COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 21 April 2026

● Council of the EU   21/04/2026 17:53 | Press release | Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union marking three years of war   Three years since the outbreak of war in Sudan, the suffering of the Sudanese people continues unabated. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their respective affiliated militias is destroying lives and depriving the population of its aspirations of the 2018/19 revolution. The European Union reiterates its commitment to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and strongly rejects any unilateral attempt to establish parallel governance that could risk the partition of the country. Preventing the conflict from escalating into a full-scale regional war remains also paramount. The Sudan Conference in Berlin held on 15 April 2026 demonstrated the international community’s determination to exert pressure on the belligerents to end the conflict. Recalling the October 2025 Council Conclusions on Sudan, the European Union renews its call on all actors to engage in negotiations towards an immediate and lasting ceasefire. The EU stands ready to back any credible, unified peace initiative, including options to support an international monitoring mechanism. External actors must stop fuelling the war. In this regard, the EU advocates for expanding to the whole country the mandates of the ICC and the UN arms embargo, which are today limited to Darfur. Sudan’s humanitarian catastrophe is deepening. civilians are targeted, famine conditions persist, and displacement continues to destabilise communities and the region. Attacks on civilians, healthcare, aid workers, humanitarian convoys and civilian infrastructure must stop. All parties must guarantee unimpeded, safe and sustained humanitarian access across Sudan; obstruction and attacks on relief efforts and personnel are unacceptable and may constitute war crimes. The EU remains firmly committed to supporting the humanitarian response to the population’s needs and will continue pursuing its work on the protection of critical infrastructure. At the Sudan Conference in Berlin, international donors pledged €1,5 billion in aid, including €812 million from the EU and its Member States. Grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law continue. Impunity must end. Systematic conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence continues to destroy both individuals and communities on a horrifying scale, with rape being used as a weapon of war. The EU supports the work of the UN Fact-Finding Mission, the ICC and robust accountability for all perpetrators. The EU will use all tools available – including diplomacy and restrictive measures – to press for peace, including examining additional sanctions aimed at the war economy. The European Union reaffirms its support for the Sudanese people’s aspirations for democratic governance. At the Sudan Conference in Berlin, civilian actors from Sudan met at the invitation of the AU-led Quintet (African Union, United Nations, European Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, League of Arab States) and agreed on a Joint Call to End the War and Advance a Sudanese-Owned Political Process. Only an independent and representative civilian process can restore legitimacy of the Sudanese state. The resilience and courage of the Sudanese people, notably the Emergency Response Rooms and other mutual aid groups, remain a source of hope and deserve our utmost respect. It is long overdue to bring this devastating conflict to an end.   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   21/04/2026 15:28 | Press release | Armenia: EU establishes a new civilian mission to contribute strengthening the country’s resilience   The Council established today the EU Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia) under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), a further contribution in the efforts to enhance Armenia’s democratic resilience and its ability to manage crises. The mission will support Armenia facing multi-layered threats such as foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), cyber-attacks and illicit financial flows. EUPM Armenia will provide strategic advice and capacity building to various ministries and national institutions on the development of policies to address threats faced by society and national institutions, and support the development of a horizontal, whole-of-government approach. It will also provide operational advice and feature a project cell responsible for identifying and implementing concrete actions in the areas covered by the mandate of the mission, in close coordination with like-minded partners. “Armenians are facing massive disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks. Over the next years, a new EU civilian mission will provide expert advice, capacity building for government departments and a team monitoring areas for urgent action. When Armenians go to the polls in June, they alone should choose their country’s future. The EU helps to protect Armenia’s resilience.” — Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The EU Partnership Mission in Armenia will have an initial mandate of two years, and its Operational Headquarters will be in Armenia. The Managing Director of the Civilian Operations Headquarters  within the European External Action Service - Stefano Tomat - will be the Civilian Operation Commander. He will exercise command and control of EUPM Armenia at the strategic level under the political control and strategic direction of the Council’s Political and Security Committee, and the overall authority of the High Representative. A Head of Mission responsible for leading operations on the ground will be appointed shortly. Background and next steps On 2 December 2025, the EU-Armenia Partnership Council endorsed a new Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership. Building on the foundations of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, the Strategic Agenda marks a significant step forward in deepening relations in wide range of areas, including in the area of security and defence. EUPM is being deployed upon the request of the Armenian authorities. EUPM is a second civilian CSDP mission to Armenia, separate from the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) established in 2023, and tasked with observing and reporting on the situation on the ground, contributing to confidence building and human security in conflict-affected areas. Joint press statement following the 6th meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council (press release, 3 December 2025) EU and Armenia reaffirm and advance their partnership during a Leaders’ meeting (joint press release, 14 July 2025) EU relations with Armenia (background information)   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   21/04/2026 15:02 | Meetings | Main results - Informal video conference of transport ministers, 21 April 2026   EU transport ministers discussed at an informal video conference the need for a coordinated response to the current crisis, focusing on measures against fuel price volatility and transport resilience.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   21/04/2026 14:52 | Press release | EU energy and climate diplomacy: Council approves conclusions   In a world of growing geopolitical fragmentation and a rules-based international order under strain, energy security risks and the existential threat of climate change endanger the EU’s sovereignty. Vulnerabilities in energy and technology supply chains put EU competitiveness and economic security at risk, while the severe impacts of climate change and environmental degradation imperil international peace and security.  Against this backdrop, the Council today approved conclusions on 'EU energy and climate diplomacy – strengthening sovereignty and advancing the global clean transition'. Acknowledging the EU’s geopolitical exposure due to its significant reliance on imported fossil fuels – as demonstrated in the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and by the threats posed by hostilities in Iran and the wider region – the Council reconfirmed the EU’s commitment to the clean transition as the most effective strategy towards achieving Europe’s strategic autonomy. The clean transition further acts as a driver of innovation, economic growth and competitiveness globally, as well as being the key response to the climate crisis. The conclusions call for a decisive and urgent response from EU foreign and security policy to support building a stronger resilience and preparedness against climate, environmental and energy security threats. The Council highlighted the need for EU foreign policy to support the growth of the European clean tech sector by promoting European products and technologies across the globe. Member States also recognised that the technological and innovation potential of the clean transition can help bolster EU defence readiness and the resilience of militaries. The conclusions reconfirm that the EU will continue to lead on global climate action and environmental protection. The Council affirms the EU’s unwavering commitment to advancing a multilateral approach through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, to keep the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach. Underlining the EU’s substantial contribution through its existing climate targets, the Council urges international partners to set and implement ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals as soon as possible. In this context, the EU will continue forging mutually beneficial partnerships that advance the clean transition and global resilience. As a reliable partner and the world’s largest provider of climate finance, the EU stands ready to deepen cooperation through a wide range of initiatives, partnerships, and instruments – prioritising engagement with those willing to mainstream and accelerate climate action. The Council is aware that the impacts of the climate crisis pose a threat to global and European peace and security even already at current warning levels. Climate-induced fragility and displacement in vulnerable regions can be exploited by hostile actors. To respond, the Council urges the EU to strengthen global and regional stability by supporting resilience, preparedness and adaptation in third countries, especially in climate-vulnerable and fragile areas and the broader European neighbourhood. Declining fossil fuel revenues and attempted climate interventions can introduce further geopolitical risks. To ensure global security and resilience, the EU needs to continue integrating climate and environmental aspects into foreign, security and defence policy. The Council reiterates the EU’s offer of partnerships and invites the High Representative and the Commission to develop, together with member states in a Team Europe approach, holistic cross-sectoral approaches for intensified and systematic engagement with third countries. Text of the conclusions Global climate action (background information)   Visit the website