| ● Council of the EU | | | 24/06/2026 20:05 | Press release | | | | | The Council today agreed its position on a proposal to simplify rules and procedures in the areas of industrial emissions, circular economy, and geospatial data. This proposal is part of the so-called ‘Omnibus VIII’ simplification package. The package aims to reduce unnecessary administrative costs and burdens, while maintaining the EU’s high standards on environmental protection. “The Cyprus presidency, since day one, has turned its commitment to simplification into tangible results. Today, we deliver on the environmental package - introducing clearer, more proportionate rules that reduce unnecessary burdens while safeguarding the European Union’s high standards of environmental protection. This is a result that supports both our citizens and our businesses, and strengthens the EU's competitiveness and sustainability alike.” | | — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus |
The package comprises targeted measures amending six legislative acts: - a regulation on speeding up environmental assessments (RSEA)
- a regulation and a directive on simplification and reduction of administrative burden
- an amendment to the directive on the infrastructure for spatial information (INSPIRE)
- a regulation and a directive suspending the application of the rules on the appointment of an authorised representative for extended producer responsibility (EPR)
Given strong reservations by a vast majority of member states, and the upcoming comprehensive review of EPR frameworks under the circular economy act, expected in autumn 2026, negotiations within the Council on the two last proposals concerning EPR were discontinued. Work will continue on the environmental assessments regulation, with the aim of reaching a negotiating position also on that proposal. Main amendments introduced by the CouncilThe presidency has treated the remaining part of the package with utmost priority. Member states broadly shared this sense of urgency and, in that perspective, preserved the main thrust of the Commission proposals. Regulation and directive on simplification and reduction of administrative burden The proposed regulation amends the batteries regulation, notably by reducing redundant reporting and by simplifying the removability and replaceability requirements for light means of transport (LMT) battery packs. Under the industrial emissions portal regulation (IEPR), the proposal simplifies reporting for livestock and aquaculture operators. The so-called ‘substance of concern’ concept under the batteries regulation was modified to avoid duplication with other definitions across legal acts and, at the same time, lower the number of substances to be considered by operators when labelling their presence in batteries. A targeted postponement of the removability and replaceability requirements of the batteries regulation for certain product categories by 18 months was also introduced. The proposed directive aims to alleviate burden from industrial and livestock rearing installation operators and simplify reporting obligations under waste legislation. The chemicals inventory was reintroduced as a key tool for monitoring hazardous chemical substances under the industrial emissions directive. However, to achieve simplification, the proposed inventory is extracted from the Environmental Management System (EMS) and allows operators to simply refer to inventories developed under other Union, national or international frameworks. The proposed EMS also includes a clear compliance deadline of July 2030. Regulation on the infrastructure for spatial information (INSPIRE)The proposal to modernise the INSPIRE directive streamlines technical requirements for data and data sharing, thereby aligning it with current EU data legislation. This would ensure legal coherence and reduced administrative burden, while maintaining accessibility, quality, and interoperability of environmental spatial data. To reflect technological developments since the INSPIRE Directive took effect in 2007, and to align with the EU’s horizontal data acquis, several key terms have been clarified and new definitions introduced where necessary. The Council mandate also reintroduces data sharing between public authorities and minimum interoperability requirements to ensure the seamless use of data across the EU and beyond. The right of member states to limit public access to data for reasons related to public security or similar issues has been further specified. Next stepsThe upcoming Irish presidency will continue discussions on the remaining elements of the package and will enter negotiations with the European Parliament on this file once both co-legislators adopt their positions, with a view to reaching a speedy provisional agreement on the overall package. BackgroundIn 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’). Since February 2025, the Commission has put forward ten ‘Omnibus’ packages aiming to simplify existing legislation, including an eight Omnibus on simplification of administrative burden in environmental legislation in December 2025. The 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap signed by the presidents of the Council of the EU, the European Parliament and the Commission on 24 April 2026 in the margins of the informal leaders’ meeting in Nicosia includes the objective of concluding work on all simplification packages by the end of 2027.
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| ● Συμβούλιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης | | | 25/06/2026 09:58 | Δελτίο τύπου | | | | | Σήμερα, το Συμβούλιο εξέδωσε και τυπικά δύο κανονισμούς για την εφαρμογή των δασμολογικών δεσμεύσεων που περιέχονται στην κοινή δήλωση ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ της 21ης Αυγούστου 2025. Με την έκδοση αυτή ολοκληρώνεται η νομοθετική διαδικασία και επιβεβαιώνεται η δέσμευση της ΕΕ για μια σταθερή, προβλέψιμη και αμοιβαία επωφελή διατλαντική εμπορική σχέση, ενώ παράλληλα διατηρούνται οι αναγκαίοι μηχανισμοί προστασίας των ευρωπαϊκών οικονομικών συμφερόντων. “Είμαστε προσηλωμένοι σε μια ισχυρή και ανοικτή διατλαντική εταιρική σχέση με τον ιστορικό μας σύμμαχο, αλλά το ανοικτό πνεύμα πρέπει να συμβαδίζει με τη διαφύλαξη των συμφερόντων μας. Τα μέτρα αυτά επιτυγχάνουν και τα δύο, αφού στηρίζουν σταθερές και προβλέψιμες εμπορικές ροές με τις ΗΠΑ, ενώ παράλληλα διασφαλίζουν ότι η ΕΕ μπορεί να αντιδρά γρήγορα και αναλογικά όταν δεν τηρείται η συμφωνία ή διακυβεύονται τα συμφέροντά της. Στέλνουμε ισχυρό μήνυμα ότι η Ευρώπη είναι ανοικτή στον κόσμο, αλλά και ξεκάθαρη όσον αφορά την προστασία των επιχειρήσεων και των εργαζομένων της. ” |
| | — Μιχάλης Δαμιανός, Υπουργός Ενέργειας, Εμπορίου και Βιομηχανίας της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας |
Οι δύο κανονισμοί καταργούν τους εναπομένοντες τελωνειακούς δασμούς της ΕΕ στα βιομηχανικά προϊόντα των ΗΠΑ, θεσπίζουν προτιμησιακή πρόσβαση για ορισμένα θαλασσινά και μη ευαίσθητα γεωργικά προϊόντα των ΗΠΑ μέσω δασμολογικών ποσοστώσεων και μειωμένων δασμών, και παρατείνουν την αναστολή των δασμών στις εισαγωγές αστακού, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του μεταποιημένου αστακού (από όλες τις χώρες στη βάση της αρχής του μάλλον ευνοούμενου κράτους). Οι κανονισμοί περιλαμβάνουν επίσης ενισχυμένους μηχανισμούς διασφάλισης και αναστολής. Ειδικότερα, οι κανονισμοί προβλέπουν ειδικό μηχανισμό διασφάλισης που επιτρέπει στην Επιτροπή να ενεργεί ταχέως σε περιπτώσεις απότομων σημαντικών αυξήσεων των εισαγωγών που προκαλούν ή απειλούν να προκαλέσουν σοβαρή ζημία σε οικονομικούς φορείς της ΕΕ, και ενισχύουν την ικανότητα της ΕΕ να αναστέλλει τις δασμολογικές προτιμήσεις όταν οι ΗΠΑ δεν τηρούν τις δεσμεύσεις τους, υπονομεύουν τους στόχους της κοινής δήλωσης ή διαταράσσουν με άλλον τρόπο τις ισορροπημένες εμπορικές σχέσεις, μεταξύ άλλων μέσω μέτρων διακριτικής μεταχείρισης. Επόμενα βήματαΟι δύο κανονισμοί πλέον θα υπογραφούν, θα δημοσιευθούν στην Επίσημη Εφημερίδα και θα τεθούν σε ισχύ την επομένη της δημοσίευσής τους. Ο βασικός κανονισμός θα παύσει να εφαρμόζεται στα τέλη του 2029. Έως τις 30 Ιουνίου 2029, η Επιτροπή θα υποβάλει ολοκληρωμένη αξιολόγηση του αντικτύπου τους στις εμπορικές ροές ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ, στα δασμολογικά έσοδα και στις οικονομικές επιπτώσεις, μεταξύ άλλων στις ΜΜΕ, και θα την συνοδεύσει με νομοθετική πρόταση για την παράταση της εφαρμογής των κανονισμών, εφόσον κρίνεται σκόπιμο. Ο κανονισμός σχετικά με τις εισαγωγές αστακού θα εφαρμοστεί αναδρομικά από την 1η Αυγούστου 2025 και θα λήξει στις 31 Ιουλίου 2030, εκτός εάν ληφθούν περαιτέρω μέτρα. Γενικές πληροφορίεςΗ Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες έχουν τη μεγαλύτερη διμερή εμπορική και επενδυτική σχέση και την πιο ολοκληρωμένη οικονομική σχέση στον κόσμο, αντιπροσωπεύοντας σχεδόν το 30 % του παγκόσμιου εμπορίου αγαθών και υπηρεσιών και το 43 % του παγκόσμιου ΑΕΠ. Το εμπόριο αγαθών και υπηρεσιών ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ διπλασιάστηκε την τελευταία δεκαετία, υπερβαίνοντας το 1,7 τρισ. ευρώ το 2025. Αυτή η βαθιά και ολοκληρωμένη εταιρική σχέση υποστηρίζεται από αμοιβαίες επενδύσεις: το 2024, οι επιχειρήσεις της ΕΕ και των ΗΠΑ κατείχαν στις αντίστοιχες αγορές πάνω από 4,8 τρισ. ευρώ. Με τους δύο κανονισμούς που πρότεινε η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή στις 28 Αυγούστου 2025 θα τεθούν σε εφαρμογή οι δασμολογικές μειώσεις της ΕΕ που ορίζονται στην παράγραφο 1 της κοινής δήλωσης ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ της 21ης Αυγούστου 2025. Ο πρώτος (κύριος) κανονισμός καταργεί τους εναπομένοντες τελωνειακούς δασμούς στα βιομηχανικά προϊόντα των ΗΠΑ και παρέχει προτιμησιακή πρόσβαση στην αγορά, μεταξύ άλλων μέσω δασμολογικών ποσοστώσεων (ΔΠ) και μειωμένων δασμών για ορισμένα θαλασσινά και μη ευαίσθητα γεωργικά προϊόντα των ΗΠΑ. Ο δεύτερος κανονισμός επικεντρώνεται στην παράταση της αναστολής δασμών για τις εισαγωγές αστακού, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του μεταποιημένου αστακού, από όλες τις χώρες στη βάση της αρχής του μάλλον ευνοούμενου κράτους.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 25/06/2026 10:04 | Press release | | | | | Today, the Council decided to temporarily restrict visa provision for Somali nationals. This decision follows an assessment by the Commission, which concludes that cooperation by Somalia on readmitting its nationals staying irregularly in the EU is insufficient. As a result, it will no longer be possible for member states: - to issue multiple entry visas to Somali nationals;
- to waive requirements with regard to the evidence visa applicants from Somalia must submit; and
- to waive the visa fee for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
Furthermore, the standard processing period for visa applications will be set at 45 calendar days instead of 15. The suspension decision is temporary but does not come with a specific end date. The objective is to encourage Somalia to improve cooperation on readmission, and the Commission will continue to assess any progress made. BackgroundBased on the EU visa rules, the Commission regularly assesses how non-EU countries cooperate on readmission. These assessments may lead to the conclusion that a given non-EU country does not cooperate sufficiently. In such cases, the EU may decide to suspend the application of certain provisions of the EU short stay visa rules.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 25/06/2026 11:10 | Media advisory | | | | | The press briefing ahead of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Social Policy) will take place on Friday, 26 June 2026 at 13.30. 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 ECCL Luxembourg 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 Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council do not need to do it again. - Deadline for registration: Friday, 26 June 2026 at 12.30
Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.
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| ● European Council | | | 25/06/2026 11:33 | Speech | | | | | It is a pleasure to be here in Gdańsk on behalf of the 27 member states of the European Union. Gdańsk is the birthplace of the Solidarity movement and a lasting symbol of courage, resilience and the struggle for freedom against soviet imperialism. In the 1980’s, many doubted that totalitarianism could be defeated. Yet countless Poles refused to surrender their hopes for freedom and democracy. Among them was Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a freedom fighter for a democratic, prosperous, and European Poland. Thank you, Donald. In 2022, many people also doubted Ukraine - its resilience, its courage and its unity. Four years later, Ukraine continues to resist and fight for a sovereign, democratic, free and European future. Despite the brutality of Russia’s ongoing attacks on critical and civilian infrastructures, it has failed to achieve its objectives in Ukraine. Nor has it succeeded in dividing the European Union or preventing us from supporting Ukraine. From day one, the European Union has stood, and will continue to stand, firmly with Ukraine. The European Union is its largest donor, providing over €200 billion in support since 2022. To bolster Ukraine’s resilience, we have recently established the Ukraine Support Loan with a further €90 billion. This aid will address urgent needs, including military needs. And as President von der Leyen already mentioned earlier, the first payment from the Support loan to Ukraine was made today. It shows our support is consistent and unbreakable, to help Ukraine achieving a just and lasting peace. Ukraine has shown readiness for an immediate ceasefire and for sustained diplomatic efforts toward a just and lasting peace. The European Union supports all initiatives that contribute to peace while increasing pressure on Russia through sanctions. We have adopted 20 packages and we are preparing the next one. We have made a political decision to roll over sanctions by one year instead of just six months. These measures are working and contribute to bring Russia to genuine negotiations. The European Union is ready to contribute in that process. Yet it is Ukraine that will define the terms of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. No one can talk on behalf of Ukraine, only Ukraine can talk on behalf of the Ukrainian people. Such a peace must respect international law and the United Nations Charter. It must affirm Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It must guarantee Ukraine’s long-term security and self-defence. But our vision goes beyond the war. We are already preparing Ukraine’s future. Reconstruction is not only about repairing destruction; it is about building back a better Ukraine. We are laying the foundations for a modern, green, and digital economy that will strengthen the entire European continent. Ukraine’s recovery process goes hand-in-hand with its path to European Union accession. For millions of Ukrainians the future is defined by our shared destiny. This means aligning legal, economic, and institutional frameworks with European standards. I reaffirm the commitment made by European Union leaders four and a half years ago: Ukraine’s future is in the European Union. As a first important step, accession negotiations opened formally last week, and we aim to open all remaining clusters as soon as possible. The process remains merit-based, but Ukraine has already achieved remarkable reforms under extraordinary circumstances. We will continue working together to sustain this progress. We know what is at stake and what this means to the Ukrainian people. True reconstruction is about people. It means creating quality jobs, restoring high-quality education, and ensuring that vulnerable groups, veterans, and trauma survivors are fully included in society. Guided by human rights, no community should be left behind. Ukraine’s reconstruction is a major contribution to lasting peace in Europe. It shows that freedom and democracy can prevail over autocracy. Let us remain united in this effort. Together, we can help Ukraine rise - stronger, freer, within the European Union, and more prosperous than ever. And to help Ukraine, that means that Ukraine will help Europe to be better and stronger. Thank you.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 25/06/2026 14:27 | Media advisory | | | | | Indicative programmeAll times are approximate and subject to change Place:
ECCL Luxembourg Chair:
Michael Damianos, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus
from 08.30
Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.50
Doorstep by Michael Damianos (live streaming) 09.30
Beginning of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy)
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of 'A' items: +/- 09.45
Permitting directive (public session)
TEN-E regulation (public session) +/- 12.20
Any other business:
- CACM Regulation +/- 12.30
Ministerial lunch +/- 14.00
Decarbonisation efforts in the area of energy post-2030 +/- 15.00
Crisis in the Middle East: coordination and response measures in the energy sector +/- 16.00
Any other business:
- Impacts of the methane regulation on the EU energy security (public session)
- Follow up to the council conclusions on the security of supply of radioisotopes for medical use (+/- 16.20 public session)
- Ensuring the right incentives to accelerate electrification (+/- 16.30 public session)
- Work programme of the incoming presidency At the end of the meeting press conference (+/- 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: Friday, 26 June 2026, 16.00
Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event
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● Council of the EU | | | 25/06/2026 14:22 | Press release | | | | | The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on rules to strengthen the enforcement of passenger rights across the EU for all modes of transport. The new rules seek to simplify, harmonise and improve consistency across the existing framework, particularly with regard to informing passengers about their rights before and during their journey, handling complaints and ensuring effective enforcement. “Passenger rights for all transport modes are only meaningful if they can be effectively enforced. Today's agreement marks another important step towards a more transparent, consistent and passenger-friendly framework across the EU. It will make it easier for travellers to obtain the information, assistance and reimbursement to which they are entitled, while strengthening protections for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility and providing greater legal certainty for tickets purchased through intermediaries.” | | — Alexis Vafeades, Minister of transport, communications and works of the Republic of Cyprus |
The new rules will help ensure that passenger rights are enforced more effectively across all modes of transport and that complaints are handled more efficiently. They also clarify reimbursement procedures for airline tickets purchased through intermediaries when a flight is cancelled or not operated as planned. The proposed regulation amends five sector-specific regulations to address shortcomings in the implementation and enforcement of passenger rights. Main elements of the agreementBooking airline tickets through an intermediaryThe agreement introduces clearer rules on reimbursement when passengers book airline tickets through intermediaries, such as travel agents or online booking platforms. With the new rules passengers will receive full reimbursement, including of any intermediation fee, in case of flight cancellations. To avoid disproportionate financial burden on the smallest intermediaries such as local travel agencies, the agreement provides for an exception for micro-enterprises, provided that passengers are clearly informed of this arrangement at the start of the booking process. To improve transparency, intermediaries will be required to inform passengers at the time of booking about the applicable reimbursement arrangements. Airlines will also have to indicate publicly whether they cooperate with intermediaries in processing reimbursements. Passengers entitled to reimbursement must receive it within seven days. Where the intermediary has paid the carrier from its own account, reimbursement must be made within 14 days. To enhance transparency and ensure fair competition, airlines will be deemed aware when tickets are issued on their behalf by intermediaries. As a result, practices such as screen-scraping, whereby an intermediary books tickets without disclosing its intermediary status to the airline, will no longer be permitted. Reimbursement and compensation proceduresTo make it easier for passengers to exercise their rights, standardised forms for reimbursement and compensation claims will be made available across the Union. Passengers will be able to submit claims using these forms, or any equivalent form provided by the carrier, electronically or through other channels, including by post. This will keep procedures accessible, simple and facilitate access to redress. Complaint handling by member states’ authoritiesWhere passengers’ rights are infringed, they must be guaranteed a clear, accessible and effective avenue for filing complaints. To ensure robust enforcement, the agreement provides that national enforcement bodies (NEBs) or other competent authorities should be equipped with the powers necessary to take appropriate action and effectively deter infringements. These authorities should be able to act on the basis of passenger complaints, as well as through audits, inspections and interviews. Recognising the diversity of administrative and legal systems across member states in the handling of complaints, the agreement seeks to provide greater clarity on redress mechanisms by ensuring that decisions are taken by the appropriate authority and that passengers receive clear information on their rights and the procedures available to them, including their right to complain to alternative dispute resolution bodies. To promote a consistent application of passenger rights across the European Union, national enforcement bodies should cooperate closely and coordinate their activities to ensure a harmonised interpretation and effective cross-border enforcement of the relevant regulations. Where appropriate, national enforcement bodies and national complaint-handling bodies should exchange relevant information to strengthen cooperation and support the effective fulfilment of their respective responsibilities. The agreement also provides for a regular flow of information from carriers, terminal managers and intermediaries to national enforcement bodies on matters related to the implementation of the regulations. This will enhance monitoring and oversight, enabling authorities to more effectively carry out their enforcement role. Finally, the European Commission should support dialogue and foster cooperation among member states in the application of this regulation, including through issuing guidelines and the promotion of best practices. Enhanced rights for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobilityThe agreement strengthens the rights of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (PRMs), helping to ensure equal access to transport services across the Union. Passengers with disabilities and PRMs will continue to be entitled to free assistance throughout their journey. Where an airline requires a passenger to travel with an accompanying person for safety reasons and is unable to provide the assistance needed, the passenger will be entitled to travel with a companion of their choice free of charge. The accompanying person must be seated next to the passenger requiring assistance. Air carriers may request the PRM to provide additional information on its precise needs for assistance and may verify them when needed. Service quality standardsUnder existing legislation, airport managing bodies, port terminal operators, carriers, railway undertakings and station managers are required to establish and publish service quality standards relating to the rights of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility. The agreement extends this obligation to air carriers, bus and coach carriers, and bus and coach terminal operators, with the aim to align service quality standards across transport modes while taking account of the specific characteristics of each sector. To ensure that these standards deliver tangible improvements for passengers, at the latest 5 years after the application of the new rules the Commission will carry out a comprehensive assessment of their implementation and effectiveness across Union passenger rights legislation, including in the rail sector. Where appropriate, the Commission may subsequently propose further legislative amendments. Next stepsThe provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament. It will then be formally adopted by both institutions following legal-linguistic revision. This regulation will then apply from the date on which the updated air passenger rights regulation will enter into force.
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