COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 02 October 2025

● Council of the EU   02/10/2025 19:50 | Statements and remarks | Israel/Palestine: statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on Gaza   The EU welcomes President Trump’s commitment to ending the war in Gaza, which offers a way out of this devastating conflict, ensuring an immediate ceasefire and release of all remaining hostages, and guaranteeing the provision of full humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, with a central role for the UN and its agencies – all elements that have long constituted core EU priorities. The EU supports the principles outlined by President Trump on a demilitarised Hamas with no role in future governance, the removal of any threat to Israel and its people, that Gaza will not be occupied and that Palestinians will not be displaced. Respect for international law, including international humanitarian law, is a must. Transitional arrangements should pave the way for lasting and sustainable peace through a credible pathway towards a political horizon for Palestinian statehood and the two-state solution, based on the principles endorsed by a large majority of UN Member States. We take note of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held on 22 September, at the initiative of France and Saudi Arabia. The EU, thanks to its consistent commitment to the Palestinian people and support to regional integration and to a reformed Palestinian Authority, also in view of its return to Gaza, is ready to offer a valuable contribution to this plan through the variety of tools at its disposal. We are ready to engage with regional partners to work jointly on the next steps. The EU welcomes Israel’s decision to support the plan. We urge Hamas to follow the plan, release all remaining hostages and lay down its arms. The EU calls on those who have influence to bear to pass these messages to Hamas. There is no military solution to this conflict. We call on all parties to seize this opportunity and engage constructively to immediately end the tragedy in Gaza and begin the process of building a better future for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region.   Visit the website

● General Secretariat of the Council

03/10/2025 17:14 | Press release | Forward look: 6 - 19 October 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 10 October 2025 Among other items, EU finance ministers are expected to exchange views on the Commission’s recent proposals to update the system of own resources for the EU budget. Separately, the Commission will be invited to present its recent proposal to update the EU’s tobacco taxation framework. Read more 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 Other meetings Eurogroup, 9 October 2025 Informal meeting of ministers for telecommunication, 9-10 October 2025 Informal meeting of trade ministers, 13-14 October 2025   Indicative calendar of meetings under the Danish presidency (1 July - 31 December 2025) Danish presidency   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   03/10/2025 15:28 | Press release | Russian hybrid threats: Council prolongs restrictive measures by another year   The Council today decided to prolong individual restrictive measures against those responsible for Russia’s destabilising actions abroad by one year, until 9 October 2026, in light of Russia’s continued hybrid activities, including Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) against the EU and its member states and partners. In total, restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities currently apply to 47 individuals and 15 entities. Those listed are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. Natural persons also face a travel ban that prohibits them from entering or transiting through EU territories. Background On 8 October 2024, the Council adopted a framework of restrictive measures in response to Russia’s destabilising actions. The sanctions regime targets those engaged in actions and policies by the government of the Russian Federation, which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, stability, independence and integrity. The sanctions regime targets also those responsible for hybrid activities against third countries and international organisations. In May 2025, the EU broadened the scope of the restrictive measures framework to allow the targeting of tangible assets linked to Russia’s destabilising activities, financial backers of destabilising activities, and to allow for the suspension of the broadcasting licences of Russian media outlets involved in disinformation. In addition, on 18 July 2025, a statement of the High Representative on behalf of the EU condemned Russia’s persistent hybrid campaigns against the EU, its member states and partners. The statement underlined that, over the past years, the EU has observed a deliberate and systematic pattern of malicious behaviour attributed to Russia, such as cyber-attacks, acts of sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, physical attacks, information manipulation and interference, and other covert or coercive actions. Those activities have further escalated since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine and are highly likely to persist in the foreseeable future. The EU and its member states will continue to draw on the full range of tools available to protect, prevent, deter from and respond to such malicious behaviour. Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 of 8 October 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities (consolidated text dated 15 July 2025) Hybrid threats / Russia: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU condemning Russia’s persistent hybrid campaigns against the EU, its Member States and partners (18 July 2025) Timeline – EU sanctions against Russia (background information)   Visit the website