitiveness of our economy, of our industries, go hand in hand and leave no one behind.  Looking ahead to 2040, we are setting a clear and realistic path to achieve our climate targets:  by making sure our transition is just, and affordable for citizens and businesses; by supporting the modernisation and decarbonisation of our industries; by following the principle of technological neutrality, to make sure that we achieve our objectives in the most cost-efficient way; and, by guaranteeing that the transition contributes to a strong European industrial base. At the same time, we will encourage innovation. We will invest in clean and digital tech, ensuring Europe stays ahead in the global race. This is what our discussion was about. And I believe that today's meeting, together with Ursula von der Leyen’s recent letter, have helped create the right conditions for a 2040 EU climate target to now be decided in the Council.  As Mario Draghi’s report showed us a year ago, Europe needs to become more competitive to secure its future. The clean and digital transition, along with our simplification efforts, which we have decided to push forward decisively, are key parts of our agenda to ensure Europe’s international competitiveness. Last but not least, to be stronger externally, we need to be strong internally. And the Leaders also need to be focused on European citizens’ daily concerns.  Housing affordability and accessibility are among the most pressing, concrete issues for millions of Europeans.  While in this area competences remain at national, regional, and local level, I wanted European leaders to come together and discuss how the European Union can complement and support their efforts. And our debate was very useful, and it was concrete. And it has offered political guidance for the preparations of the European Affordable Housing Plan by the European Commission.  The European Union institutions are fully engaged in helping address this crisis. We must do everything in our power to tackle it. It is what our citizens expect from us. In conclusion: today, the European Council delivered concrete measures on Ukraine, defence, climate and competitiveness. And we opened a new cycle for housing policy. And we will keep delivering. For our citizens, for our future, and for our place in the world. Thank you.   Visit the website