| ● Council of the EU | | | 23/06/2026 17:58 | Meetings | | | | | On the second day of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, ministers exchanged views on the post-2027 CAP proposals focused on flexibility, subsidiarity and common EU objectives, and on the current market situation.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 24/06/2026 12:13 | Press release | | | | | The Council today agreed its negotiating position on an updated sustainability transparency framework for financial products sold in the EU. The objective is to ease administrative burdens and help investors better understand and compare sustainability-related financial products. This will help better deploy investments towards sustainability, competitiveness and other strategic policy goals of the Union. The review updates the already existing sustainable finance disclosure regulation (SFDR) which requires market participants to disclose how they integrate social, environmental and governance (ESG) sustainability risks and adverse impacts into their investment offers. “By updating and simplifying current rules, financial market participants will be able to more clearly communicate sustainability efforts and gain investors’ trust. Investors will be able to understand and compare sustainability-related financial products more easily. Above all, this review will make an important contribution to delivering a more integrated single market, driving investments in support of the EU’s competitiveness, as well as boosting environmental and social objectives.” | | — Makis Keravnos, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cypru |
The review will improve the current rules by introducing three new categories of financial products, as well as the criteria that should be used to define them: - sustainable: products that contribute to sustainability goals, such as investments in companies or projects already meeting high standards
- transition: products channelling investments towards companies or projects that while not yet sustainable are on a credible path
- ESG basics: other products that may integrate ESG approaches but do not meet the criteria of sustainable or transition categories
These categories would replace existing concepts in the framework which have been shown to lead to ‘greenwashing’ – cases in which companies give a false impression of their environmental impacts or benefits. At the same time, the proposed disclosure structure would help financial market participants to drastically cut down on their administrative burden. Main amendments introduced by the CouncilOverall, the Council welcomed the proposed changes to the SFDR, since the current framework needed clarity, consistency and alignment with other EU sustainable finance efforts and the expectations of markets. The Council’s position reinforces the sustainable and transition categories by stipulating that when companies identify and disclose the principal adverse impacts of their investments on sustainability factors – one of the conditions to be included in these investment categories - they must make mandatory use of at least three indicators from a list to be provided by the European Commission to support their claims. This should allow for better comparability between financial products. To recognise their important role and contribution in transition, the Council position clarifies that investments in companies active in the fossil fuel sector which allocate 20% of their capital expenditure to economic activities aligned with EU taxonomy (green classification) rules, and with a clear, time-bound strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, may be considered for inclusion in the transition category. To enhance transparency, such investments must also be subject to a fourth mandatory indicator when assessing adverse impacts. General-purpose issuances by public sector bodies represent a significant share of the investment universe of many financial market participants, in particular financial products in the insurance and pension sectors. Recognising the established framework of climate and sustainability commitments at EU level, which makes it possible to meaningfully assess their compatibility with sustainability objectives, the Council proposes to explicitly allow the inclusion of such issuances by Union-established bodies in the transition category under certain conditions. Finally, to reduce administrative burdens, the Council’s mandate allows financial market participants not to apply the categorisation provisions for alternative investment funds offered exclusively to professional investors, given that such investors do not need the same level of standardised information that should be made available to retail investors. Next stepsThe negotiating position approved today is the Council's mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament on the updated SFDR, once the Parliament has agreed on its respective position. BackgroundThe SFDR has been in application since March 2021. By setting out how financial market participants have to disclose sustainability information, the framework helps investors who want to put their money into companies and projects supporting sustainability objectives to make informed choices. The SFDR is also designed to allow investors to properly assess how sustainability risks are integrated in the investment decision process. A comprehensive review of the SFDR by the Commission has shown that the current framework results in disclosures that are too long and complex, making it difficult for investors to understand and compare the environmental or social characteristics of financial products. Moreover, the SFDR has effectively been used as a de facto labelling system, causing confusion – particularly for retail investors – and increasing the risk of greenwashing and mis-selling. As a result, the regulation has not fully met its objectives to help the EU financial sector allocate capital for Europe’s sustainable priorities.
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● Council of the EU | | | 24/06/2026 14:56 | Meetings | | | | | Background brief - Environment Council of 25 June 2026
| ● Council of the EU | | | 24/06/2026 12:12 | Press release | | | | | The Council reached today its negotiating position on a review of the pan-EU personal pension product (PEPP). The review seeks to make the PEPP a more attractive, accessible and simple option for savers. It will remove some existing requirements and design features that have hampered PEPP’s take-up, while continuing to ensure a high level of consumer protection. PEPP is an EU-wide voluntary personal pension product, established in 2019, that can complement existing public and occupational pension systems, as well as national private pension schemes. Strengthening the PEPP is a key deliverable of both the savings and investments union (SIU) agenda and the EU’s One Europe, One Market roadmap. “When harnessed correctly, pan-EU pensions schemes have the potential to expand retirement investment opportunities, while channelling capital to the broader, productive economy. That’s why this proposal is a fundamental part of the savings and investments union’s broader objectives.” | | — Makis Keravnos, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus |
Key features of the Council’s positionAs in the Commission’s original proposal to update the PEPP regulation, the Council’s position removes the current obligation for pension providers and distributors to provide mandatory investment advice for basic PEPPs. In such cases, advice should be provided only upon the clients’ request. This is crucial to making basic PEPPs an execution-only products which can be distributed online - driving down costs and delivering a modern-age pensions product. To ensure adequate consumer protection, however, the Council’s position stipulates that providers should still provide mandatory advice for tailored PEPPs, which are more sophisticated and tailor-made to an investor’s individual needs. When it comes to fees, the Council maintains the Commission’s proposal to remove the 1% cap for the provision of PEPPs, which currently limits their commercial viability for providers. In its position, the Council kept the Commission’s proposed provisions on investment limits regarding basic PEPPs, affording additional flexibility by allowing up to 5% of a PEPP’s portfolio to be channelled towards assets other than straightforward, non-complex assets, including alternative assets. The Council has also preserved the Commission’s objective of facilitating employer contributions within the PEPP framework. The Council’s position strives to maintain the regulation’s appropriate scope, avoid compliance costs where possible and ensure sufficient time to develop novel supervisory tools. In this vein, the proposed provisions on PEPPs’ tax treatment, on increased EU-level supervision powers and on the introduction of a value-for-money framework for PEPPs have been removed. At the same time, to ensure consumer protection a strengthened product oversight governance regime has been introduced. Next stepsThe negotiating position approved today is the Council's mandate to start talks with the European Parliament on the changes to the PEPP regulation. Negotiation trilogues can begin once the Parliament has agreed its respective position on the review. BackgroundPersonal pensions (also known as “private pensions”) are long‑term savings products that individuals contribute to on a voluntary basis, complementing state and occupational workplace pensions. They help build a stronger, more diversified pension and have a role to play in giving pension savers the opportunity to benefit from long‑term capital market developments, while maintaining the desired risk-return exposure. The pan‑European personal pension product (PEPP) is a voluntary personal pension scheme that can complement existing public and occupational pension systems, as well as national private pension schemes and employers would not be prevented from contributing to a PEPP. A PEPP may also receive employer contributions where this has been agreed.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 23/06/2026 22:25 | Press release | | | | | The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal on the regulation to facilitate the e-declaration of posted workers. The regulation will reduce the administrative burden for businesses by fully digitalising the submission of posting declarations and for national authorities by facilitating the monitoring of the compliance with the posting of workers directive. A 'posted worker' is a worker sent by the employer to provide a service in another member state on a temporary basis. The provisional agreement reached today introduces improvements on the scope of the regulation, the requirements and the contents of the standardised e-declaration, and on the efficacy of the platform. This agreement is one of the first deliverables of the 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap. “The agreement reached today marks a significant step towards a more integrated and competitive Single Market. This is one of the first legislative files provisionally agreed with the European Parliament under the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap. With these new rules facilitating the e-declaration of posted workers, Europe is removing unnecessary barriers, harnessing the potential of digital tools, and creating a simpler, more transparent framework for cross-border services that benefits businesses, workers, and administrations alike.” | | — Michael Damianos, Minister of energy, commerce and industry of the Republic of Cyprus |
Facilitating the posting of workersThe regulation requires the Commission to create a multilingual public interface for companies to declare the posting of workers. Member states can choose to use this interface instead of their national systems, but once they opt in, they must exclusively use it without requiring additional declarations. Main elements of the agreementThe deal reached today supports the main objectives of the regulation, namely, reducing administrative burden to facilitate the freedom to provide services; improving compliance with Union legislation to protect posted workers’ rights; and enhancing administrative cooperation between member states. ScopeThe agreement keeps the voluntary nature of the system and limits its scope to company workers posted in another member state, as foreseen in the EU Posted Workers Directive (PWD). Member states will be allowed to use the public interface for the declarations submitted by third country service providers when sending workers on a temporary basis. Standard formThe agreement reached today tasks the Commission to adopt a standard online form for these declarations, with a common set of information requirements agreed by the co-legislators. Member states using the standard form cannot request more data, although they can decide not to require all the specified information. Five years after its implementation of the regulation, the Commission should conduct an evaluation to examine whether the information requirements in the standard form are still fit for purpose. New functionalities of the platformThe provisional agreement introduces a new functionality in the public interface, allowing service providers to upload the relevant documents for posting workers. This would replace pre-existing national procedures for the submission of documents. The system will also include features for the technical validation of data, communication between competent authorities and service providers, and access for posted workers to receive electronic extracts of their declarations, while respecting personal data protection rules. Next stepsThe provisional agreement now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions. BackgroundBurdensome procedures for temporary posted workers was identified in the single market strategy as one of the top ten barriers (what is otherwise known as ‘terrible ten’) that hampered mobility within the EU. Moreover, the report on the internal market by former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta, (‘Much more than a market’) highlighted the immense potential of digitalisation to promote fair mobility and simplify compliance with the posting of workers’ rules. He called for a single, electronic format for declarations that would reduce the administrative burden on businesses while respecting workers' rights. On 24 April 2026, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission signed the 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap. This agreement sets out a clear list of priority actions to be completed by the end of 2027. The first measure under this roadmap is the e-declaration system for posted workers, which has a deadline of June 2026. According to the European labour authority (ELA), approximately 3.6 million postings involving around 2.6 million workers are estimated in the EU. Around 1.2 million workers are active in two or more member states. The Commission estimates that companies can save 73% of the time required to complete posting declarations using the electronic standard form, compared to the average time currently required across the EU, and the cost savings for the burden reduction for service providers posting workers is estimated to be 58% compared to the current situation, even with the participation of a limited number of member states. If all 27 member states were to decide to join this initiative, the burden reduction at EU level would further increase to 81% compared to the current situation.
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● Council of the EU | | | 24/06/2026 12:52 | Media advisory | | | | | The press briefing ahead of the Environment Council and Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) will take place on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 17.00. 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 remotely or in person at the Europa Building press room. 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 Environment Council and Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council do not need to do it again. - Deadline for registration: Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 16.00
Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants after the deadline.
Meeting page - Environment Council, 25 June 2026 Meeting page - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 26 June 2026
| ● Council of the EU | | | 23/06/2026 21:30 | Press release | | | | | The Cyprus presidency of the Council has struck a provisional deal with the European Parliament on rules aimed at protecting workers in the EU from exposure to hazardous substances that could cause illnesses such as cancer or asthma. The sixth revision of the carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD) updates the EU’s health and safety legislation with a view to strengthening protection against exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to ensuring a high level of protection for workers against serious occupational health risks. By introducing new occupational exposure limit values, we are ensuring that the Union’s legislative framework keeps pace with the latest scientific evidence and technological developments. This outcome will help create safer working environments for millions of workers across Europe and further strengthen the prevention of work-related illnesses.” | | — Marinos Moushouttas, Minister for Labour and Social Insurance, Republic of Cyprus |
The revision is expected to prevent around 1 700 lung cancer cases and 19 000 other illnesses over the next 40 years. Aim of the sixth revisionThe Commission’s proposed revision to the CMRD ensures that the EU’s legislation is fully in line with the latest scientific developments. Specifically, the proposed revision: - sets occupational exposure limit values (OELs) for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 1,4-dioxane
- adds welding fumes to the list of substances, mixtures and processes set out in Annex I of the directive
Details of the agreementThe Council and the Parliament have maintained the ambition and key objectives of the Commission’s proposal. In addition, they have provisionally agreed to: - expand the scope of the directive to include an OEL for isoprene
- prolong the transitional period for the application of the new OEL for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to 7 years and broaden the scope of sectors benefitting from it to all carbon and graphite manufacturers
- introduce an obligation of regular breaks for workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and clarify the applicable rules regarding the use of PPE in relation to existing legislation
- update the definitions of 'carcinogen', 'mutagen' and 'reprotoxic substance' to reflect the inclusion for the first time in Annex I of an entry (welding fumes) with potentially reprotoxic effects
- highlight the importance of developing further guidance on welding fumes
- include a new recital pointing out that setting OELs does not completely eliminate risks to the health and safety of workers
Next stepsThe provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament. It will then formally be adopted by both institutions following legal-linguistic revision. BackgroundThe carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD) sets out measures to prevent and protect against risks linked to exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances at work, and includes an obligation to establish OELs where possible. Following an evaluation of the EU’s occupational safety and health directives in 2017, the CMRD has undergone regular updates; five revisions have so far been adopted, addressing more than 40 key hazardous substances. On 18 July 2025, the Commission published a proposal for a sixth revision of the CMRD.
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