COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

● Council of the EU

17/06/2026 01:06 | Press release | Council and Parliament strike deal to simplify requirements for chemical products   Today, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on simplifying rules related to the classification, packaging, and labelling of chemicals, cosmetics products and fertilising products. Those provisions are the remaining part of the so-called ‘Omnibus VI’ package, which simplifies rules in the field of chemical products, while maintaining a high level of protection for consumers and the environment. “Today, the Cyprus presidency delivers another concrete result under the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap and the simplification agenda, ahead of the forthcoming Leaders’ stocktaking. The agreement reduces unnecessary administrative burdens, supports innovation and circularity, and maintains high standards of consumer and environmental protection, delivering tangible benefits for both the chemicals industry and our citizens across Europe.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus The deal follows the previous agreement between the co-legislators on the ‘stop-the-clock’ mechanism which postponed to 1 January 2028 the date of entry into application of the revised regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP regulation). Today’s provisional agreement extends this date to 1 January 2030 to align the date of application on all three regulations, which modify three pieces of EU’s chemical legislation: the CLP regulation, which was revised in 2024 the 2009 cosmetic products regulation, and the 2019 fertilising products regulation The targeted amendments aim to address the urgent issues raised by stakeholders which create administrative burdens for enterprises, notably by reducing reporting obligations arising from these three major pieces of EU legislation, while ensuring the same level of protection of human health and the environment. In view of its significant implications for suppliers and European companies, the co-legislators have treated these proposals with utmost priority aiming to provide EU companies with the necessary legal certainty on their obligations. Main amendments introduced by the co-legislators The co-legislators maintained the general scope of the Commission proposal when it comes to simplifying the formatting requirements for labels, advertisements, and distance sales of chemicals in the CLP Regulation. The text retains the ‘digital by default’ approach as a common element of simplification with the co-legislators consistently focusing on removing duplication of requirements and streamlining the timelines. The provisional agreement is more protective to consumers concerning the use of nanomaterials and potential hazardous substances in cosmetic products, which adds complexity to the agreed text. On fertiliser products, micro-organisms require registration for up to 10 tonnes of annual quantities (the so-called ‘REACH+’ provision). CLP regulation In terms of readability of labels, the co-legislators agreed on minimum font sizes for the labelling of products aimed at the general public but not to businesses, applying to hazardous substances covered by the CLP regulation. The agreement also includes specific labelling derogations for small packaging that could be applicable to printer ink cartridges, among others. The provisional agreement offers a general derogation for digital barcode for small, inner packaging containers, whereas all information is provided on the outer packaging. One of the most important elements in the CLP regulation concerns the transitional period for relabelling obligations, on which the co-legislators found a compromise solution of 15 months. Cosmetic products regulation On the transitional periods for phasing out Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic (CMR) substances, a three-tier system was agreed by the co-legislators with different deadlines for three cases: (i) substances for which no derogation is requested; (ii) substances for which a derogation is denied on safety grounds; and (iii) substances for which a derogation request is denied because the substance is deemed safe for use in cosmetics, but for which there are alternatives. Furthermore, in an effort to strike the right balance for cosmetic businesses when looking for alternative substances, the provisional agreement invites the Commission to publish guidance on the definitions and use of such alternative substances Finally, in response to concerns regarding the protection of human health and the environment, the provisional agreement preserves the Council mandate about extensive notification for nanomaterials in cosmetic products, which shall be sent prior to the cosmetic product being placed on the market. Fertilising products regulation Creating a new, open-ended Component Material Category (CMC) for fertilisers defined by general criteria and methodology is critical to accelerate agricultural innovation, support circular economy objectives and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks for next-generation products. With this in mind, the co-legislators agreed to task the Commission to try creating such a category. The Commission had tried numerous times before but without success. In case the Commission would not be able to come up with such a category, it would need to draft a report addressed to the co-legislators setting out the reasons why such as category could not be created. Moreover, in view of the complex and volatile geopolitical developments, fertilisers have become a serious element for the EU’s resilience. Therefore, it was agreed that the Commission will periodically review the CMC requirements, and that the first review shall consider the requirements applicable for nutrient polymers covered by the so-called CMC 8 (‘Nutrient polymers with more than one function’), which are key synthetic or chemically modified materials designed to slowly control the release of nutrients to plants. To address concerns on potential environmental risks from new micro-organisms, the provisional agreement further clarifies the role of accredited notified bodies. For assessing criteria and methodologies, the inclusion of scientific bodies, either the Joint Research Centre (JRC) or the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has been added.  The provisional agreement also re-introduces a REACH registration obligation for substances subject to harmonised classification for certain particularly harmful substances but only above a threshold of 10 tonnes per year. Next steps The provisional agreement must now be endorsed by the Council and the European Parliament before being submitted for a legal/linguistic revision in view of its formal adoption by the co-legislators in the coming months. The co-legislators will work towards formally adopting this Omnibus as soon as possible, in the course of 2026. 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’). The Budapest declaration of 8 November 2024 subsequently called for ‘launching a simplification revolution’, by ensuring a clear, simple and smart regulatory framework for businesses and drastically reducing administrative, regulatory and reporting burdens, in particular for SMEs. Between 26 February and 9 July 2025, as a follow-up to EU leaders’ call, the Commission put forward six ‘Omnibus’ packages, aiming to simplify existing legislation on sustainability, investment, agriculture, small and mid-caps, digitalisation and common specifications, defence readiness and chemical products. Council agrees position to simplify requirements for chemical products (press release, 5 November 2026) Regulation amending regulations as regards simplification of certain requirements on chemical products, Commission proposal, 9 July 2025 Simplification: Council approves ‘stop-the-clock’ mechanism on chemicals to provide legal certainty to businesses (press release, 24 September 2025) Regulation amending regulation (EU) 2024/2865 as regards dates of application and transitional provisions, Commission proposal, 9 July 2025   Visit the website

Press material Wednesday, 17 June 2026

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank Review 142 - June 2026   Ukraine’s path to the EU, the industrial accelerator act and the CHIPS Act 2.0 as tools for EU’s economic independence, Europe's energy transition and the AccelerateEU plan, European autonomy in space, and the impending crude oil crisis are also covered in the present issue.   Read full post ● Council of the EU   17/06/2026 10:21 | Press release | (UPDATED) Council and Parliament strike deal to simplify requirements for chemical products   Today, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on simplifying rules related to the classification, packaging, and labelling of chemicals (CLP), cosmetics products and fertilising products. Those provisions are the remaining part of the so-called ‘Omnibus VI’ package, which simplifies rules in the field of chemical products, while maintaining a high level of protection for consumers and the environment. “Today the Cyprus presidency delivers another concrete result under the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap and the simplification agenda, ahead of the forthcoming Leaders’ stocktaking. The agreement reduces unnecessary administrative burdens, supports innovation and circularity, and maintains high standards of consumer and environmental protection, delivering tangible benefits for both the chemicals industry and our citizens across Europe.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus The deal follows the previous agreement between the co-legislators on the ‘stop-the-clock’ mechanism which postponed to 1 January 2028 the date of entry into application of the revised regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP regulation). Today’s provisional agreement extends this date to 1 January 2030 to align the date of application on all three regulations, which modify three pieces of EU’s chemical legislation: the CLP regulation, which was revised in 2024 the 2009 cosmetic products regulation, and the 2019 fertilising products regulation The targeted amendments aim to address issues raised by stakeholders which create administrative burdens for enterprises, notably by reducing compliance costs arising from these three major pieces of EU legislation, while ensuring the same level of protection of human health and the environment. In view of its significant implications for suppliers and European companies, the co-legislators have treated these proposals with utmost priority aiming to provide EU companies with the necessary legal certainty on their obligations. Main amendments introduced by the co-legislators The co-legislators maintained the general scope of the Commission proposal when it comes to the three pieces of legislation to be amended, while proposing some targeted amendments to reinforce consumer protection and general safety when dealing with hazardous substances. CLP regulation The amendments to the CLP regulation mostly concern the formatting requirements and frequency of update of labelling information. In terms of readability of labels, the co-legislators agreed to have just general readability criteria in the business-to-business context, but retain more safeguards in products aimed at the general public, such as minimum font sizes. The agreement also includes specific labelling derogations for small packaging that could be applicable to printer ink cartridges, among others, by using digital labels only, for small, inner packaging containers, when extensive information is provided in printed form on the outer packaging. Another important element in the CLP regulation concerns the transitional period for relabelling obligations when one of more substances in a product are discovered to be more hazardous than previously thought. Market operators complained that the existing timelines are too short, so the agreement gives them a few additional months for the labelling updates. Cosmetic products regulation One of the key elements amended in the Cosmetics regulation include the transitional periods for phasing out Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic (CMR) substances, where a differentiated system was agreed by co-legislators, with the length of the deadline proportional to the underlying risks. Furthermore, in an effort to strike the right balance for cosmetic businesses when looking for alternative substances to replace a CMR substance in a product, the provisional agreement invites the Commission to publish guidance on the definitions and use of such alternative substances. Finally, in response to concerns regarding the protection of human health and the environment, the provisional agreement preserves the Council mandate about extensive notification for nanomaterials in cosmetic products, which shall be sent prior to the cosmetic product being placed on the market. Fertilising products regulation The amendments to the fertilising products regulation are more technical in nature and concern the fine-tuning of specific requirements for the authorisation of component materials that can be introduced in fertilisers in order to have a CE marking. The co-legislators’ agreement tasks the Commission to modernise the requirements for the registration of fertilisers’ components, such as micro-organisms, animal by-products, polymers and other substances or materials that are difficult for operators to register because they do not fit exactly in an existing Component Material Category (CMC). The provisional agreement also preserves the REACH registration obligation for substances subject to harmonised classification for certain particularly harmful substances. Next steps The provisional agreement must now be endorsed by the Council and the European Parliament before being submitted for a legal/linguistic revision in view of its formal adoption by the co-legislators in the coming months. The co-legislators will work towards formally adopting this Omnibus as soon as possible, in the course of 2026. 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’). The Budapest declaration of 8 November 2024 subsequently called for ‘launching a simplification revolution’, by ensuring a clear, simple and smart regulatory framework for businesses and drastically reducing administrative, regulatory and reporting burdens, in particular for SMEs. Between 26 February and 9 July 2025, as a follow-up to EU leaders’ call, the Commission put forward six ‘Omnibus’ packages, aiming to simplify existing legislation on sustainability, investment, agriculture, small and mid-caps, digitalisation and common specifications, defence readiness and chemical products. Council agrees position to simplify requirements for chemical products (press release, 5 November 2026) Regulation amending regulations as regards simplification of certain requirements on chemical products, Commission proposal, 9 July 2025 Simplification: Council approves ‘stop-the-clock’ mechanism on chemicals to provide legal certainty to businesses (press release, 24 September 2025) Regulation amending regulation (EU) 2024/2865 as regards dates of application and transitional provisions, Commission proposal, 9 July 2025   Visit the website

Press material Thursday, 18 June 2026

● European Council   17/06/2026 10:40 | Press release | EU-Moldova summit to take place in Brussels on 22 June   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 second EU-Moldova  Summit taking place in Brussels on 22 June 2026. President Maia Sandu will represent the Republic of Moldova. The Summit will be a key opportunity to highlight the strategic importance of Moldova’s future within the EU and to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Moldova. “This Summit comes at a historic moment for both the EU and Moldova, following the opening of the first accession negotiations cluster. Enlargement is a geopolitical, strategic choice for a stronger and more secure Europe, and we are firmly committed to Moldova’s EU path. Our partnership is closer than ever as we work together to strengthen our resilience, stability, and shared European values.” — António Costa, President of the European Council At the summit, leaders will assess Moldova’s progress on reforms, in particular, on the rule of law and fundamental rights, and the fight against organised crime. Moldova has made substantial progress and demonstrated strong commitment to align with the EU acquis despite unprecedented external pressures. The EU is ready to swiftly advance Moldova’s accession, based on its own merit.  The EU will continue to support Moldova’s gradual integration into the EU’s internal market across key sectors. This will deliver benefits to citizens and businesses, stimulate economic growth and, enhance Moldova’s preparedness for EU membership.  EU leaders will reiterate their unwavering commitment to Moldova’s sovereignty, security and resilience, in light of Russia’s ongoing hybrid attacks and the consequences of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. EU and Moldova will enhance their cooperation in order to further strengthen the country’s resilience.  Leaders will also discuss sectoral cooperation, including the progress made by Moldova on enhancing its energy security, diversifying energy supplies and increasing energy efficiency. Leaders are expected to issue a joint declaration at the end of the summit. Background The Republic of Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in June 2022. Accession negotiations were formally opened in June 2024.  The cluster on fundamentals was opened on 15 June 2026 at the second Intergovernmental Conference, taking place in Luxembourg. Enlargement: EU and Moldova reach a milestone in accession talks with opening of the first negotiation cluster (press release, 15 June 2026) The relations between EU and Moldova are based on the association agreement that came into force on 1 July 2016, which allows Moldova to benefit from a deep and comprehensive free trade area. The EU is Moldova’s largest trading partner and export destination, giving Moldovan producers direct access to the world’s largest single market and accounting for over half the country’s total trade in goods in 2025, which generated a turnover of over €7 billion.  To help support Moldova's reforms and its integration into the EU, the EU is providing the country with up to €1.9 billion between 2025 and 2027, through the new Moldova Growth Plan. The EU and Moldova also cooperate in the context of the Eastern Partnership. EU-Moldova relations (background information) Statement by President Costa and President von der Leyen on the agreement to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova (press release, 12 June 2026)   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   17/06/2026 18:23 | Press release | Military Mobility: Council agrees its negotiating position   Member states’ representatives unanimously approved today the Council’s mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the proposal to establish a framework to enhance EU member states’ ability to move their armed forces seamlessly, at speed and at scale across and beyond the EU. “In an increasingly unpredictable security environment, the ability to deploy military personnel and equipment swiftly across Europe is essential to our collective security and defence. We are delivering on this objective at an unprecedented and record pace, responding to the call of EU leaders with urgency and determination. By strengthening coordination between the transport sector and our armed forces, we are turning ambition into action and enhancing Europe’s readiness to meet emerging challenges.” — Vasilis Palmas, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus  The aim of the proposed regulation on military mobility is to contribute to Europe’s overall defence readiness and preparedness by introducing an ambitious framework of measures to: remove regulatory barriers, including through harmonised permission procedures and digitalisation create a new European military mobility enhanced response system (EMMERS) to facilitate large-scale and accelerated military transport when needed in exceptional circumstances promote upgrades of dual-use transport infrastructure and enhance the protection of infrastructure critical for military transport improve the availability of transport capabilities through the creation of a 'military mobility solidarity pool' strengthen coordination on military mobility, at EU and national levels. Main amendments introduced by the Council While fully supporting the objectives and core structure of the Commission’s original proposal, the Council’s mandate strengthens its implementation by providing greater flexibility for member states. It further streamlines the proposed set of measures to ensure the regulation may be effectively implemented by member states’ armed forces. Importantly, the Council’s additions incorporate specialised military expertise, ensuring the framework reflects operational realities and remains aligned with established military procedures. Furthermore, the Council’s mandate finetunes the proposed EMMERS system so as to allow for fast-tracking permissions and priority access for military transport across the EU. This means that the Council would be able to trigger EMMERS with or without a proposal from the Commission, within 72 hours upon the request from one or more member states. The Council also makes targeted amendments to the proposed solidarity pool, emphasising the need for a secure digital platform for information-sharing and communication, and strengthens the common governance framework envisaged by the Commission. In particular, it assigns a central role to the national coordinators for military transport - the single points of contact designated by member states. Under the Council’s mandate, these coordinators are responsible for coordinating military transport operations at all stages and across all levels of government, ensuring a coherent and integrated whole-of-government approach. Lastly, the Council also wants to make sure that non-EU NATO members are fully taken into consideration under the military mobility regulation, thereby reinforcing military mobility as a flagship area of EU-NATO cooperation. Next steps Following today’s approval of the Council’s mandate, the presidency will enter into inter-institutional negotiations once the European Parliament has established its position. The new regulation is expected to be adopted by the co-legislators by the end of 2026. Background In the European Council conclusions of 6 March 2025, the Heads of State or Government identified military mobility as one of the priority areas for action at EU level in the field of capabilities. Following the European Council of 26 June 2025, the Heads of State or Government invited the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to present further proposals to strengthen military mobility, allowing defence equipment and personnel to be moved efficiently across the Union. On 19 November 2025, the Commission and the High Representative presented the military mobility package, consisting of a Joint Communication and a proposal for a Regulation. In its conclusions of 19 March 2026, the European Council - recalling the importance of military mobility - invited the co-legislators to take work forward on the relevant proposal. EU defence in numbers (background information) EU-NATO cooperation (background information)   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   17/06/2026 21:38 | Press release | Council agrees position to help farmers cope with rising fertiliser prices   Member states agreed on the Council’s position to accept Commission’s proposal aimed at helping European farmers cope with the sharp increase in fertiliser prices caused by the recent crisis in the Middle East. The Presidency can now engage with the European Parliament with a view to confirming a swift agreement at first reading. The proposed regulation would give member states greater flexibility to provide financial support to farmers facing rising production costs and liquidity pressures, while helping to safeguard food production and food security across the European Union. “The Council has acted swiftly to help farmers facing rising fertiliser costs. We will now work closely with the European Parliament to deliver this support without delay.” — Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus What will change? Main elements of the proposal The regulation proposed by the Commission would give member states additional tools to support farmers affected by rising fertiliser prices. In particular, it would: allow member states to provide temporary and targeted financial support to farmers most affected by increased fertiliser costs; make it possible to pay CAP advances earlier and at a higher rate in 2026, helping farmers address short-term cash-flow needs; provide greater flexibility to adapt direct payment allocations in 2027 according to national circumstances and priorities. The measures would be financed within existing CAP budgets and are intended as a temporary response to the current market situation. Protecting farm viability and food security Fertilisers are essential for agricultural production and represent a major cost for many farms. Recent developments in the Middle East have contributed to higher energy and fertiliser prices, increasing financial pressure on farmers across the Union. The proposed measures aim to help farmers manage these challenges, continue their production activities and contribute to a stable food supply across the EU. Next steps The Presidency will now engage with the European Parliament with a view to confirming a swift agreement at first reading. Both institutions have underlined the urgency of the file in light of the challenges currently facing the agricultural sector. Once adopted, the regulation will enter into force a day after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, allowing member states to deploy support measures without delay. Background The proposal was presented by the European Commission on 12 June 2026 as part of a broader package of measures responding to the impact of the Middle East crisis on agricultural input markets. The proposal amends the CAP strategic plans regulation and the horizontal regulation to provide member states with additional tools to support farmers affected by increased fertiliser prices. The Commission estimates that fertiliser costs remain significantly above pre-crisis levels and continue to place pressure on farm incomes and liquidity across the Union. Commission proposal Annex to the Commission proposal   Visit the website ● European Council   18/06/2026 08:02 | Media advisory | Media advisory - European Council meeting of 18-19 June 2026   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Thursday 18 June 2026 17:00 Arrivals and doorsteps (live stream 1 / live stream 2) TTBC Doorstep by President Costa 18:00 Exchange of views with President of the European Parliament  18:45 Exchange of views with President of Ukraine 20:45 European Council working dinner Friday 19 June 2026 08:30 Arrivals and doorsteps (live stream 1 / live stream 2) 10:00 European Council working session  12:30 European Council working lunch  TTBC Press Conference At the end of the meeting (TTBC) - Press conference in the Justus Lipsius press room in live streaming. TTBC - National press briefings and departures Access for the media Journalists holding a valid Council one-year badge or accredited to the European Council meeting will be granted access to the Council premises. For more information on media accreditation procedures at the Council, please refer to Media accreditation. The scanner security checks will be carried out at the Justus Lipsius entrance hall and at the tent installed between the Lex and the Europa building. Justus Lipsius and Europa building will open at 07:00. The police perimeter around the Council premises will be in place at 15:30, and a short freeze may take place outside at that time. Videos and photos of the European Council meeting will be available in the Council Newsroom. Council Newsroom   Visit the website