Council of the EU,update

● Council of the EU

26/05/2026 19:02 | Meetings | Main results - General Affairs Council, 26 May 2026   The Council started preparations for the June European Council, held a policy debate on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), discussed EU-UK relations and held a country-specific rule of law exercise focusing on France, Croatia, Italy, and Latvia.   View meeting page

● Council of the EU

26/05/2026 19:07 | Press release | Human rights violations in Russia: EU restrictive measures extended until May 2027   The Council decided today to extend the framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses, for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia for a year, until 28 May 2027 EU restrictive measures currently apply to 72 individuals and one entity. Individuals and entities listed under the EU sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze. EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Individuals are also subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories. The EU remains unwavering in its condemnation of human rights violations and repressions in Russia, and is deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in the country, especially in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Background The Council established a new framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia in March 2024, as the EU’s response to the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia. The new framework has been established following the death of Alexei Navalny. The regime allows the EU to target also those who provide support for or are involved in the misconduct set out above. Furthermore, it entails trade restrictions on exporting to Russia equipment, which might be used for internal repression and the monitoring or interception of telecommunication. Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1484 of 27 May 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia (Consolidated text dated 23 February 2026) Human rights abuses in Russia: EU sanctions (background information)   Visit the website

● Council of the EU

26/05/2026 19:17 | Meetings | Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 May 2026   Ministers exchanged views on the availability and affordability of fertilisers in the EU and on the Commission’s fertiliser action plan. They also discussed trade-related agricultural issues.   View meeting page

● Council of the EU

26/05/2026 21:20 | Press release | Enlargement: Albania meets interim benchmarks for fundamentals cluster   Today, the eighth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania confirmed that Albania has, overall, met the interim benchmarks on the so-called cluster 1: fundamentals. This cluster covers notably the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, the rule of law chapters and economic criteria.   “Today’s milestone for Albania confirms the fulfilment of the interim benchmarks for the fundamentals cluster. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to further advance its path towards EU membership and marks the beginning of a demanding phase focused on implementation, solid track records and lasting results. Enlargement is a geopolitical necessity for the EU and a top priority for the Cyprus presidency. It is a merit-based process, in which determined reforms lead to concrete progress towards accession.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus The meeting follows the opening of all negotiating clusters with Albania in Accession Conferences held in 2024 and 2025, including the latest one on ‘Resources, agriculture and cohesion’ on 17 November 2025. With today’s step, the EU and Albania will be in a position to start closing negotiating chapters. Monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the EU acquis and relevant European standards will continue throughout the negotiations. The EU also set benchmarks for the provisional closure of the chapters that belong to cluster 1. The Accession Conference will return to cluster 1 at an appropriate moment. Background Following the introduction of the revised methodology for accession negotiations in 2020, negotiating chapters are divided in 6 thematic clusters: Fundamentals Internal market Competitiveness and inclusive growth Green agenda and sustainable connectivity Resources, agriculture and cohesion External relations Negotiations on the Fundamentals cluster are the first to be opened and the last to be closed, and progress under this cluster will determine the overall pace of negotiations. Interim EU common position on Cluster 1 : Fundamentals EU common position on Cluster 5 : Resources, agriculture and cohesion EU common position on Cluster 4 : Green agenda and sustainable connectivity EU common position on Cluster 3 : Competitiveness and inclusive growth EU common position on Cluster 2 : Internal market EU common position on Cluster 6: External relations First meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 19 July 2022 Second meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 15 October 2024 Third meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 17 December 2024 Fourth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 14 April 2025 Fifth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 22 May 2025 Sixth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 16 September 2025 Seventh meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 17 November 2025 Albania (background information)   Visit the website

● International ministerial meetings

26/05/2026 21:22 | Meetings | Main results - 8th Accession Conference with Albania, 26 May 2026   The eighth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania was held today in Brussels.   View meeting page

● Council of the EU

27/05/2026 11:14 | Press release | Council agrees position to simplify and strengthen food and feed safety requirements   The Council today set its position on a part of the so-called ‘omnibus X’ legislative package in the EU’s simplification agenda. The Council’s mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament concerns, in particular, rules on the sustainable use of pesticides, records related to farming animals and the use of plastics in the food industry. This omnibus X aims to simplify rules and procedures across the EU’s legislation, from plant protection products and biocidal products, to feed, official controls and animal health and welfare. The package aims to reduce unnecessary administrative costs and burdens, while maintaining the EU’s very high standards for food and feed safety, and for the protection of human and animal health and environmental protection. “Today we deliver on the second proposal within the food and feed safety package, paving the way for simpler and more cost-efficient rules regarding the sustainable use of pesticides, record-keeping, and the use of plastics in the food industry. This reaffirms our presidency’s commitment to advancing the EU simplification agenda swiftly and efficiently.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus  Amendments introduced by the Council The presidency has treated the ‘omnibus X’ simplification package with utmost priority. Following the quick approval of the Council mandate on the proposed regulation extending for data protection periods regarding biocides on 4 March and the formal adoption of the act on 11 May, the presidency continued work on the remaining two proposals. As regards this proposal, member states broadly shared this sense of urgency and, in that perspective, preserved the main thrust of the Commission proposal bringing amendments which would speed up the application of the directives in question even more. Directive on sustainable use of pesticides The current directive on the sustainable use of pesticides (SUD) prohibits aerial application of pesticides, while allowing member states the possibility to grant individual derogations from the above prohibition at the expense of a significant administrative burden for the professional users and for the competent authorities. The proposed amendments to the SUD aim to facilitate the use of drones for targeted application of pesticides which may present an equivalent or even lower risk than land-based pesticide applications. The Council mandate maintains the existing derogation from the ban on aerial spraying in special cases, and the additional derogation, as proposed by the Commission, for certain types of drones, even if the conditions for special cases are not met. The text of the mandate further includes: new wording to clarify that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s mandate will cover guidance on both the risk assessment of the plant protection products (PPPs) that can be sprayed from drones, and the types of drones, their conditions of use and their related risks a period of 30 months for the adoption of the delegated act identifying the types of drones that can be used for spraying of PPPs for aerial spraying by vehicles other than certain types of drones, following the approval of an application plan, member states would have the possibility to dispense with the requirement for the separate approval of individual applications of PPPs, whereas such approval has so far been mandatory transitional measures giving member states the possibility to allow the use of drones until the above mentioned delegated act is adopted, provided that the existing conditions for aerial spraying are met and that the Commission and EFSA are notified within the 30 days after member states’ granting the approval of the use of drones, together with the risk assessment based on which the approval has been granted. Directive concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes This directive requires farmers to keep records of medicinal treatments given to animals and of the number of mortalities. However, similar record-keeping is required by the regulation on veterinary medicinal products and by the regulation on animal health (‘Animal Health Law’), respectively. The Council amendment eliminates this duplication. Directives on basic rules for plastic materials Two directives from 1982 and 1985 cover matters related to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. However, the same matters are addressed by an EU regulation from 2011. Therefore, the Council proposes to repeal these two directives to improve legal certainty and clarity. Next steps The presidency will continue the work on the last remaining proposal of the package, aiming for a speedy agreement on an overall Council mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the entire simplification package of ‘omnibus X’. 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’). Since February 2025, the Commission has put forward ten ‘Omnibus’ packages aiming to simplify existing legislation, including a tenth Omnibus on food and feed safety in December 2025. The 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap signed by the presidents of the Council of the EU, the European Parliament and the Commission on 24 April 2026 in the margins of the informal leaders’ meeting in Nicosia includes the objective of concluding work on all simplification packages by the end of 2027. Directive on simplification and strengthening of food and feed safety requirements, Commission proposal, 16 December 2025 - Food and feed safety: Council adopts new law to streamline rules on biocides (press release, 11 May 2026) Simplification of EU rules (background information)   Visit the website ● European Council   27/05/2026 09:03 | Media advisory | Press briefing - EU-Western Balkans summit of 5 June 2026   The press briefing ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 5 June 2026, will take place on Thursday 28 May 2026 at 14:30. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either in person at the Justus Lipsius press room or remotely. To attend the event remotely, please use the link below to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Deadline for registration: Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 13:30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Registration page Media accreditation   Visit the website