COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 04 September 2026

● European Council   04/09/2026 10:26 | Statements and remarks | Press statement by President Costa following the meeting with President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides   Mr. President, dear Nikos. First of all, thank you very much for welcoming me very warmly once again here in Cyprus. It is a pleasure to be back after your very successful presidency of the Council of the Union. And once again, thank you very much for the way that you led the Union in the first half of this year. Listening to every leader in their home country, every year, and hearing your views directly is very important for me as I prepare our work in the upcoming European Council meetings.  As we move into the autumn, we are entering a pivotal period for Europe. One of the most important decisions ahead of us will be to shape our next long-term European budget for the period 2028-2034. We need to reach an agreement before the end of this year. Here, I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Cyprus presidency on the first draft Negotiating Box with actual numbers. This provided an important input for the discussions between the Leaders in June. We are operating in a fundamentally different geopolitical context from the one we faced when we approved the current budget in 2020. This new reality calls for a new approach to our budget, with a new structure and a new way of allocating our resources. We need a budget that allows us to deliver on our common priorities – especially in defence and security, competitiveness, innovation, and strategic resilience.  The wildfires and droughts this summer, including here in Cyprus, reminded us again of the need for tools to respond swiftly to unforeseen challenges. And to the urgent needs of our citizens and businesses. Our budget must reflect that. But, at the same time, we must preserve the key pillars of support to our regions and our citizens – cohesion and agricultural policy. Nevertheless, like national budgets, the European budget must deliver on its priorities within the limits of finite resources. Most of it is financed through member states’ national contributions. And we need to keep those contributions within reasonable limits. That is why a balanced and ambitious package of so-called new own resources, the new revenue streams for the European Union, will be an essential part of an overall agreement. Dear President, due to its geostrategic position, Cyprus has a front-row perspective on the security challenges affecting our continent. This includes issues related to maritime security and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Middle East. Developments in the region have implications for Europe’s peace and stability as a whole. They also have a direct impact on our energy security. For this reason, we need to remain engaged in the region and I am grateful for your active role in this regard, dear Nikos. To further strengthen this relationship, the European Union will be holding a Summit with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council on 24 October. Let me also reaffirm the European Union’s firm commitment to the reunification of Cyprus, in line with the United Nations’ Security Council resolutions and international law. The European Union is actively supporting the efforts of the United Nations’ Secretary General Guterres to advance a negotiated settlement. This is the objective of the recent appointment of Commissioner Raffaele Fitto as Special Representative for Cyprus. In that context, it was important for me to get your update on the latest developments, in particular after the visit by United Nations Secretary General Guterres at the end of July, and the further prospects for the process.  To conclude, at a time of such challenging and rapidly changing geopolitical circumstances, I would like to emphasise the importance of staying united and moving forward together. Dear Nikos, I know I can count on your and your country’s constructive engagement in shaping a European response to the challenges we face. I am confident that, by joining forces and building on our shared commitment, we can make real progress for Europe and continue to build a stronger, safer and more united Union. Thank you very much.   Visit the website

● European Council   04/09/2026 11:02 | Press release | Second EU-GCC Summit to take place on 24 October in Saudi Arabia   On 24 October 2026, the leaders of the European Union member states and the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will meet in Saudi Arabia for the second EU-GCC Summit. On the EU side, this multilateral summit will be co-chaired by the President of the European Council, António Costa. The EU will also be represented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.  The European Union is the second-biggest trade partner of the GCC countries (the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates). EU–GCC relations are based on the cooperation agreement document signed in 1989, which establishes regular dialogues on cooperation between the EU and the GCC on economic relations, climate change, energy, the environment and research. “The EU-GCC strategic partnership is anchored in political dialogue, coordination and engagement, with the aim of promoting global and regional peace, security, and prosperity for the benefit of the people of our regions and beyond. Our past, present and future are interconnected. The time has come to deepen the EU-GCC partnership.” — António Costa, President of the European Council First EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, 16 October 2024 (background information) Background Together, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have a population of around 60 million people, the most populous countries being Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (35.3 million and 11.3 million inhabitants respectively, according to World Bank data). The Gulf holds almost a third of the world’s oil reserves. In 2025, the total value of trade between the EU and the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council amounted to €165.6 billion, with almost €110 billion in EU exports and €55.6 billion in EU imports. Over the last decade, EU-GCC trade increased by almost 30%, with imports growing by almost 54% and exports by almost 20%. The key traded goods are fuels, accounting for over 75% of the EU’s imports from GCC countries. In 2024 (the last year for which data is available), trade in services between the EU and Gulf Cooperation Council countries was worth €84.4 billion, with €28.2 billion in EU imports and €56.2 billion in EU exports. Trade in services between the EU and GCC countries more than doubled between 2014 and 2024 (+119%). In 2024, total EU foreign direct investment stock in the GCC region amounted to €163.1 billion, while the investment stock in the EU from the GCC region stood at €189.8 billion. EU trade relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (infographic)   Visit the website ● European Council

04/09/2026 11:31 | Press release | President António Costa's "Tour des Capitales": preview for week 3   The President of the European Council, António Costa, will continue his visits to EU member states to meet national leaders. During the "Tour des Capitales", President Costa will discuss the EU agenda with Heads of State or Government - with a strong focus on the Union's forthcoming long-term budget - and lay the groundwork for the next European Council meetings and international summits. Schedule for week 3 Next week, President Costa will meet the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, in Warsaw on 9 September. On the same day, he will meet the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, in Berlin. On 10 September, he will meet the Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, in Valletta, the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in Madrid, and the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, in Lisbon. On Sunday, 13 September, President Costa will be in Rovaniemi where he will meet the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo.  European Arctic Summit President Costa will participate, together with a group of European leaders, in the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi on 14 September. The aim of the summit is to strengthen the EU’s strategic approach to the Arctic region. Background In his two first weeks of visits, the President visited 13 countries: Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Czechia, Luxembourg, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia. The details of the final week of the “Tour des Capitales” will be announced on Friday 11 September. Read more here: President Costa visits EU capitals to discuss priorities   Visit the website