COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Wednesday, 22 April 2026

● Council of the EU   22/04/2026 20:08 | Press release | Council and Parliament strike provisional deal on social security coordination   Today, the Cyprus presidency of the Council reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on updated rules on the coordination of national social security systems. The revision aims to modernise the rules, making them clearer, fairer and simpler to enforce. The revised rules are central to strengthening fair labour mobility and will enhance social security coordination rules across the European Union while protecting citizens’ rights. The deal still needs to be confirmed by both institutions before being formally adopted. “Freedom of movement is a fundamental principle of the European Union, yet continued uncertainty regarding access to social rights and benefits hampers people’s ability to live and work in other EU member states. Today’s agreement provides much-needed clarity for EU citizens in exercising their right to free movement.” — Marinos Moushouttas, Minister of Labour, Republic of Cyprus The draft amending regulation seeks to further facilitate EU citizens’ freedom of movement. It focuses on five key areas: unemployment benefits, long-term care benefits, access to welfare benefits for economically inactive persons, family benefits and applicable legislation for posted workers and persons working in two or more member states. Next steps The provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament. It will then formally be adopted by both institutions following legal-linguistic revision. Background This draft legislation amends regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 on coordination of social security systems. The revision aims to: clarifying the circumstances in which member states can limit access to social benefits claimed by economically inactive EU mobile citizens establishing a coherent regime for the coordination of long-term care benefits proposing new arrangements for the coordination of unemployment benefits in cross-border cases introducing new provisions for the coordination of family benefits clarifying the conflict rules on applicable legislation and the relationship with Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services EU rules on coordination of social security systems (background information)   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   23/04/2026 11:26 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 27 April 2026   The "off the record" press briefing ahead of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place on Friday, 24 April 2026 at 16.00. The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa building press room. To attend the event remotely, please use the link below to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Friday, 24 April 2026 at 15.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Registration page Media accreditation for journalists   Visit the website • Council of the EU ­ 21/04/2026 |Press release | European Peace Facility: support for the military component of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia The Political and Security Committee of the Council of the EU has approved support under the European Peace Facility (EPF) for the military component of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This support will strengthen AUSSOM’s operational readiness and ability to deliver its mandate in full compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The support measure will help maintain security and protect civilians in areas affected by Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. The EU will provide an additional €75 million, bringing its total support to successive AU-led missions in Somalia under the EPF to almost €2.8 billion since 2007. The funding will mainly cover troop allowances for personnel deployed in Somalia, as well as non-lethal equipment and related services. Background  The EPF was established in March 2021 for the financing of actions under the common foreign and security policy to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. In particular, the EPF allows the EU to finance military aspects of peace support operations led by a regional or international organisation or by third States as well as actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third States and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. The EU remains the largest direct contributor to successive missions in Somalia led by the AU. Under the EU’s integrated approach to external conflicts and crises, funding for AUSSOM under the EPF forms part of wider EU support for peace and security in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa. This includes capacity-building support for the Somali National Army to enable the gradual transfer of security responsibilities. European Peace Facility (background information) EU cooperation on security and defence (background information) ● Council of the EU   23/04/2026 14:05 | Press release | Council finalises €90 billion support loan to Ukraine   The Council today adopted the final key piece of legislation underpinning a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, agreed by the European Council in December 2025. The move will allow the Commission to begin disbursements as soon as possible in the second quarter of 2026. The loan will help cover the country’s most urgent budgetary and defence industrial capacity needs in 2026 and 2027, within a robust and conditional framework. Funding will be linked to strict conditions on Ukraine’s side such as adherence to the rule of law, including the fight against corruption. “Today the Council approved the final element needed to allow for the disbursement of the €90 billion loan for Ukraine. The Cyprus Presidency has worked tirelessly to ensure all elements needed for the loan were in place. Loan disbursements will start flowing as soon as possible, providing vital support for Ukraine’s most pressing budgetary needs. The EU remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” — Makis Keravnos, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus The amendments to the EU regulation on the multiannual financial framework adopted today confirm that the Ukraine support loan will be financed through EU borrowing on the capital markets and will be backed by the EU budget headroom. The loan is to be repaid by reparations due by Russia to Ukraine. The Council already adopted on 24 February the regulation establishing the Ukraine support loan itself, as well as a regulation allowing funds to flow through the Ukraine Facility - the EU’s dedicated instrument for providing Ukraine with stable and predictable financial support. The Ukraine support loan regulation was agreed under the enhanced cooperation procedure with the participation of 24 member states. Implementation of the loan The financing will help strengthen the European and Ukrainian defence industries. It will be made available in two ways, and with the following indicative break-down: €30 billion for macroeconomic support to Ukraine, channelled via macro-financial assistance or through the Ukraine Facility. This can be used to address Ukraine’s most urgent budgetary needs. €60 billion for Ukraine’s capacity to invest in defence industrial capacities, including procurement of defence products. The funding will give Ukraine crucial and timely access to defence products from the defence industries in Ukraine, the EU, EEA-EFTA countries, as well as other third countries. Those third countries need to have either concluded a bilateral agreement with the Union under the SAFE regulation (the EU’s financial instrument to help member states invest in defence) or demonstrated fulfilment of specific conditions and commitments. Furthermore, targeted derogations may apply should Ukraine’s military needs require urgent delivery of a defence product not available in Ukraine, the EU, EEA-EFTA countries or those third countries. Disbursements will be made accessible in line with Ukraine’s financing needs, determined by a financing strategy prepared by Ukraine itself. After the positive assessment of Ukraine’s strategy, the Commission submitted on 1 April 2026 a proposal for a Council implementing decision approving that positive assessment of the Ukrainian Financing Strategy and making the financial and economic assistance available to Ukraine. This Council implementing decision, also adopted today, sets out that €45 billion should be made accessible to Ukraine to assist in implementing the Ukraine Financing Strategy in 2026, with the following distribution: €8.35 billion through macro-financial assistance, €8.35 billion through the Ukraine Facility, and €28.3 billion to support Ukraine’s defence industrial capacities. The Council Implementing decision was adopted today with the support of all 24 member states participating in the enhanced cooperation. Regulation implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the Ukraine Support Loan for 2026 and 2027 Regulation amending the Ukraine Facility Council agrees position on legal framework to provide €90 billion in financial support to Ukraine (press release, 4 February 2026) European Council conclusions (18 December 2025) EU solidarity with Ukraine (background information)   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   22/04/2026 15:12 | Press release | Republic of Moldova: Council appoints new Head of Mission for European Union Partnership Mission   The Council appointed Kirsten Joppe as new Head of Mission for the European Union Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM Moldova). She will take up her duties on 25 April 2026, taking over from Cosmin Dinescu. Kirsten Joppe is a German governance expert and international advisor with over two decades of experience in peace operations and human rights. She has built extensive international expertise through diverse roles in election assistance and leadership positions within the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the German Federal Foreign Office, where she served as a country desk officer for Armenia and Azerbaijan. In November 2024, Kirsten Joppe joined EUPM Moldova as Deputy Head of Mission and Chief of Staff, after more than 6 years in Ukraine. During her term in the European Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM), she served -inter alia- as Head of the Strategic Reform Component, overseeing areas such as strategic reform, digitalisation, human rights, gender equality, and anti-corruption. The decision to appoint her as the new Head of EUPM Moldova was taken by EU’s Political and Security Committee on 22 April 2026. EUPM Moldova was established in April 2023 for an initial period of two years, with the objective of enhancing the resilience of the security sector of the country in the areas of crisis management and hybrid threats, including cybersecurity and countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). The mandate was further extended for another two years, until 31 May 2027. The Mission comprises over 70 permanent staff members, including international and local staff. CV EU Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova (EUPM) (EEAS website) Moldova: Council extends the mandate of the EU civilian mission for two years (press release, 21 May 2025 Moldova: EU sets up a civilian mission to strengthen the resilience of the security sector (press release, 24 April 2023) Moldova (background information)   Visit the website ● General Secretariat of the Council   A celebration of libraries in Cyprus   With Cyprus holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the country’s remarkable libraries.   Read full post