COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,EUROGROUP,EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,update

 

Press material Friday, 09 January 2026

● Council of the EU   09/01/2026 17:48 | Press release | EU-Mercosur: Council greenlights signature of the comprehensive partnership and trade agreement   The Council today adopted two decisions authorising the signature of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and of the Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) between the EU and Mercosur. Together, these agreements mark an important milestone in the EU’s long-standing relationship with Mercosur partners – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Once in force, they will establish a framework for political dialogue, cooperation and trade relations within a modernised and comprehensive partnership. The agreements will require the consent of the European Parliament before they can be formally concluded by the Council. Ratification by all EU member states will also be required for the EMPA to enter into force. “After over 25 years, today’s decisions mark a historic step forward in strengthening the EU’s strategic partnership with Mercosur. At a time of growing global uncertainty, it is essential that we reinforce our political cooperation, deepen our economic ties and uphold our shared commitment to sustainable development. These agreements will create new opportunities for businesses on both sides, while ensuring robust safeguards for our most sensitive sectors and a fair, sustainable framework for trade.” — Michael Damianos, Cyprus' minister for energy, commerce and industry EU-Mercosur partnership agreement The EMPA brings together political dialogue, cooperation and comprehensive sectoral engagement under a single framework. It also includes a trade and investment pillar, which will become fully applicable once the agreement is concluded and enters into force. These provisions will strengthen cooperation in areas such as sustainable development, environment and climate action, digital transformation, human rights, mobility, counter-terrorism and crisis management. The political dialogue provisions will foster closer coordination on global challenges such as climate change, peacekeeping and migration. This framework will also facilitate a robust exchange of best practices on issues ranging from governance to technology innovation. The EMPA also reinforces EU-Mercosur coordination in multilateral fora and provides structured platforms for sectoral dialogue. Under the decision adopted today, the EU will sign the agreement and apply large parts of the political and cooperation chapters on a provisional basis, pending completion of the ratification procedures. Interim trade agreement The Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) reflects the trade and investment liberalisation pillar of the EMPA and will function as a stand-alone agreement until the full EMPA enters into force. Its objective is to deliver the economic benefits of the negotiated trade commitments as early as possible. The agreement offers tariff reductions and opens access to new markets for a wide range of goods and services. Key sectors such as agriculture, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals will benefit from improved trade terms. Additionally, it includes provisions for investment facilitation and the removal of barriers to cross-border trade in services, particularly in digital and financial services. Provisions on government procurement will allow EU companies to access public tendering processes in Mercosur countries. The iTA falls within the EU’s exclusive competence and therefore does not require ratification by individual EU member states. It will cease to apply once the EMPA enters into force. Bilateral safeguards In view of the ongoing legislative process on a dedicated Mercosur safeguards regulation, the Council decision introduces specific arrangements ensuring the EU can rapidly address market disturbances arising from imports of sensitive agricultural products. Until the permanent legislative framework is formally adopted following negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament, the Commission will be empowered to apply bilateral safeguard measures under the iTA for agricultural products and enhanced monitoring requirements will apply to products subject to tariff-rate quotas. Member states may request the Commission to initiate safeguard investigations and the Commission will be required to inform the Council in a complete and timely manner of any intended safeguard action. These temporary arrangements ensure a high level of protection for EU farmers and agri-food sectors during the transition period. Next steps Following today’s decisions, the EU and its Mercosur partners will proceed with the signature of the agreements. Before the agreements can be formally concluded, the European Parliament will have to give its consent. The EMPA will fully enter into force once all EU member states and Mercosur parties have completed ratification. The iTA will remain in effect until it is superseded by the entry into force of the full partnership agreement.   Read more ● General Secretariat of the Council   09/01/2026 18:30 | Press release | Forward look: 12 – 25 January 2026   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 20 January 2026 The Cyprus presidency will present its work programme in the field of economic and financial affairs. As part of the European semester 2026, the Council is expected to approve conclusions on the 2026 alert mechanism report. Ministers will also be invited to adopt a decision and a recommendation under the excessive deficit procedure. Read more Other meetings Eurogroup, 19 January 2026   Indicative calendar of meetings under the Cyprus presidency (1 January - 30 June 2026) Cyprus presidency   Visit the website ● Γενική Γραμματεία του Συμβουλίου   09/01/2026 18:30 | Δελτίο τύπου | Προσεχώς: 12 – 25 Ιανουαρίου 2026   Επισκόπηση των κύριων θεμάτων και εργασιών του Συμβουλίου της ΕΕ και του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου για το επόμενο δεκαπενθήμερο. Συμβούλιο Οικονομικών και Δημοσιονομικών Θεμάτων, 20 Ιανουαρίου 2026 Η κυπριακή Προεδρία θα παρουσιάσει το πρόγραμμα εργασιών της στον τομέα των οικονομικών και δημοσιονομικών θεμάτων. Στο πλαίσιο του Ευρωπαϊκού Εξαμήνου του 2026, το Συμβούλιο αναμένεται να εγκρίνει συμπεράσματα σχετικά με την έκθεση του μηχανισμού επαγρύπνησης για το 2026. Οι υπουργοί θα κληθούν επίσης να εκδώσουν απόφαση και σύσταση στο πλαίσιο της διαδικασίας υπερβολικού ελλείμματος. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες Άλλες σύνοδοι και συνεδριάσεις Eurogroup, 19 Ιανουαρίου 2026 Ενδεικτικό χρονοδιάγραμμα συνόδων και συνεδριάσεων υπό την κυπριακή Προεδρία (1 Ιανουαρίου – 30 Ιουνίου 2026) Κυπριακή Προεδρία   Επισκεφτείτε τον ιστοχώρο

● Eurogroup

09/01/2026 18:21 | Statements and remarks | Statement by the Eurogroup President on the nominations for the post of ECB Vice-President   At the Eurogroup meeting of 11 December 2025, the process for selecting a successor to the current ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos, whose mandate will expire at the end of May 2026, was launched. The call for candidates ended today. By the deadline, I have received 6 candidacies: Mário Centeno (Portugal), Mārtiņš Kazāks (Latvia), Madis Müller (Estonia), Olli Rehn (Finland), Rimantas Šadžius (Lithuania), Boris Vujčić (Croatia). At its next meeting on 19 January, the Eurogroup will discuss these candidacies. Following the Eurogroup discussion, the Council will adopt a recommendation to the European Council, acting by a reinforced qualified majority of the euro area member states. Such majority requires the support of 72% of euro area member states (i.e. at least 16 of the 21 euro area countries), representing at least 65% of the population of the euro area. In line with the selection process established in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, the ECB and the European Parliament will be consulted before a final decision is taken by the European Council.   Visit the website Press service European Parliament       Press release 09-01-2026 Highlights of the next AGRI meeting       Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) to meet on Monday 12 January from 15:00 to 19:00 The meeting will take place at Antall building room 4Q2 The meeting will be livestreamed here. Full agenda is available here. VOTES Production and marketing of plant reproductive material in the Union. Vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations. Rapporteur: Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, IT). Monday at around 18:35.  Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations. Rapporteur: Veronika Vrecinová (ECR, CZ). Monday at around 18:40. Wine package. Amending certain market rules and sectoral support measures in the wine sector and for aromatised wine products. Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations. Rapporteur: Esther Herranz García (EPP, ES). Monday at around 18:40. DEBATES Public hearing: “Overview of the EU livestock sector and the EU approach to control animal diseases”. Monday at around 15:00 to 16:30. FOLLOW US ON X and BlueSky - Highlights, press releases and new documents are published on @EP_Agriculture and @agri.europarl.europa.eu Further information  Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development  Webstreaming  Full agenda