COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Wednesday, 03 June 2026

● European Council   02/06/2026 19:49 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the meeting with Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski   It is a pleasure to be here today in Skopje. Thank you again, dear Hristijan, for your hospitality and for our productive discussion. Enlargement is our shared goal, and North Macedonia’s future firmly lies within the European Union. Your government has shown commitment, and I want to commend the sustained efforts you have made. In particular, I would like to highlight the importance of the recent, tangible progress on the Reform Agenda towards the adoption of roadmaps for rule of law and public administration reforms, which is important for North Macedonia to benefit from the European Union Growth Plan and to advance the EU accession. I also commend your full alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. It sends a powerful signal of North Macedonia’s strategic orientation and shared values. The European Union has delivered lasting peace and stability for its member states through resilient democratic institutions and strong economic bonds. Enlargement offers those same opportunities to our neighbours in Europe – like North Macedonia. Adopting the agreed constitutional amendments remains the necessary next step towards formally starting the accession negotiations. It is the only way to unlock the full benefits of European Union membership for the people of North Macedonia. The European Union is the Western Balkans’, and North Macedonia’s, most reliable partner, its main investor and trading partner. We are committed to supporting you further – both politically and financially. But ultimately, the power to shape your future is in your hands. The only way to make progress towards European integration is to engage in a constructive dialogue with your neighbours, take pragmatic steps to build trust and carry out the necessary reforms. Dear Hristijan, we will meet again at the end of this week in Tivat, in Montenegro, together with leaders of the European Union and the Western Balkans. The Summit will be a clear demonstration of our determination to bring forward our cooperation and build on the momentum of the European Union’s enlargement. I am looking forward to that. And once again, thank you very much for your hospitality.   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   03/06/2026 14:09 | Press release | Programme for agile and rapid defence innovation: Council ready to start negotiations with the European Parliament   Member states’ representatives (Coreper) approved today the Council’s mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the proposal to establish a new €115 million programme for agile and rapid defence innovation (AGILE). Designed as a smart and nimble complement to the EU’s existing toolbox of defence industrial instruments, AGILE aims to provide rapid, agile and targeted financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – including start-ups and scale-ups.  It will focus in particular on supporting the development and testing of emerging and disruptive defence products, including the adaptation of civil technologies for defence applications. Ultimately, this will help bridge the gap between development and deployment. “Russia’s war against Ukraine as well as the conflicts in the EU’s southern neighbourhood has made clear that rapid technological innovation can be decisive on the battlefield. We need to promote businesses that can deliver smart, affordable and adaptable solutions for our armed forces. AGILE will make this possible and thus strengthen Europe’s defence readiness.” — Vasilis Palmas, Minister of Defence of Cyprus Main amendments introduced by the Council The Commission’s proposal for AGILE was contrived to be a game changer. The time-to-grant envisaged is an unprecedented four months only. Relevant products and technologies are expected to reach defence forces within one to three years. The Council’s mandate supports the ambition of the Commission’s proposal and maintains its main features. To ensure ownership and buy-in, the Council created more possibilities for member states to get involved during the implementation of the Programme ('comitology'). Next steps Following today’s approval of the Council’s mandate, the presidency will enter into inter-institutional negotiations once the European Parliament has finalised its internal deliberations on its part. The new programme is expected to be operational from early 2027. Council mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament European defence industry (background information) Security and defence (background information) Defence numbers (background information)   Visit the website ● European Council   03/06/2026 16:24 | Statements and remarks | Press statement by President António Costa following his visit to Pristina   I am back in Pristina today, one year after my first visit, to reaffirm the European Union’s continued support to Kosovo* on its European path. Since 1999, the European Union has been Kosovo’s strongest and most reliable partner, and the largest provider of financial assistance. To date, we have invested €3.7 billion – in education, infrastructure, energy, the environment, businesses, human rights and the rule of law.  And we are ready to do more. Because we believe Kosovo’s future is in the European Union. In times of global geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability, enlargement is not just an opportunity. It is a geostrategic necessity for Europe. An investment in the peace, stability and security of our continent. As such, I commend Kosovo’s full and voluntary alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. It is a clear signal of Kosovo’s strategic orientation. As Kosovo heads to elections this weekend, my message to all the political leaders that I met today was simple: partnership comes with responsibility. The EU can support Kosovo, but it cannot do Kosovo’s homework. Kosovo needs strong, stable and functioning institutions capable of delivering reforms and seizing opportunities the European Union offers. In my meetings today, I have therefore encouraged all political actors to make European integration a priority, beyond political divisions, and to work together toward this shared goal. The Kosovo Constitution upholds European values: cross-party dialogue and respect for all communities in their diversity. Political leaders must ensure these values work in practice. Fostering good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation is also an essential priority to ensure the security and economic prosperity of the region. The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is critical in this regard. Let me underline: normalisation is essential for the European future of both Kosovo and Serbia. There has been important progress recently. We should build upon it and ensure the full implementation of the Ohrid agreement. To conclude, I would like to mention our important summit this Friday. Leaders of the European Union and the Western Balkans will gather in Tivat, Montenegro. This summit will be an important moment, demonstrating our shared commitment to a European future.  Thank you.    * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.   Visit the website 03/06/2026 18:48 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Justice and Home Affairs Council of 4 and 5 June 2026   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: ECCL, Luxembourg Chairs: Nicholas A. Ioannides, Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection of the Republic of Cyprus Costas Fytiris, Minister of Justice and Public order of the Republic of Cyprus Thursday, 4 June - HOME AFFAIRS From 08.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.00 Doorstep by Costas Fytiris (live streaming) +/- 08.10 Doorstep by Nicholas A. Ioannides (live streaming) 09.00 Schengen Mixed Committee (in the margins of the Council) +/- 09.00 Adoption of the agenda +/- 09.05 Overall state of the Schengen area a) Commission State of Schengen Report 2026 b) Priority actions for the Schengen Council cycle 2026-2027 +/- 10.35 Implementation of interoperability +/- 10.50 Any other business: Current legislative proposals +/- 10.55 Home Affairs Council Adoption of the agenda +/- 11.00 Approval of "A" items - non -legislative items +/- 11.05 Overall state of the Schengen area a) Commission State of Schengen Report 2026 b) Priority actions for the Schengen Council cycle 2026-2027 +/- 11.10 Implementation of interoperability +/- 11.15 Any other business: Current legislative proposals (public session) +/- 11.20 Conclusions on jointly operationalising the EU Drugs Strategy +/- 11.40 Migratory situation on the Channel and the North Sea +/- 11.55 Implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum +/- 12.25 External dimension of migration: cooperation with Somalia +/- 13.10 Any other business: the European coalition for civil preparedness and resilience +/- 13.30 Working lunch: Future legal status of displaced persons from Ukraine +/- 15.15 Impact of the current geopolitical environment in the EU a) Assessment by the European Domestic Intelligence and Security Services +/- 15.45 Impact of the current geopolitical environment in the EU b) Situation in the Middle East +/- 16.45 Countering security challenges: overall security situation +/- 17.30 Any other business a) MED9 meeting of Ministers of the Interior +/- 17.35 Any other business b) Work programme of the incoming Presidency At the end of the meeting (+/- 18.15) press conference in live streaming. Videos and photos from the event Friday, 5 June - JUSTICE +/- 09.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 09.15 Doorstep by Nicholas A. Ioannides (live streaming) 10.00 Start of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice) +/- 10.00 Council Regulation on cross-border establishment and recognition of parenthood Policy debate (public session) +/- 11.30 Regulation establishing the Justice programme for the period 2028-2034 (public session) +/- 11.45 Any other business Current legislative proposals - Information from the Presidency (public session) +/- 11.55 European Public Prosecutors’ Office +/- 12.10 Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: fight against impunity +/- 12.30 Any other business a) 2026 EU Justice Scoreboard +/- 12.35 Any other business b) Agreeements on cooperation with Eurojust +/- 12.40 Any other business c) Work programme of the incoming Presidency +/- 13.00 Working Lunch: Hate crime and hate speech At the end of the meeting (+/- 14.45 ) press conference in live streaming Videos and photos from the event Arrangements for the press conference The press conference 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 ECCL Luxembourg press room. To attend the event remotely, please use this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Justice and Home Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Thursday, 4 June 2026, 17.15 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Meeting page - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 4 June 2026 Meeting page - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 5 June 2026   Visit the website