| ● Council of the EU | | | 28/05/2026 19:05 | Meetings | | | | | Internal market and industry ministers approved conclusions on tourism and held political debates on the industrial accelerator act, the 28th regime and the impact of the Middle East crisis on tourism.
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| 27/05/2026 | MEETINGS | Background brief - Competitiveness Council (Internal market, Industry, Research and Space) of 28 and 29 May 2026 | | |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 28/05/2026 12:43 | Press release | | | | | The Council of the European Union today adopted conclusions outlining a comprehensive overview to build a sustainable and competitive tourism sector for the XXIst century. The conclusions recognise tourism’s vital economic role – contributing 7% of the EU’s gross value added, 10% of jobs, and supporting 4.6 million businesses. “Tourism is a key driver of growth, employment, and cultural exchange across the EU. Today’s conclusions set a clear path for ensuring its long-term resilience and competitiveness of the sector in a rapidly changing world.” | | — Kostas Koumi, Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus |
Prioritising sustainabilityThe conclusions call for the integration of economic, social, and environmental dimensions in all tourism policies. For instance, the conclusions aim to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint through resource efficiency, circularity, decarbonisation, and conservation of nature and biodiversity. At the same time, it focuses on ensuring tourism benefits local communities and respects cultural heritage. Strengthening collaborationThe text adopted today also emphasises the need for a multi-level governance approach, requiring effective cross-sectoral cooperation between the European Commission, the member states as well as regional and local authorities, destination management organizations (DMOs), the tourism industry, and all relevant associations and stakeholders. Furthermore, it emphasises the need to enhance visibility of Europe as a safe, sustainable and inclusive travel destination and strengthen the international dimension of the tourism ecosystem. Addressing implementation gapsThe conclusions recognise the need for increased and coherent efforts to address the implementation gaps identified in the report from the Commission to the Council on the Implementation of the European agenda for tourism 2030, upon which these conclusions have been build, while recognising that progress has been uneven across the EU. This includes addressing gaps in multi-level governance and ensuring consistent application of sustainable tourism principles in all the Union. Supporting businessesA key focus of the Council conclusions is placed on quality employment, adequate working conditions and skills development, including through the re-skilling and up-skilling for tourism workers and jobseekers. This support is deemed essential for businesses and the long-term competitiveness and resilience of the tourism industry. Promoting balanced tourismThe document adopted today also aims to address both the negative impacts of overtourism in popular destinations and the lack of tourism in lesser-known areas. It focuses on deepening the understanding of unbalanced tourism, developing and implementing relevant national and regional policies and strengthen community involvement. This can be done by strengthening connectivity and regional balance and by supporting sustainable tourism development in peripheral, rural, island, mountainous, and remote destinations, thus ensuring tourism benefits all areas of the EU. Investing in connectivityRecognising the importance of reliable, affordable, accessible, frequent and year-round air, land and waterborne links, the conclusions emphasise the need for improved and sustainable solutions including complementarity between different modes of transport. This aims to facilitate travel to and within the EU, supporting both domestic and international tourists. Embracing digital transformationThe Council also calls for a robust European framework for tourism data, interoperability, and guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This includes promoting digital skills, fostering a competitive and innovative tourism sector, and ensuring a level playing field for all tourism actors in the digital space. Enhancing resilienceThe Council also emphasises the need to strengthen crisis preparedness and response across the tourism ecosystem, while cooperating closely to mitigate the negative consequences or today’s challenges which have a significant impact on Europe’s tourism, such as geopolitical tensions, climate change or workforce shortages. The Commission is invited to report on the implementation of these conclusions every three years and take due account of the priorities and actions set out, in the preparation of the upcoming EU sustainable tourism strategy. BackgroundThe EU tourism ecosystem, a diverse and interconnected network encompassing various sectors from accommodation to transport, is a significant contributor to the EU economy, representing nearly 10% of the EU gross value added and around 23 million jobs in 2019. Recognising the sector’s vulnerability – particularly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic – and the need to accelerate green and digital transitions, the European Commission initiated a co-creation process resulting in a transition pathway for tourism in February 2022. This pathway identifies 27 key measures for a more sustainable and resilient tourism sector, built on input from industry, public authorities, and stakeholders. Subsequently, the Council of the European Union adopted the European agenda for tourism 2030, based on the transition pathway, outlining a multi-annual work plan for EU countries, the Commission, and tourism stakeholders to implement these actions.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 28/05/2026 14:09 | Press release | | | | | Ukraine is set to receive a payment of nearly €2.8 billion after the Council adopted a decision on the seventh regular disbursement of support under the EU's Ukraine Facility. This amount reflects Ukraine’s successful completion of eleven of the twenty steps required for the seventh instalment. It also reflects Ukraine’s completion of a number of outstanding steps, in particular one required for the fifth instalment and two required for the sixth instalment. Furthermore, Ukraine has fulfilled a number of steps earlier than required under the Ukraine Plan. In particular, it has already fulfilled two steps under the eighth instalment and two steps under the ninth instalment. Pursuant to a new methodology adopted by the Commission, Ukraine will for the first time be compensated for such early completion. Payments under the Ukraine Facility are linked to the Ukraine Plan, which outlines Ukraine’s strategy for recovery, reconstruction and modernisation, along with a timetable for the implementation of reforms aligned with the country’s EU accession goals over the coming years. The current seventh disbursement follows the previous sixth disbursement of around €2.3 billion from December 2025. BackgroundThe Ukraine Facility, which entered into force on 1 March 2024, provides over €50 billion of stable financing, in grants and loans, to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation for the period from 2024 to 2027. Of this €50 billion, over €38 billion is indicatively earmarked to support the reforms and investments set out in the Ukraine Plan. Disbursements are conditional on the fulfilment of indicators set out in the Plan. Since its entry into force, the Ukraine Facility has already disbursed €6 billion by way of bridge financing, €1.89 billion in pre-financing, and six instalments of approximately €4.2, €4.1, €3.5, €3.2, €1.8, and €2.3 billion respectively. Following the Commission’s assessment of Ukraine’s payment request on 14 April 2026, the Council concluded that Ukraine had satisfactorily adopted a number of reforms set out in the Ukraine Plan. Such reforms relate to public financial management, the judicial system, the fight against corruption and money laundering, financial markets, the management of public assets, human capital, and the business environment. Ukraine has also taken measures in the energy sector, transport, the agri-food sector, the management of critical raw materials, digital transformation, the green transition and environmental protection.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 28/05/2026 16:14 | Press release | | | | | Today the Council decided to expand the scope of the EU’s restrictive measures regarding Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad to also target members of the Political Bureau (‘Politburo’) of Hamas who promote, defend and justify violent actions. The decision follows the political agreement reached among EU foreign ministers on 11 May 2026. The members of the Politburo play a significant role in the decision-making process and exert considerable influence over the actions of the military wing of Hamas, including its violent actions. Therefore, they bear overall responsibility for those actions. With this decision, the Council lists ten individuals, members of the Politburo of Hamas. In their capacity as decision-makers of the organisation, the members of the Politburo have knowledge of the planning, preparation and execution of violent actions by Hamas. Furthermore, they actively defend and justify such violent actions, often publicly warning and threatening future attacks. With today’s listings, the restrictive measures under this framework now apply to 21 natural persons and three entities. The applicable restrictions to those listed are the travel ban and the asset freeze, which includes the prohibition on making funds or economic resources available to those listed, either directly or indirectly. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. BackgroundOn 19 January 2024, the Council established a dedicated framework of restrictive measures to hold accountable any individual or entity who supports, facilitates or enables violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). This regime also complements the restrictive measures previously adopted against Hamas and the PIJ under Common Position 2001/931/CFSP (the ‘EU terrorist list’). In its conclusions of 21 and 22 March 2024, the European Council called on the Council to accelerate work on the adoption of further relevant restrictive measures against Hamas. On 28 June 2024, the Council added six individuals and three entities to the sanctions list, bringing up the total to 12 individuals and three entities. In January 2026, the Council decided to extend the restrictive measures under this framework by one year, until 20 January 2027.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 28/05/2026 16:09 | Press release | | | | | The Council today adopted additional restrictive measures against four entities and three individuals under the European Union's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. Those listed are extremist Israeli settlers and organisations which support them, and are responsible for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, including abuse of the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental integrity, the right to property, the right to private and family life, to freedom of religion or belief and the right to education. The decision delivers on the political agreement reached at the Foreign Affairs Council on 11 May 2026. Today’s designations include the Nachala Settlement Movement and its Director Daniella Weiss. Through its activities, the movement encourages and facilitates coercive acts that lead to the forced displacement of Palestinians. Nachala’s outposts obstruct access to Palestinian agricultural and grazing land and have been persistent sources of settler violence. Several of these were built on privately owned Palestinian land. In her capacity as director of the movement, Daniella Weiss plans, directs and publicly supports the acts of Nachala. The Council also lists the Israeli NGO Regavim and its director Meir Deutsch. Regavim and its leadership lobby for the demolition of Palestinian property with the aim to expand the control of Israel to the whole West Bank and institute legal proceedings to that end. The organisation also lobbied for the demolition of an EU-funded Palestinian primary school at the Jabbet al Dhib village, near Bethlehem, in the West Bank. Restrictive measures are also imposed against the Hashomer Yosh NGO and its president Avichai Suissa. The organisation offers material support and coordinates volunteers on the herding farms, supporting at least 28 violent outposts and settlements in the West Bank. It also recruits armed volunteers and provides guards involved in violent attacks. Avichai Suissa is responsible for facilitating and encouraging serious human rights abuses in the West Bank, as well as for supporting outposts founded by EU-designated individuals. Additionally, the Council lists the Amana cooperative association of the settler movement Gush Emunim. Since its creation it has played a key role in initiating, financing, and facilitating at least 30 violent outposts and settlements, including outposts founded by EU sanctioned individuals. Along with the settler violence they generate, these outposts have forced widespread displacement of vulnerable Palestinian communities and dispossession of Palestinian properties. With today’s listings, restrictive measures under the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime now apply to 136 natural and legal persons and 41 entities from a range of countries. An asset freeze applies to the persons and entities listed, including a prohibition on making funds or economic resources available to them, either directly or indirectly. In addition, a travel ban applies to the natural persons listed. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. BackgroundOn 7 December 2020, the Council established a Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, which applies to acts such as genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious human rights violations or abuses (e.g. torture, slavery, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions). The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the EU’s commitment to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. On multiple occasions, and most recently in its conclusions of 26 June 2025, the European Council has strongly condemned the ongoing extremist settler violence and the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and invited the Council to take work forward on further restrictive measures against extremist settlers.
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| ● General Secretariat of the Council | | | | | | Discover our selection of books recently added to the Council Library collection.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 29/05/2026 10:29 | Press release | | | | | The Council appointed Cornelia Taylor as new head of mission for European Union Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). She will take up her duties on 1 July 2026, taking over from Rolf Holmboe. Cornelia Taylor is a German lawyer with over 20 years of experience managing complex operations in fragile security environments. She has built extensive international expertise through leadership positions within UN and EU missions across Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Afghanistan. Since February 2024, she has served as the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, including a tenure as Acting Head of Mission from September 2024 to May 2025. The decision was taken by the Political and Security Committee on 28 May 2026. EUAM Ukraine is a non-executive civilian mission established at the invitation of the Ukrainian authorities on 22 July 2014 providing support for specific reform measures in accordance with EU standards and international principles of good governance and human rights, including in support of Ukraine’s accession-related commitments. The mandate of EUAM Ukraine was substantially adjusted in 2022 to take into account Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Since then, the mission also provides support to Ukrainian authorities to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of international crimes committed in the context of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, integrated border management, and support in liberated territories. On 11 May 2026, the Council broadened the mission’s mandate to counter hybrid threats and support veteran reintegration. EUAM Ukraine has field offices in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and a mobile unit. Field offices in Kharkiv and Mariupol are currently not operational. The mission comprises over 400 international and local staff.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 29/05/2026 11:49 | Press release | | | | | Today the Council adopted a recommendation on outlining a new European Union framework for science diplomacy. This framework aims to strengthen the Union’s position as a global leader in science and technology, and to use scientific cooperation to advance its foreign policy objectives. “In an era defined by geopolitical fragmentation and rapid technological change, science diplomacy is no longer a peripheral endeavour – it is a core strategic imperative. It is through the universal language of science, and a commitment to open yet secured collaboration, that the European Union can not only advance its own interests and values, but also forge a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world; an autonomous Union, open to the world.” | | — Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, the Republic of Cyprus |
Science as a diplomatic toolThe recommendation stresses that science is a global public good and that scientific collaboration can build trust and facilitate dialogue with third countries. It emphasises the importance of an open and secure international cooperation in research and innovation, building on the association of third countries to Horizon Europe and other initiatives, such as ‘Choose Europe for Science’. The new framework calls to maximise the impact of science diplomacy in terms of safeguarding and promoting the Union’s values, including freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and respect for human rights. It recognises its role in pursuing EU’s competitiveness interests and the need to balance scientific goals against foreign and security policy interests. This includes assessing risks and exploiting opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology. Stronger partnershipsThe recommendation expresses the Council’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the global south to support research capacity and to address shared global challenges. Specifically, the recommendation calls for the creation of a Mediterranean science diplomacy centre. It also encourages member states to establish support arrangements for coordinating science diplomacy across government and with their stakeholders, and to foster linkages between diplomatic services and research-performing organisations, universities and other higher education institutions, including the European Universities alliances. The text adopted today puts a special focus on integrating science diplomacy into education and training programmes to raise awareness among future generations. It also calls on the Commission to strengthen the monitoring of groundbreaking global developments in research, technology and innovation, such as the increased use of AI in science, and assess their implications. The framework also underscores the importance of maintaining research security and ensuring that science diplomacy efforts are aligned with the Union’s external action. BackgroundScience diplomacy refers to the direct or indirect use of science, scientific evidence and scientific cooperation to inform and support foreign policy at different levels, as well as to the deployment of diplomacy to support and promote international cooperation and scientific progress. It is a powerful tool to project soft power and pursue the EU’s economic interests and fundamental values more effectively, meeting demand and interest from partner countries and playing to the EU’s strengths as a research and innovation powerhouse. Some member states have or are developing their own science diplomacy strategies, which could include the creation of specific figures in ministries, such as scientific advisers, chief science officers, special envoys for science diplomacy and technology ambassadors. In its Conclusions on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation, the Council highlighted called on the Commission and the European External Action Service to develop a European Science Diplomacy Agenda. On 27 February 2026, the Commission proposed the Council recommendation on a European Union framework for science diplomacy as part of a wider package on open and secure international cooperation in research and innovation. Recommendations are non-binding EU acts foreseen in Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Although recommendations do not have legal consequences, they offer guidance on the interpretation or content of EU law.
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● Council of the EU | | | 29/05/2026 17:41 | Meetings | | | | | Research ministers adopted a recommendation on science diplomacy and held a policy debate on the Horizon Europe 2028-2034 programme. In the afternoon, ministers responsible for space policy held two political debates: one on the EU space act and the other on space for economic security.
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● General Secretariat of the Council | | | 29/05/2026 17:48 | Press release | | | | | Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 4 June 2026During the home affairs session, ministers will discuss the overall state of the Schengen area, and will review the state of play of the implementation of large-scale IT systems (Entry/Exit System, ETIAS). Ministers will take stock of the implementation of the migration pact and discuss the external dimension of migration. They will further debate the future legal status of displaced persons from Ukraine, and will also turn to security issues, with a focus on the consequences of the overall situation in the Middle East. Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 5 June 2026Justice ministers are expected to agree position on the new justice programme 2028-2034 and to hold a policy debate over parenthood. Then the Presidency and the European chief prosecutor Laura Kövesi will give an update on the state of play on the EPPO. Over lunch, ministers will discuss hate crime and hate speech. Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), 8 June 2026Ministers for transport will meet in Luxembourg for an exchange of views on decarbonisation efforts in the transport sector beyond 2030. The Presidency will present a progress report on the regulation on greening corporate fleets. Ministers will be invited to approve conclusions on two aspects of maritime transport: the maritime industrial strategy and the ports strategy. Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications), 9 June 2026Ministers for telecom will be invited to reach a general approach on the proposed regulation on European business wallets. The Presidency will present its progress reports on the digital networks act (DNA) and the cybersecurity act 2. Ministers will also exchange views on the technological sovereignty of Europe's public administrations and on strengthening the cooperation between the EU and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Other meetings
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● Council of the EU | | | 29/05/2026 20:15 | Statements and remarks | | | | | The European Union strongly condemns the grave incident of 29 May 2026 in which a Russian drone carrying explosives, that was part of an overnight attack against Ukraine, crashed into a residential building in Galați, Romania. The European Union expresses its full solidarity with Romania and those affected by this incident. This reckless act is a direct result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia bears full responsibility for the consequences of its escalatory behaviour and its continued military actions, which threaten the security of EU citizens, regional stability and international peace. The European Union reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the security of Romania and all Member States and stands ready to accelerate efforts to strengthen protection against such threats, including through Eastern Flank Watch and other initiatives to consolidate European Defence Readiness. The EU will continue to advance its initiatives aimed at strengthening defence of all EU land, air and maritime borders capabilities - including on the Eastern Flank, reinforcing defence readiness and consolidating resilience. We will continue to uphold that the EU is better equipped to act and deal in a coordinated way, with a 360 approach. Russia’s continuing serious violation of European airspace only reinforces our resolve to support Ukraine and its people in their defence against Russia’s war of aggression and their pursuit of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. In this regard, we will further raise the cost for Moscow and disrupt its war machine by ramping up sanctions. We will also work with our international partners to put pressure on Russia to end this war.
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