COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

Presidency Month in Review: September 30/09/2026 | Article Presidency Month in Review: September Ireland’s eighth Presidency of the Council of the European Union continued at pace with a vast array of high-level engagements, meetings, events and cultural initiatives taking place across Ireland and Europe throughout the month of September. Read on to find out more about the programme of work Ireland has undertaken during September. Visit the website

● Council of the EU

01/10/2026 13:07 | Press release | Council adopts new rules on return for those with no right to stay in the EU   Today, the Council gave its final green light to new EU rules enabling more effective returns for those with no legal right to stay in the EU. As envisaged under the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration, the new rules, which will come into force in the coming weeks, complement the pact on migration and asylum and will contribute to its successful implementation. The new rules impose obligations on those who have no right to stay in the EU. They outline EU-wide procedures for their return, including stricter rules for returning those posing a security threat. The rules provide more tools for member states to implement returns. They also open the possibility for member states to establish return hubs in non-EU countries. All measures related to return must be carried out in full respect of fundamental rights. “Around two in three people ordered to leave the EU do not actually leave. The revised return rules adopted today will assist member states in implementing swift returns effectively. This is crucial to deliver a common approach to migration management under the pact on migration and asylum.” — Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration of Ireland Obligations for those with no right to stay The new rules impose obligations on non-EU nationals who have no right to stay in the EU to leave the member state concerned and to cooperate with the authorities. Failure to respect the obligation to cooperate can lead to sanctions, including reduced benefits and allowances granted in accordance with national law, refusal of incentives granted to promote voluntary return, financial penalties or even criminal sanctions, where such are foreseen in national law. European return order and mutual recognition of return decisions The new rules introduce a European Return Order, a form on which member states will have to insert the key elements of the return decision. This will give member states the necessary information to recognise return decisions issued by other member states. The mutual recognition of return decisions will remain voluntary for the time being and will be reassessed three years after the new rules enter into force. The Commission may then table a legislative proposal to make mutual recognition mandatory. Return of people posing security risks The new rules introduce special measures for non-EU nationals who pose a security risk. For instance, member states may issue an indefinite entry ban where justified and proportionate to the security risk posed or detain such non-EU nationals for a period longer than 24 months. Return hubs in non-EU countries The new rules will allow member states to return persons who have no right to stay in the EU and who received a return decision to return hubs established in non-EU countries. This requires the conclusion of an agreement or arrangement with the non-EU country in question. Any such agreement or arrangement may only be concluded with a non-EU country that respects international human rights standards and principles of international law, including the principle of non-refoulement. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from such agreements or arrangements. Next steps The regulation will now be published in the EU official journal and will enter into force on the following day. A number of provisions, such as those on return hubs, will apply immediately. Other provisions requiring preparatory work will apply one year after entry into force. Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union Council and Parliament reach deal on returns of illegally staying third-country nationals (press release, 1 June 2026) Migration and asylum (background information) EU Law Tracker, Proposal for a Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   01/10/2026 12:33 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - 10th EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council, 5 October 2026   The 10th Association Council between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova will take place on Monday, 5 October in Brussels.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   30/09/2026 20:15 | Press release | Rafah crossing point: Council appoints new head of EU border assistance mission   On 29 September 2026, the Council appointed Col. Vittorio Stingo as the new Head of the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah). He will take up his duties on 1 November 2026 for an initial mandate of eight months, until 30 June 2027. He succeeds Ms. Nataliya Apostolova, who has headed the mission since 2023. As Head of EUBAM Rafah, Col. Stingo will lead the EU’s civilian, non-executive mission at the Rafah Crossing Point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. EUBAM Rafah provides a neutral third-party presence at the crossing, monitors and supports the work of Palestinian border personnel, and provides technical advice and assistance on border management. The Head of Mission is responsible for the overall direction and management of the Mission, including the implementation of its mandate, coordination with relevant parties and the effective delivery of its operational and capacity-building activities. EUBAM Rafah does not have an executive mandate: responsibility for the operation of the crossing remains with the Palestinian border authorities. Col. Stingo is an Italian Carabinieri officer with extensive experience in international operations, security cooperation and border and law enforcement matters. He has held senior General Staff and command positions within the Carabinieri and, since September 2023, has served as Chief of Staff of the Mobile Units Division in Rome, responsible for public order and security operations across Italy. Background Launched in November 2005, EUBAM Rafah is a civilian, non-executive mission which advises and provides technical assistance to the Palestinian border personnel at the Rafah Crossing Point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Its role is to provide a third-party presence at the crossing point and build confidence between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. After being placed on hold in 2007 following the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the mission has redeployed in January 2025 and again in February 2026, enabling the opening of the Rafah Crossing Point for more than 13 thousand people up to now. On 28 September 2026, the Council has renewed the Mission’s mandate until 30 June 2027. Curriculum vitae - Vittorio Stingo PSC Decision on the appointment of the Head of Mission of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) EU CSDP civilian missions: Council renews mandates of EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS until 30 June 2027 (press release, 28 September 2026) EUBAM Rafah (official website)   Visit the website ● General Secretariat of the Council   Shared futures –sub-Saharan Africa in the global critical minerals supply chain   Sub-Saharan Africa is rich in minerals that are essential to the global energy transition. A recent Council Library lecture explored the region’s role in global supply chains and the opportunities and challenges of turning mineral wealth into local value.   Read full post ● Council of the EU   30/09/2026 17:04 | Press release | Simplification: Council agrees negotiating stance to fast track environmental assessments   The Council today set its position on a proposal to simplify and accelerate environmental assessments. The aim is to allow project developers to benefit from simplified and accelerated procedures for environmental assessments, including single points of contact, digitalisation and streamlined timelines. 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 Irish presidency is determined to deliver on the implementation of the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap. Today, we took another step to deliver on the ‘Omnibus VIII’ package with simpler and more proportionate rules that reduce unnecessary burdens and accelerate environmental assessments while preserving the Union’s high standards for environmental protection to the benefit of our citizens and businesses. The Irish presidency is fully committed to working in pursuit of the ambitious deadline for agreement with the European Parliament by the end of the year.” — Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European affairs and defence of Ireland “Today’s agreement on a negotiating mandate is another important step in delivering simplification of EU rules on environmental assessments. This targeted package will make environmental assessment procedures clearer, more efficient and predictable, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens for project developers while fully maintaining the EU’s high standards of environmental protection.” — James Browne, Minister for housing, local government and heritage of Ireland The ‘Omnibus VIII’ 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) Today’s agreement on environmental assessments complements the negotiating mandates on the second and third elements of the package agreed by member states’ representatives (Coreper) on 24 June 2026. Member states also agreed today that a targeted solution should be explored with regard to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations under the Packaging and Packaging Waste regulation, due to a possible disproportionate burden placed on small producers of packaging. Main amendments introduced by the Council The Council’s position on RSEA includes the following main elements: an exhaustive list of strategic projects that shall be subject to a new “toolbox” and the accelerated procedures under this regulation has been drawn up; it is, however, possible for the co-legislators to specifically include new types of projects by making a reference to this regulation in future legislative acts the text streamlines as many sectoral permitting provisions as possible so far as environmental assessments are concerned, including a number of provisions from the net zero industry regulation (NZIA), the so-called chips act and the critical raw materials act (CRMA) the time limits proposed by the Commission were extended to ensure that competent authorities remain able to carry out all steps prescribed by relevant legislation the provision on substantial preclusion was amended to ensure full compliance with the Aarhus Convention, the UN convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters the scope of the provision pertaining to the Habitats and Birds Directives has been extended to include well defined recurring activities, for instance forestry and watercourse maintenance, with additional safeguards against negative impact on animal and plant populations also added. Finally, on the issue of the single point of contact (SPOC), the mandate respects the calls for sufficient flexibility, especially for member states with decentralised administrative structures, while acknowledging the need to prevent fragmentation amongst SPOCs already established under other legislative instruments, or to be established by future legislation. Next steps The presidency will enter negotiations with the European Parliament on this file as soon as the latter adopts its own position with a view to reaching a speedy provisional agreement on the overall package. 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’). 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. Regulation on speeding up environmental assessments, Commission proposal, 10 December 2025 Simplification: Council agrees negotiating stance to simplify and strengthen environmental rules, Council press release, 24 June 2026 Regulation on speeding up environmental assessments – EU Law tracker (timeline) Simplification of EU rules (background information)   Visit the website