COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 24 February 2026

● Council of the EU   24/02/2026 11:09 | Press release | Council greenlights signing of package of agreements with Switzerland   Today, the Council gave its green light to the signature of a broad package of agreements between the EU and Switzerland aiming to deepen and expand their bilateral relationship. “The decision to authorise the signature of a broad package of agreements with Switzerland, taken by the Council today, is a natural step in strengthening our longstanding relationship. The Cyprus presidency has worked intensively to finalise these agreements, which will deepen and modernise the EU-Switzerland partnership. This fully reflects our commitment to work towards a stronger and more autonomous Union that remains open to the world.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus The broad package of bilateral agreements with Switzerland includes a wide range of elements: the update of four agreements which already give Switzerland access to the EU internal market (air transport, land transport, the free movement of persons and conformity assessment) the update of the agreement on trade in agricultural products three new agreements on food safety, health and electricity a new agreement on Switzerland's permanent and fair financial contribution to EU’s economic and social cohesion a new agreement allowing Switzerland’s participation in several EU programmes a separate agreement covering Switzerland's participation in the EU Agency for the Space Programme, for activities related to the Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) components of the Union Space programme a protocol on parliamentary cooperation a joint declaration on the establishment of a high-level dialogue on the broad bilateral package and the possible further development of bilateral relations The agreement on Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes was signed on 10 November 2025 in Bern and was provisionally applied as of the beginning of 2025. Today’s decision will allow for the signature of the rest of the package. The package of agreements was negotiated between the EU and the Swiss Confederation in 2024 with talks concluding on 20 December 2024. The conclusion of this broad package of agreements is foreseen only if Switzerland will complete its procedures necessary for the entry into force of the package. Next steps Following today’s adoption, the Commission is authorised to sign the agreements with the Swiss authorities. Signature is planned to take place in March 2026. Once the European Parliament provides its consent, and subject to Switzerland completing the procedures necessary for the entry into force of the package, the Council will complete the process on the conclusion of the broad package of agreements allowing for its entry into force. Background On 20 December 2024, EU and Switzerland officially confirmed the completion of the negotiations for a broad package of agreements that aim to deepen and expand their bilateral relationship. On 14 April 2025, the Commission submitted to the Council a proposal for a Council decision on the signing and provisional application of the agreement on Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes together with a recommendation for a Council decision on the conclusion of this agreement, by the European Commission, for matters falling under the Euratom Treaty. The rest of the agreements together with the respective draft Council decisions on signing and conclusion reached the Council in June 2025. Council decision on the signing of a broad package of agreements between the EU and the Swiss Confederation, 24 February 2026 Council decision on the conclusion of a broad package of agreements between the EU and the Swiss Confederation, 24 February 2026 Joint Declaration by the EU and the Swiss Confederation on the establishment of a high-level dialogue on the broad bilateral package and the possible further development of the bilateral relations between the EU and Switzerland, 24 February 2026 Amending protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on air transport, 24 February 2026 Institutional protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on air transport, 24 February 2026 State aid protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on air transport, 24 February 2026 Amending protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the carriage of goods and passengers by rail and road, 24 February 2026 Institutional protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the carriage of goods and passengers by rail and road, 24 February 2026 State aid protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the carriage of goods and passengers by rail and road, 24 February 2026 Amending protocol to the agreement between the European Community and its member states of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons, 24 February 2026 Institutional protocol to the agreement between the European Community and its member states of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons, 24 February 2026 Amending protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, 24 February 2026 Institutional protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, 24 February 2026 Amending protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products, 24 February 2026 Protocol to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade on agricultural products establishing a common food safety area, 24 February 2026 Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on health, 24 February 2026 Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on electricity, 24 February 2026 Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on Switzerland’s regular financial contribution towards reducing economic and social disparities in the European Union, 24 February 2026 Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the terms and conditions for the participation of the Swiss Confederation in the European Union Agency for the space programme, 24 February 2026 Protocol between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on parliamentary cooperation, 24 February 2026 Council greenlights Switzerland’s association to EU programmes (press release, 21 October 2025)   Visit the website

● Council of the EU

24/02/2026 10:44 | Press release | Council signs off simplification of sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements to boost EU competitiveness   With a view to boosting EU competitiveness, the Council gave today its final green light to a simplification of the sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies. This legislation simplifies the directives on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) and corporate sustainability due diligence (CS3D) by reducing the reporting burden and limiting the trickle-down effect of obligations on smaller companies. The Omnibus I simplification package reduces complexity and unnecessary barriers, cuts red tape, enhances efficiency and introduces more flexibility for companies that remain subject to its scope with the aim to boost EU competitiveness, especially in a constantly changing geopolitical framework. “Simplification constitutes a top priority for the Cyprus presidency. With today’s decision, we are delivering on our commitment for a European Union which is more competitive.  Through the package adopted, we are reducing unnecessary and disproportionate burdens on our businesses, with simpler, more targeted and more proportionate rules, both for our companies and our citizens. For a more autonomous Union, which also means a more competitive Union.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus Corporate sustainability reporting directive The CSRD’s scope is narrowed by raising its thresholds to companies with more than 1,000 employees and above €450 million net annual turnover. Regarding third-country undertakings, the updated requirements will apply only to companies with a net turnover above €450 million for the parent undertaking within the EU and above €200 million generated turnover for the subsidiary or branch. The amending directive also provides for a transition exemption for companies that had to start reporting from financial year 2024 (the so-called 'wave one' companies) falling out of scope for 2025 and 2026. It also includes an exemption for certain EU and non-EU financial holding companies from consolidated reporting. Corporate sustainability due diligence directive The CS3D’s scope is narrowed by raising its thresholds to companies with more than 5,000 employees and above €1.5 billion net turnover, considering that such large companies have the biggest influence on their value chain and are best equipped to make a positive impact and absorb the costs and burdens of due diligence processes. On the identification and assessment of adverse impacts, companies can focus on the areas of their chains of activities where actual and potential adverse impacts are most likely to occur. To provide companies with flexibility, when a company has identified adverse impacts equally likely or equally severe in several areas, this company is given the ability to prioritise assessing adverse impacts which involve direct business partners. Companies are also supposed to base their efforts on reasonably available information, which will reduce the trickle-down effect of information requests on smaller business partners. To provide for a significant burden relief, the obligation for companies to adopt a transition plan for climate change mitigation under the CS3D has been removed. The updated rules also remove the EU harmonised liability regime and the requirement for member states to ensure that the liability rules are of overriding mandatory application in cases where the applicable law is not the national law of the member state. When it comes to penalties, businesses will be liable at a national level for failure to apply the rules correctly. The new directive provides for a maximum cap of 3% of the company’s net worldwide turnover, with the Commission issuing the necessary guidelines in this regard.   Finally, the amending directive postpones the CS3D’s transposition deadline by member states into national law by another year, to 26 July 2028. Companies will have to comply with the new measures by July 2029. Next steps The text of the legislative act will be published in the EU’s official journal in the coming days and will come into force on the twentieth day after this publication. Member states will have one year after the entry into force of the directive to transpose its provisions into national legislation except for article 4 on the level of harmonisation, with which they must comply by 26 July 2028 at the latest. Background In October 2024, the European Council called on all EU institutions, member states and stakeholders, as a matter of priority, to take work forward, notably in response to the challenges identified in the reports by Enrico Letta (‘Much more than a market’) and Mario Draghi (‘The future of European competitiveness’). The Budapest declaration of 8 November 2024 subsequently called for ‘launching a simplification revolution’, by ensuring a clear, simple and smart regulatory framework for businesses and drastically reducing administrative, regulatory and reporting burdens, in particular for SMEs. On 26 February 2025, as a follow-up to EU leaders’ call, the Commission put forward the so-called ‘Omnibus I’ package, aiming to simplify existing legislation in the field of sustainability. Directive on sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements, 24 February 2026 Simplification: Council agrees position on sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements to boost EU competitiveness (press release, 23 June 2025) Directive on certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements, Commission proposal, 26 February 2025 Simplification of EU rules (background information) Corporate sustainability (background information)   Visit the website • Council of the EU ­ 24/02/2026 | MEETINGS  Background brief - Competitiveness Council (Internal market, industry and research), 26-27 February 2026 Background brief - Competitiveness Council (Internal market, industry and research) of 26-27 February 2026 Competitiveness Council (Internal market and Industry), 26 February 2026 Competitiveness Council (Research), 27 February 2026 Visit the website ● European Council   24/02/2026 09:17 | Statements and remarks | Joint Statement by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine   Today, four years ago Russia started its full-scale and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Once again, we pay tribute to the brave people of Ukraine, who continue to resist and defend their country. Russia has not achieved its military objectives in Ukraine. As Russia cannot advance on the battle ground, it deliberately targets Ukrainian civilian and critical infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, hospitals, schools and residential buildings in the midst of a severe winter. Ukrainians remain formidable in their fortitude, determination and resilience. The European Union has stood firmly with Ukraine and its people from the very first day of Russia’s aggression. Our objective is a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We support all efforts aimed at achieving such a peace – a peace with dignity and long-term security. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the cornerstone. No country can annex its neighbour. Borders cannot be changed by force. The aggressor cannot be rewarded. In the current challenging international and geopolitical environment, we stress the importance of maintaining transatlantic and global solidarity with Ukraine. The European Union will continue to provide comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people. We remain Ukraine’s biggest donor. In addition to the close to €200 billion of support since 2022, European leaders have agreed to provide to Ukraine €90 billion in 2026-27 to help ensuring that Ukraine can meet its urgent budgetary and defence needs and remain strong in the face of Russia’s attacks. €60 billion of this support package will be spent on military needs (the “Porcupine programme”). The first payment will be made as soon as possible. This winter, the EU and its Member States have delivered unprecedented energy assistance to Ukraine, alongside air defence and anti-drone systems, as well as humanitarian aid. A new support package for emergency delivery of generators and humanitarian aid. To enhance Ukraine’s energy resilience and avoid a repeat of today’s emergency, we are working with Ukraine on a new energy security and preparedness plan focusing on repair of and reinforcement of grids, quick restart of damaged power plants and rapid deployment of decentralised renewables power production. Putin’s war of attrition is steadily wearing Russia down, and we are determined to put further pressure on Russia to stop its aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace. We are determined to increase the pressure on Russia’s energy and financial sector and to take additional measures against the shadow fleet. But our efforts in support of Ukraine also look to the day after – when the fighting ends. The European Union and its Member States, in line with their respective competences, are ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees to ensure that Russia can never attack Ukraine again. We will make sure that Russia will be held accountable for the crimes committed and the damage it has caused. We are committed to operationalising the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, both within the framework of the Council of Europe, as soon as possible.  The future of a secure and prosperous Ukraine lies in the European Union. Ukraine has made significant progress on the EU accession reforms under very challenging circumstances. Ukraine can count on our full support on its EU accession and its post war reconstruction. We stand firm with Ukraine. For a just and lasting peace. For a strong and sovereign Ukraine in a strong and sovereign Europe.   Visit the website

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23/02/2026 21:20 | Meetings | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 23 February 2026   The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the situation in the Middle East, in light of the latest developments in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran and Syria.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   23/02/2026 18:58 | Meetings | Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 23 February 2026   Ministers exchanged views on the post-2027 common agricultural policy national recommendations and on the evaluation report on the unfair trading practices directive.   View meeting page