Sunday 3 May 2026
Yerevan, Armenia (local time)
Meeting of the European Political Community
+/- 19:00 Official dinner Monday 4 May 2026
Yerevan, Armenia (local time)
Meeting of the European Political Community
+/- 11:30 Opening remarks at the plenary session
+/- 16:30 Press statements
EU-Armenia summit
+/- 19:00 Official dinner Tuesday 5 May 2026
Yerevan, Armenia (local time)
EU-Armenia summit
+/- 11:20 Press statements Wednesday 6 May 2026
10:00 Meeting with co-chair of the ECR group in the European Parliament, Nicola Procaccini
12:30 Presentation of letters of credentials Thursday 7 May 2026
Florence, Italy
Panel discussion at the 50th anniversary of the European University Institute
| ● European Council | | | 30/04/2026 17:54 | Press release | | | | | Sunday 3 May 2026
Yerevan, Armenia (local time)
Meeting of the European Political Community
+/- 19:00 Official dinner Monday 4 May 2026
Yerevan, Armenia (local time)
Meeting of the European Political Community
+/- 11:30 Opening remarks at the plenary session
+/- 16:30 Press statements
EU-Armenia summit
+/- 19:00 Official dinner Tuesday 5 May 2026
Yerevan, Armenia (local time)
EU-Armenia summit
+/- 11:20 Press statements Wednesday 6 May 2026
10:00 Meeting with co-chair of the ECR group in the European Parliament, Nicola Procaccini
12:30 Presentation of letters of credentials Thursday 7 May 2026
Florence, Italy
Panel discussion at the 50th anniversary of the European University Institute
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| ● European Council | | | 30/04/2026 16:25 | Statements and remarks | | | | | It was a great pleasure to welcome the coalition of Mayors for Housing to Brussels once again, a pan European, cross-party alliance representing cities and towns from all corners of Europe. As you know, following our first meeting last year, the European Council had a first-ever exchange of views on affordable housing in October. The issue has since remained on top of the European Union agenda. More specifically, the European Commission is advancing in the preparations of the Affordable Housing Act and consulting all stakeholders. Housing – its affordability and accessibility – is one of the most pressing, concrete issues for millions of Europeans. Affordable housing is vital for social cohesion and fairness. And the lack of it is at the core of people’s disillusionment with democratic institutions. We have designated 2026 as the year of European competitiveness. Last week, the European institutions endorsed the 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap, our plan to deliver greater European competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy. A competitive Europe needs to ensure access to affordable housing across regions and groups of our population, notably the young generation and vulnerable people. We know that housing scarcity is reducing labour mobility and productivity, and has adverse effects on demography, consumption and fiscal sustainability, therefore increasing vulnerabilities and precarity. The mayors of towns and cities are on the frontline to address housing scarcity, to mitigate affordability pressure within specific areas, to mobilise the funding needed to renovate the existing stock of houses and to build new ones. This is a clear multi-level governance issue. That is why, although competences for affordable housing remain at national, regional, and local level, it is important for us to consider how the European Union can complement and support those efforts in full respect of the subsidiarity principle. Given the magnitude of the challenges, we must continue to act together to restore access to affordable and sustainable houses. Because if an issue is important for European citizens, it must be important for the European institutions. Housing will be one of the issues on the minds of European Leaders when we are discussing the European Union long term budget, the so called next Multiannual Financial Framework, at the June European Council. Social and affordable housing, as well as fighting poverty and homelessness, and supporting investment in social infrastructure, will be specific objectives of the new National and Regional Partnership Plans proposed by the European Commission. This approach will give member states, regions, and cities the flexibility to prioritize housing solutions that address their local needs, because, as we know, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to this problem. And the forthcoming Affordable Housing Act, to be presented by the Commission later this year, should provide the necessary support to mayors and other actors in tailoring the policy response, notably on issues such as short-term rentals or speculation. Today, my agenda was very much focused on the concerns that touch upon citizens’ daily lives. Another issue, where the mayors of our towns and cities are at the forefront, is drugs. Across Europe, the drugs phenomenon is growing in both complexity and scale. Over half of the EU’s most dangerous criminal networks are involved in trafficking – making this a strategic threat to our cities, our economies, and European citizens’ lives. So, this morning, I brought together experts and leaders from key EU agencies to exchange views on the problem and consider possible ways forward, from health dimension to law enforcement dimension. It is another of those multi-level governance issues, that EU Leaders may well touch upon in the future. Let me conclude by thanking all the mayors that came today for their contributions and proposals. I am committed to continue our work together on housing policy. And let me reassure you that this topic will remain on the Leaders’ agenda. Together with the European Commission, the incoming Irish Council Presidency is organising a Summit on Housing during their mandate, and it will also be part of the discussions on the next EU long term budget. Thank you very much. Grazie mille. Merci beaucoup. Muchas gracias.
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| ● General Secretariat of the Council | | | 30/04/2026 17:28 | Press release | | | | | Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 5 May 2026Among other items on the agenda, ministers will be invited to agree on new rules to help fight value added tax (VAT) fraud in the EU. The Council will also hold a policy debate on the market integration and supervision package – a key part of the EU’s saving and investment union. Foreign Affairs Council, 11 May 2026The Council will exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments. Ministers will also discuss relations with the Western Balkans and will be informed about the outcomes of the updated EU threat analysis. In the margins of the Council meeting, High Representative Kaja Kallas will co-chair the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and will chair the first EU-Syria high-level political dialogue. Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Education and Youth), 11 May 2026EU ministers for education and youth will meet to discuss topics including Erasmus+, teachers in the era of AI, the EU Youth Dialogue, and the youth-friendliness of EU and national policies. Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), 12 May 2026The Council will exchange views on EU military support for Ukraine, EU defence readiness, and the situation in the Middle East and its impact on EU security and defence. Ministers will also be informed about the outcomes of the updated EU threat analysis. In the margins of the Council meeting, High Representative Kaja Kallas will chair the European Defence Agency (EDA) Steering Board. Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Culture and Sport), 12 May 2026EU ministers for culture, audiovisual, media and sport will meet to discuss topics including AgoraEU, the EU’s work plan for culture for 2027-2030, sport tourism and sustainable development, and mental health in sport. Other meetings
| ● European Council | | | 30/04/2026 17:14 | Press release | | | | | The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, held a telephone conversation, during which they agreed to hold the 8th EU-Mexico Summit on 22 May 2026 in Mexico City. The European Union will be represented by the President of the European Council and by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who will draw up a work agenda in Mexico as of 21 May. The leaders agreed that the summit would be a decisive moment in the bilateral relationship and would consolidate a new stage in the strategic partnership between Mexico and the European Union. One of the main expected outcomes of the summit will be the signing of the Political, Economic and Cooperation Strategic Partnership Agreement between Mexico and the European Union (Modernised Global Agreement), and of the Interim Agreement on Trade, once the relevant internal procedures in the European Union have been completed. The Modernised Global Agreement will update and deepen the existing framework for the political, cooperation and economic relationship established 25 years ago with the entry into force of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement in 2000. This comprehensive agreement will strengthen the relationship in all the areas it covers and lay the foundations for deeper collaboration in strategic sectors for sustainable development on both sides. The summit will also allow progress on joint priorities such as climate and environment, economic investment, energy, security, health, migration, digitalisation and innovation. The leaders reiterated their commitment to multilateralism, respect for international law and international cooperation as key principles in addressing today’s global challenges. BackgroundMexico is one of two European Union’s strategic partners in Latin America and the Caribbean and a close ally and likeminded partner in multilateral fora on key topics such as the defence of multilateralism, human rights, climate and environmental protection, sustainable development and free trade. EU and Mexico also work together in the field of energy and health, as well as the fight against organised crime. Mexico is a UN, OECD and G20 member. With a population of roughly 130 million people, Mexico is the second-largest country and second economy in Latin America. Mexico is one of the EU’s longest standing trade agreement partners, with the original agreement dating back to 2000. In 2024 EU-Mexico trade was valued at over €82 billion, roughly €53 billion in exports and over €29 billion in imports. The EU was Mexico’s third-largest trading partner after the US and China, and its second-largest export market. Mexico was the EU’s eleventh-largest trading partner. Top goods the EU exports to Mexico include machinery and appliances, chemicals and transport equipment. The previous EU-Mexico summit was held in Brussels in June 2015.
| ● Council of the EU | | | 30/04/2026 10:45 | Media advisory | | | | | The press briefing ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will take place on Monday, 4 May 2026 at 09.15 in the Europa building main press room. 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 remotely or in person. 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 Economic and Financial Affairs Council do not need to do it again. - Deadline for registration: Monday, 4 May 2026 at 08.00
Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.
| ● European Council | | | 30/04/2026 10:56 | Media advisory | | | | | Indicative programmeAll times are approximate and subject to change 14:20
Arrivals
Family photo (photo opportunity in the Europa Forum) 14:30
Meeting with the Coalition of Mayors on Housing +/- 15:15 Press conference
President Costa will hold a press conference with the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, and mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri At the end of the meeting, the press conference will take place in the Europa Building press room in live streaming.
Access for the mediaJournalists holding a valid Council one-year badge, inter-institutional badge and one day badge will be granted access to the Council premises. For more information on media accreditation procedures at the Council, please refer to Media accreditation.
Videos and photos of the meeting with the Coalition of Mayors on Housing meeting will be available in the Council Newsroom.
| ● Council of the EU | | | 02/05/2026 14:02 | Statements and remarks | | | | | Democracy cannot exist without a free press. Independent media is a cornerstone of any democratic society. Access to media, along with freedom of expression are not ‘nice to haves’, they are fundamental human rights. International law is clear: journalists must be protected at all times. They must be able to carry out their work freely, without undue interference, fear of violence, harassment, intimidation, persecution or expulsion. This is especially critical in conflict zones, where journalists shed light on the realities of war, including atrocities and potential war crimes. Across the world, the killing, injuring, and threatening, as well as the arbitrary detention, forcing into exile and silencing of journalists, has become a shocking reality. Women journalists are disproportionately targeted by gender-based violence, including online harassment and abuse, further silencing critical voices. 2025 was the deadliest year for journalists worldwide ever recorded. The killing of journalists and media professionals – as we have seen in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and in the current conflicts in the Middle East, recently in Gaza and in Lebanon as well as in Africa - should be fully investigated and those responsible must be held accountable. Furthermore, the right to information is under growing threat. Intimidation – online and offline, along with Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) – risk fostering a behaviour of self-censorship amongst journalists. We decry intimidation and repression against journalists taken by authoritarian regimes across the world, notably including violence and repression by the Iranian regime. Governments must set a solid legal framework to protect their journalists from abusive court proceedings. Cutting networks of foreign correspondents today only leaves a greater void for dangerous unverified information to circulate. In parallel, outlets posing as media, are spreading fake news and echoing those in power instead of holding them accountable. The consequence is that citizens are increasingly inundated with propaganda and disinformation, disguised as news. On this World Press Freedom Day, the European Union reaffirms its resolute commitment to defend free, pluralistic, independent and qualitative journalism against this mounting pressure. Through partnership with organisations such as the European Endowment for Democracy, we support independent platforms and journalists. The EU supports the vital UN efforts to protect journalists and media workers globally, including by working together with UNESCO. Also, at the regional level, the EU works with other organisations, such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE, to uphold the rights of journalists and the freedom of the media. At home and around the world, the European Union will continue to defend press freedom.
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