COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 03 July 2026

● Council of the EU   30/06/2026 11:30 | Press release | Council and Parliament agree on clarified rules for road tolls and user charges for heavy-duty vehicles   Today, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on targeted amendments to the Eurovignette directive, which sets the framework for road tolls and user charges for heavy-duty vehicles across the European Union . The agreement strengthens legal certainty, simplifies implementation and ensures the consistent application of CO₂-based charging rules in light of the new CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles that will apply from 1 July 2026. “This agreement delivers the legal certainty that transport operators, tolling authorities and service providers need in connection to the expanded application of the new CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles. By clarifying key provisions of the Eurovignette directive, we are ensuring a smoother and more harmonised implementation across the European Union. Over the past six months the Cyprus Presidency has delivered concrete results for Europe’s transport network that is more competitive, more resilient, and more sustainable for the future.” — Alexis Vafeades, Minister of transport, communications and works of the Republic of Cyprus The amendments provide greater clarity for hauliers, national authorities and toll service providers on how the Eurovignette rules should be applied to different vehicle categories and emission classes. This will facilitate a smooth transition to a road charging system that better reflects vehicle emissions while ensuring more harmonised implementation across member states. The new CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles have direct implications for the classification of vehicles under the Eurovignette framework. The agreed amendments provide legal and technical clarifications to ensure the effective interaction of the two legislative frameworks. Main elements of the agreement The provisional agreement: clarifies key definitions related to CO₂ emissions, including zero-emission vehicles, low-emission heavy-duty vehicles, vehicle groups, emission reduction trajectories and reference CO₂ emissions, while preserving the original policy objectives of the directive; allows member states to apply reduced user charges or infrastructure charges for low-emission vehicles, alongside measures supporting the uptake of zero-emission vehicles; clarifies how vocational vehicles, such as garbage collection trucks and construction vehicles, are allocated to the relevant CO₂ emission classes. Trailer-based toll reductions The co-legislators decided not to retain the proposed system of road charge variation for heavy-duty vehicles towing more sustainable trailers. They considered that such a scheme would create additional administrative burdens, increase the complexity of tolling systems, affect the rollout and enforcement of electronic toll services. At the same time, the Commission has been requested to evaluate the persisting obstacles. Next steps The 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. Eurovignette: Council clarifies and simplifies EU rules on road tolls and user charges for heavy duty vehicles (press release, 4 March 2026) Timeline (EU law tracker)   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   02/07/2026 15:03 | Press release | Council moves to reinstate interim measure to combat child sexual abuse online   Today, the Council adopted its position on a regulation to allow online service providers to resume voluntary detection and removal of child sexual abuse material on their platforms. The measure aims to protect children while a long-term legislative framework is under negotiation. The Council wants the regulation to enter into force as soon as possible. “Protecting children is our duty. The position agreed by the Council today paves the way for online service providers to resume their efforts to detect child sexual abuse online and report it to the police. This is crucial to identify children at risk, bring offenders to justice and prevent further abuse.” — Jim O’Callaghan, Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration The interim measure constitutes a derogation from data protection rules in the electronic communications sector. This derogation allows online service providers to detect online child sexual abuse on their services, as well as to report and remove it. Such voluntary activities by online providers play a valuable role in helping identify, investigate and prosecute offenders. They contribute to rescuing victims and reducing the spread of child sexual abuse online. The previous interim measure expired on 3 April 2026. The Council wants an interim measure to be reinstated as soon as possible until 3 April 2028. This temporary measure is necessary to effectively combat child sexual abuse online, as well as to avoid a prolonged legal gap pending the adoption and application of the long-term legal framework currently under negotiation. Next steps The Council position will now be examined by the European Parliament, under second reading. The Parliament will have the possibility to approve, amend or reject the Council position. Background The initial interim regulation allowing for a derogation from the e-privacy directive was agreed in 2021, as a short-term solution to enable the detection of child sexual abuse material online until the conclusion of negotiations on the long-term legal framework, and was extended once in 2024 for a period of two years. This initial interim regulation lapsed on 3 April 2026. The Council position adopted today is intended to bridge the gap until a new EU law, currently on the table of the Council and the European Parliament, offers a long-term legal framework for the detection of online child sexual abuse. The Council’s adoption of its position today comes after European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated on 18 June 2026 in her address to the European Council, that it was time to move on with the proposal for interim rules on child sexual abuse and to look at how to find political agreement. EU Law Tracker   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   02/07/2026 15:03 | Press release | Council moves to reinstate interim measure to combat child sexual abuse online   Today, the Council adopted its position on a regulation to allow online service providers to resume voluntary detection and removal of child sexual abuse material on their platforms. The measure aims to protect children while a long-term legislative framework is under negotiation. The Council wants the regulation to enter into force as soon as possible. “Protecting children is our duty. The position agreed by the Council today paves the way for online service providers to resume their efforts to detect child sexual abuse online and report it to the police. This is crucial to identify children at risk, bring offenders to justice and prevent further abuse.” — Jim O’Callaghan, Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration The interim measure constitutes a derogation from data protection rules in the electronic communications sector. This derogation allows online service providers to detect online child sexual abuse on their services, as well as to report and remove it. Such voluntary activities by online providers play a valuable role in helping identify, investigate and prosecute offenders. They contribute to rescuing victims and reducing the spread of child sexual abuse online. The previous interim measure expired on 3 April 2026. The Council wants an interim measure to be reinstated as soon as possible until 3 April 2028. This temporary measure is necessary to effectively combat child sexual abuse online, as well as to avoid a prolonged legal gap pending the adoption and application of the long-term legal framework currently under negotiation. Next steps The Council position will now be examined by the European Parliament, under second reading. The Parliament will have the possibility to approve, amend or reject the Council position. Background The initial interim regulation allowing for a derogation from the e-privacy directive was agreed in 2021, as a short-term solution to enable the detection of child sexual abuse material online until the conclusion of negotiations on the long-term legal framework, and was extended once in 2024 for a period of two years. This initial interim regulation lapsed on 3 April 2026. The Council position adopted today is intended to bridge the gap until a new EU law, currently on the table of the Council and the European Parliament, offers a long-term legal framework for the detection of online child sexual abuse. The Council’s adoption of its position today comes after European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated on 18 June 2026 in her address to the European Council, that it was time to move on with the proposal for interim rules on child sexual abuse and to look at how to find political agreement. EU Law Tracker   Visit the website ● Council of the EU

02/07/2026 19:14 | Statements and remarks | Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon   The EU welcomes the framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel in Washington, which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah enabling the IDF to progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory. The agreement offers a much-needed perspective in the efforts towards de-escalation and peace, and towards restoring the Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity. The European Union commends the constructive engagement of Israel and Lebanon and urges all actors to adhere to the agreement and to implement their commitments including through the newly established trilateral Military Coordination Group. The EU calls for a permanent end to hostilities and full respect of international law, including international humanitarian law. This includes the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The EU reiterates that any lasting solution must be anchored in the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701. With our recently approved 100-million-euro assistance package for the Lebanese Armed Forces, the EU supports the Lebanese government’s efforts to assert state authority, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its monopoly over arms. The EU stands ready to support the implementation of the framework agreementand further enhance its support for the LAF and the internal security forces, including through a possible EU mission. The EU recalls the importance of a continued UN presence in Lebanon in a post-UNIFIL context and reaffirms the EU’s readiness to contribute in that regard in 2027.   Visit the website

● Council of the EU   03/07/2026 13:49 | Press release | Chemical weapons: EU sanctions six individuals involved in Navalny’s poisoning and death   The Council today decided to impose restrictive measures on six Russian individuals involved in the development of chemical weapons, notably epibatidine. This toxin was found in samples taken from Alexei Navalny’s body after his death in a Russian penal colony, leading to the conclusion that poisoning with epibatidine was highly likely the cause of his death. The individuals listed today are scientists and researchers within the military sphere. Some of them have worked for the Signal Scientific Centre (also known as SC Signal), where they researched and published articles on the synthesis of epibatidine, thereby being involved in its development as a chemical weapon. These listings include Igor Babkin, the head of SC Signal’s laboratory. Furthermore, the Council is listing Irina Derevyagina, a chemical research analyst at Russia’s State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology (GosNIIOKhT) that is a central part of the Russian Chemical Weapons programme, and Mikhail Gutsalyuk, the head of the department for organising scientific work and preparing scientific and pedagogical staff at the Military Academy of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence. EU restrictive measures against the use and proliferation of chemical weapons now apply to a total of 31 individuals and 6 entities. Those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to the natural persons listed. The EU remains fully committed to countering the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, and to supporting the provisions laid down by the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC). The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU. Background On 22 March 2018, the European Council confirmed that the use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons under any circumstances, is completely unacceptable, must be systematically and rigorously condemned and constitutes a security threat to us all. On 15 October 2018, the Council adopted the legal framework for restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons. The restrictive measures applied to the listed persons and entities laid down in this legal framework are currently in force until 16 October 2026. The EU follows developments in this domain closely and can decide to renew sanctions and amend the list of targeted persons and entities at any time. Council Decision amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons Council Implementing Regulation implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1542 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 of 15 October 2018 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons (consolidated text dated 15 0ctober 2025) How and when the EU adopts sanctions (background information) EU sanctions against Russia (background information)   Visit the website