05/06/2026 | Article Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European UnionInformal Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Cohesion PolicyThe Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy of the EU was held today, 5 June 2026,in Lefkosia, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Makis Keravnos, with the participation of the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Mr Raffaele Fitto. |
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| ● European Council | | | 05/06/2026 08:16 | Press release | | | | | The President of the European Council, António Costa, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the 11th EU-Republic of Korea summit taking place in Brussels on 10 June 2026. President Lee Jae Myung will represent the Republic of Korea. The summit will be an opportunity to taking the EU-South Korea strategic partnership forward in all its dimensions. “The European Union and the Republic of Korea are like-minded partners with a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and open, fair trade. The upcoming summit reaffirms our determination to work together to promote peace and stability, and strengthen our thriving economic relationship. Together, we are building a partnership that delivers concrete benefits for our people and contributes to a more secure and prosperous future.” | | — António Costa, President of the European Council |
The leaders will take stock of the progress made in the past three years, since the last EU-Republic of Korea summit, to further deepen their bilateral cooperation in areas of strategic importance such as trade, investment, defence and security, digital technologies, energy and research. They will also discuss the current geopolitical developments. BackgroundThe Republic of Korea is an important Strategic Partner for the EU, both in the Indo-Pacific and globally. The relations between the two partners are based on the Framework Agreement that established the EU-Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership (2014), the Framework Participation Agreement in EU crisis-management operations (2016) and the Security and Defence Partnership (2024). Trade relations are underpinned by the EU–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in December 2015. The Republic of Korea is the world's 13th-largest economy and has a population of more than 51 million people. In 2025, trade in goods between the EU and the Republic of Korea exceeded €124 billion. The EU was the Republic of Korea’s third-largest trading partner, accounting for 10% of its total trade. The Republic of Korea was the EU’s eighth-largest trading partner, with EU imports amounting to €69.7 billion and EU exports reaching €54.5 billion. The main goods traded between the EU and the Republic of Korea include machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and related products, and other manufactured goods. The previous EU–Republic of Korea Summit took place in Seoul in 2023 and sent a strong signal of closer cooperation between two like-minded partners. During the summit, EU and Republic of Korea leaders also launched the EU–Republic of Korea Green Partnership. More information:
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| 04/06/2026 | MEETINGS | Background brief - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport) of 8 June 2026 and (Telecommunications) of 9 June 2026 | | |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 04/06/2026 18:50 | Meetings | | | | | Ministers discussed migration, Schengen, internal security, status of displaced persons from Ukraine and implementation of the drugs strategy.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 05/06/2026 11:34 | Press release | | | | | Today, the Council agreed its partial negotiating position on the new Justice programme, which forms part of the EU’s overall budget. The programme aims to support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters and judicial training, and to promote the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. It also aims to ensure equal access to justice for all citizens and businesses, based on the rule of law, mutual recognition and mutual trust. The negotiating position is 'partial' because it excludes financial and horizontal issues. These are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) covering the period 2028 to 2034. The Commission proposed doubling the budget for the new Justice programme. “At a time when justice and rule of law must continue to be safeguarded, the agreement reached today marks an important step towards a more effective, accessible and digitalised European area of justice. The new Justice programme will support cooperation across borders, improve access to justice, and reinforce the independence of our judicial systems throughout the EU.” | | — Costas Fytiris, Minister of Justice and Public order of the Republic of Cyprus |
Key elements of the programmeDigitalisation in cross-border situations plays an important, cross-cutting role in the new Justice programme. The programme may, for instance, support tools facilitating digital communication between courts or enhance the security of the European digital identity wallets. Digitalising justice systems improves the efficiency of cross-border judicial procedure, reduces costs for public budgets and end users, and contributes to improved services. The programme will support actions to facilitate cooperation on combatting serious crime, such as corruption, terrorism and environmental crime, both at EU level and in candidate countries as part of their judicial reforms. The programme will also support the training of staff on civil and criminal law and on effective application of fundamental rights. It should have a strong focus on digitalisation of justice and of cross-border judicial proceedings. Judicial training can involve member states’ legal, judicial and administrative authorities or academic institutions and national bodies responsible for judicial training. Finally, the programme will also continue to focus on streamlining processes and administrative procedures, to enhance the efficiency of the justice systems. Council’s positionRegarding the management of the programme, member states agreed on its implementation by the means of implementing acts, as is the case in the current Justice programme. The Commission had proposed to put the programme under its direct management. For judicial training, member states agreed to consolidate the already broad definition of 'judiciary and judicial staff', to include any other justice professionals associated with the judiciary, such as lawyers, notaries, bailiffs, insolvency practitioners, mediators, court interpreters, etc. The aim is to ensure that many national actors involved in judicial cooperation and in the justice administration will be eligible for participation. The novelty of the new programme is non-judicial training which includes training for non-judicial actors. Next steps The partial negotiating position approved today is the Council's mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament on the regulation for the Justice programme. The decision on the programme’s budget for 2028-2034 will depend on the final agreement on the next MFF. BackgroundThe proposed regulation establishing the new Justice programme was published on 3 September 2025 in the context of the multiannual financial framework 2028-2034. Since the proposed regulation is part of the package of proposals linked to the multiannual financial framework (MFF), all the provisions in the text with budgetary implications or corresponding to the elements that form part of horizontal negotiations on the MFF have been bracketed and excluded from the partial general approach, pending further progress on the MFF.
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| ● European Council | | | 05/06/2026 13:04 | Statements and remarks | | | | | Colleagues, it is my pleasure to welcome you to today's European Union - Western Balkans Summit here in Tivat. Meeting again just six months after our last Summit in Brussels confirms the priority we attach to our relationship and allows us to take stock of the progress achieved. I just concluded my second annual visit to the Western Balkans partners and I would like to thank all the leaders for your hospitality. I visited all our partners in the region this week to show the European Union’s continued engagement with the region. I thank President Milatović and Prime Minister Spajić for their generous hospitality for hosting the us here in Tivat. I would also like to use this opportunity to commend the progress that Montenegro has made in the accession process. Your success is important because it shows that enlargement is becoming real and we will continue to support you.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 05/06/2026 14:58 | Meetings | | | | | Justice ministers discussed the new justice programme, recognition of parenthood, hate crime and hate speech, and reviewed the state of play of EPPO.
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| ● European Council | | | 05/06/2026 17:18 | Statements and remarks | | | | | Thank you, Mr President for your welcome and for this very successful Summit between the European Union and the Western Balkans, here in Tivat, where we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Montenegro’s restored independence. What you have achieved in just 20 years is truly impressive! This Summit concludes my second annual Western Balkans tour, as I travelled to all our partners in the region this week. During the tour, I exchanged with leaders, representatives of civil society and students of the College of Europe in Tirana. We took stock of all the progress achieved since our last Summit, six months ago. I want to mention some important milestones which demonstrate the momentum for enlargement: - Last month, the European Union began drafting Montenegro’s accession treaty. For the first time since 2013, we are really counting down to the next enlargement. For Montenegro to become the 28th Member State by 2028.
- Last week, we held an Intergovernmental Conference with Albania which opened up the next phase in the accession process. In addition, the Commission has proposed to close three negotiation chapters with Albania.
- And the Serbian government presented a concrete calendar to approve the missing elements of the electoral law reform and to complete the judiciary reform in line with the ODIRH and Venice Commission recommendations, in the coming weeks.
- And very importantly, this week, we are unlocking the process for opening the first enlargement cluster for Ukraine and Moldova
This is proof that reforms and engagement with all actors of society pay off. And that the European Union is committed to enlargement. These were my messages during my visits this week. I encouraged all partners to seize the opportunity, use the current momentum, and take all the necessary steps to accelerate their progress on the European Union path. Full alignment of our Western Balkans partners with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy remains an essential manifestation of our unity. The European Union is a community of values and a project of peace, prosperity, and security. It is a project on which we are all continuously working. The Western Balkans are an integral part of the European Union’s future. Their accession remains our priority and a crucial geopolitical investment. The process is and will remain grounded on merit and credible reforms. At the same time, our discussion today showed our shared ambition to deliver as soon as possible on enlargement. That’s why we are considering new ideas to streamline and accelerate the process. To increase trust in the European Union and increase the motivation of the Western Balkan partners.
Fostering good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation is also an essential priority to ensure the security and economic prosperity of the region. This will require difficult decisions and sustained efforts. But this is how Europe has been building a shared future in the last decades. The Western Balkans can count on our continued support. The European Union is and will remain the most reliable partner of the region. Because the future of the Western Balkans lies with the future of the European Union. Once again, thank you, dear Jakov for hosting us today in beautiful Tivat.
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| ● European Council | | | 05/06/2026 17:44 | Media advisory | | | | | The press briefing ahead of the EU-Republic of Korea summit of 10 June 2026, will take place on Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 10:00. 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 Europa building 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: Tuesday, 9 June 2026 at 09:00
Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 05/06/2026 17:29 | Meetings | | | | | EU health ministers took part in an informal video conference to exchange information on the recent Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
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● Council of the EU | | | 05/06/2026 17:45 | Media advisory | | | | | Indicative programmeAll times are approximate and subject to change Place:
ECCL Luxembourg Chair:
Alexis Vafeades, Minister for Transport, Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus
Marina Hadjimanolis, Deputy Shipping Minister of the Republic of Cyprus
Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of the Republic of Cyprus
Monday, 8 June - Transport From 08.30
Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.30
Doorstep by Alexis Vafeades (live streaming) +/- 08.45
Doorstep by Marina Hadjimanolis (live streaming) 09.30
Beginning of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport)
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of 'A' items: +/- 09.45
Regulation on clean corporate vehicles (public session) +/- 10.15
Decarbonisation efforts in the transport sector beyond 2030 +/- 11.15
Any other business:
- Simplification and acceleration of EU-level railway systems certification and authorisation procedures to speed up ERTMS deployment (public session)
- Unlocking ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) deployment: stability, simplicity and interoperability first (+/- 11.25 public session)
- Competitiveness of the european rail freight transport (+/- 11.35 public session)
- A strategic approach for the european railway industry (+/- 11.45 public session)
- Competitiveness of the railway industry (+/- 11.55 public session)
- Presentation of the sixth progress report of the platform on international rail passenger transport (IRP) (+/- 12.05 public session)
- Passenger package (+/- 12.15 public session)
- EU large-scale cross-border testbed initiative for autonomous vehicles (+/- 12.25 public session)
- Clean transport corridor initiative (+/- 12.30 public session) +/- 13.00
Working lunch discussion on “Strategic connectivity for Europe: resilient corridors and global partnerships” +/- 14.30
Conclusions on the EU maritime industrial strategy +/- 15.20
Conclusions on the EU ports strategy +/- 16.10
Any other business:
- Crisis in the Middle East: coordination and response measures in the transport sector
- Military mobility (+/- 16.30 public session)
- Current legislative proposals (+/- 16.40 public session)
- Seasonal change of time (+/- 17.00 public session)
- Call to continue discussions on the proposal for a revision of the combined transport directive (+/- 17.10 public session)
- Unruly passengers (+/- 17.20 public session)
- Drone threats to civilian transport infrastructure and operations (+/- 17.30 public session)
- Publication of the ETS aviation commission's evaluation report (+/- 17.40 public session)
- Work programme of the incoming presidency
At the end of the meeting press conference on transport (+/- 18.00) in live streaming.
Tuesday, 9 June - Telecommunications From 08.30
Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.45
Doorstep by Nicodemos Damianou (live streaming) 09.30
Beginning of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications)
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of 'A' items: +/- 09.35
European business wallets (public session) +/- 10.35
Digital networks act (public session) +/- 11.05
Cybersecurity package (public session) +/- 11.35
Strengthening EU-ITU cooperation for inclusive, secure and sustainable digital transformation +/- 12.35
Ministerial lunch +/- 14.15
Technological sovereignty of Europe’s public administrations +/- 15.45
Any other business:
- Digital Omnibus & European Competitiveness Fund (public session)
- An international digital strategy for the European Union (+/- 15.55 public session)
- Outcomes of the D9+ ministerial meeting (+/- 16.05 public session)
- Protection of minors online (+/- 16.15 public session)
- Work programme of the incoming presidency At the end of the meeting press conference on telecommunications (+/- 17.00) in live streaming.
Arrangements for the press conferencesThe press conferences 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 Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council do not need to do it again. - Deadline for registration: Monday, 8 June 2026, 17.00
Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), 8 June 2026
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications), 9 June 2026
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● General Secretariat of the Council | | | 05/06/2026 20:42 | Press release | | | | | Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. 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). Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 12 June 2026The Council will aim to agree its position on strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – the EU’s tool to fight carbon leakage, ahead of negotiations with the European Parliament. Ministers will also have a policy debate on the market integration and supervision package, a key element of the EU’s savings and investment union. Foreign Affairs Council, 15 June 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 EU-China relations. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 16 June 2026EU health ministers will seek to agree their negotiating position on a directive accompanying the European Biotech Act I, which adapts existing EU legislation on genetically modified micro-organisms and the processing of organs. They will also hold a policy debate on the European Biotech Act I regulation. The Cyprus presidency will share its progress on the regulation to revise the rules on medical and in vitro devices. General Affairs Council, 16 June 2026Ministers for European affairs will meet in Luxembourg to continue preparations for the June European Council by discussing draft conclusions. The Council will also hold a policy debate on the negotiating box of the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 and will be invited to adopt partial general approaches on three of its main pillars. Ministers will then focus on the European Semester and receive an update on the rule of law situation in Hungary in the context of the Article 7 procedure. Finally, the Council will be invited to endorse its 18-month programme covering the period from 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2027 and take stock of a progress report on simplification prepared by the presidency. European Council, 18-19 June 2026EU leaders will discuss Ukraine, Middle East, the next Multiannual Financial Framework, global economic challenges, European defence and security, migration, illicit drugs, and other items. Other meetings
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