EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 13 March 2025

● European Council   13/03/2025 16:48 | Statements and remarks | EU - South Africa Summit Declaration   1. We, the Leaders of South Africa and the European Union, met today to re-affirm our unwavering support for our Strategic Partnership based on shared values of democracy, human rights, equality and sovereignty. 2. Our meeting took place against the backdrop of rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability, heightened conflict, deepening inequality, increasing global economic uncertainty, and fragmentation, as well as climate emergency. In the face of this challenging political and socio-economic

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,EUROGROUP,update

 

Meetings Wednesday, 12 March 2025

● Council of the EU   12/03/2025 20:22 | Meetings | Main results - Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 12 March 2025   Industry and internal market ministers exchanged views on four issues: competitiveness of European industry, the future of the single market, the simplification omnibuses and the EU industry in the context of carbon border adjustment mechanism.

● Council of the EU

12/03/2025 15:24 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Foreign Affairs Council of 17 March 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council will take place on Friday, 14 March 2025 at 14.30.

EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EU,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 11 March 2025

● European Council   11/03/2025 11:05 | Speech | Report by President António Costa to the European Parliament plenary session   The European Union is living a defining moment. The sense of urgency is upon us. Geopolitical tensions have risen over the last weeks. Multilateralism is under enormous pressure, and so is the rules-based international order. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine entered its third year and the threat it represents has wider implications for Europe and international security.  This is exactly why last week the European Council took fast and ambitious decisions on defence and Ukraine. We are putting our money where our mouth is. We are delivering on what we promised. Three years ago precisely today, in Versailles, we decided to boost Europe’s defence, to build the Europe of Defence. Three years ago, we laid the foundation of what we decided last week.

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,EUROGROUP,update

 

Press material Wednesday, 19 February 2025

● Council of the EU   19/02/2025 03:35 | Press release | Council and Parliament agree to reduce food waste and set new rules on waste textile   Today, the Council presidency and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional agreement on the targeted revision of the waste framework directive, setting EU targets for food waste reduction by 2030 and measures towards a more sustainable and less waste-producing textile sector. The agreement still needs to be confirmed by both institutions before going through the formal adoption procedure. Less food waste by 2030 The two co-legislators agreed on ambitious yet realistic targets on food waste by 2030: reduction by 10% in processing and manufacturing waste compared to the average amount of food waste generated in these sectors in 2021-2023 reduction by 30% per capita in waste from retail, restaurants, food services and households compared to the average amount of food waste generated in these sectors in 2021-2023 Those targets are the first-ever to be established at EU level. The agreement also provides for the voluntary donation of unsold food that is safe for human consumption as an important aspect of reducing food waste.

Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 17 February 2025

 

Press material Monday, 17 February 2025

● Eurogroup   17/02/2025 20:33 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 17 February 2025   We began our February Eurogroup meeting by welcoming the Bulgarian Minister for Finance, Temenuzhka Petkova, who updated us on Bulgaria's progress towards fulfilling the criteria to adopt the euro. We appreciate Bulgaria’s ongoing efforts and its commitment to economic stability and convergence with the euro area. We continue to monitor its progress towards the objective of joining the euro area. Once Bulgaria considers it is ready to submit a request for ad hoc convergence reports to the Commission and the ECB, it will be for the institutions to assess whether all the criteria to guarantee a successful integration into the euro area are fulfilled. In the meantime, the Eurogroup is supportive of Bulgaria's ambition on its path towards the introduction of the euro at the appropriate time. We then turned to a discussion on economic developments and prospects for the euro area in a rapidly evolving global landscape. We get questions every day about announcements from other countries and what they mean for the euro area. I can understand this interest and the need for answers. The institutions today presented us with their analysis and views and we had a very useful exchange. The discussion today confirmed the clear determination of all members of the euro area to remain united on the issues at hand. We remembered that we've already steered through several crises and come out stronger. Parts of our economy are still adjusting to the energy shock, but fundamentally, we have been more resilient than many would have expected. We outlined today the work that we need to do. We recommitted ourselves to familiar projects. We acknowledged the strength of what is there within the euro area at the moment - the credible policies to bring down inflation, deficits and debt. A diversified economy with a rich structure of firms that have established global value chains, skilled workers, quality infrastructure, a knowledge economy, high savings rates, and a stable and well regulated financial sector. Yes, there are concerns. There is work to do, but we are very clearly a strong link in the world economy. On the subject of further work to do, our next item was on the recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area for 2025, which sets out three priority areas where euro area member states and the Eurogroup will be taking action. I'm pleased to announce that the Eurogroup agreed to this recommendation, based on the proposal of the Commission. In the current complex economic environment, the euro area recommendation is as relevant as ever, in particular where it relates to competitiveness, resilience and macroeconomic and financial stability. The annual euro area recommendation holds significant political weight, but past recommendations have not always been used to the full potential. So there was agreement amongst ministers on making enhanced use of the recommendation through more structured, more effective and more consistent follow up, particularly in shaping the future Eurogroup's competitiveness agenda. We also adopted our work programme until July, which is about putting into practice the policy priorities that we discussed in January and February. Ultimately, we're here to deliver results for our economies, for our citizens, and to navigate through choppy waters. The work programme focussed on five priority policy areas: budget coordination; keeping up the momentum of capital markets union; progressing with the banking union; competitiveness with the objective of building on our work from last year and focussing notably on productivity; and finally a common currency, notably the digital euro project and the international role of the euro, which comes into fresh focus in a fast-evolving geopolitical landscape. This is all reflected in the work programme we just issued, which I encourage you to consider. We then finished with a presentation of the policy priorities of the new governments of Belgium and of my own country, Ireland, which brought our meeting to a close.

Eurogroup, 17 February 2025

 

Meetings Monday, 17 February 2025

● Eurogroup   17/02/2025 21:07 | Meetings | Main results - Eurogroup, 17 February 2025   The Eurogroup received an update from Bulgarian Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova on the country’s progress towards adopting the euro. Ministers also reviewed the euro area’s macroeconomic outlook and discussed the draft recommendation for economic policy of the euro area in 2025. Ministers also approved the Eurogroup’s work programme up to July 2025.

Eurogroup
Eurogroup, 17 February 2025

Main results
Update from Bulgaria on the state of convergence

EUROGROUP update

 

Press material Tuesday, 11 February 2025

● Eurogroup   11/02/2025 10:36 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Eurogroup meeting of 17 February 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Eurogroup meeting will take place on Thursday, 13 February at 14.30. The briefing will be "off the record" and will be given by Tuomas Saarenheimo, President of the Eurogroup Working Group.

EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Meetings Monday, 20 January 2025

● Eurogroup   20/01/2025 20:34 | Meetings | Main results - Eurogroup, 20 January 2025   The Eurogroup discussed the priorities and challenges of the euro area in the context of the new European policy cycle. Ministers explored the use of innovative technologies in wholesale transaction settlements and reviewed progress on the digital euro project.

● European Council

EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Meetings Thursday, 16 January 2025

● Council of the EU   16/01/2025 15:23 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - General Affairs Council, 28 January 2025   Ministers will hear a presentation of the Polish presidency priorities and hold a country-specific discussion in the framework of the annual rule of law dialogue.

● Eurogroup

16/01/2025 14:55 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Eurogroup, 20 January 2025   The Eurogroup will discuss the priorities and challenges of the euro area in the context of the new European policy cycle. Ministers will exchange views on the Commission’s draft euro area recommendation for 2025. They will also explore the use of innovative technologies in wholesale transaction settlements and review progress on the digital euro project. ● Council of the EU   17/01/2025 11:31 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 21 January 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will take place on Monday, 20 January 2025 at 11.00. 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 this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Monday, 20 January 2025 at 10.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.

EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 14 January 2025

● Eurogroup   14/01/2025 10:49 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Eurogroup meeting of 20 January 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Eurogroup meeting will take place on Thursday, 16 January at 10.00. The briefing will be "off the record" and will be given by Tuomas Saarenheimo, President of the Eurogroup Working Group. 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. If you haven't registered for one of the previous Eurogroup press events, please use this link to do so and have the possibility to ask questions remotely. Deadline for registration: Thursday, 16 January at 09.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.

● European Council

13/01/2025 16:54 | Press release | Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council   As I have already indicated to you, I would like to invite you to an informal retreat that

EUROGROUP, COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, update

 

Meetings Tuesday, 10 December 2024

● Council of the EU   10/12/2024 09:01 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 13 December 2024   On the second day of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, ministers of justice will aim to reach a common position on directives to curb migrant smuggling, to combat child sexual abuse and to harmonise certain aspects of insolvency law.   ● Council of the EU   10/12/2024 08:49 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 12 December 2024

EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Saturday, 07 December 2024

● European Council   07/12/2024 10:13 | Press release | Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council   I am delighted to invite you to my first European Council meeting as President of the European Council, which will be taking place on Thursday 19 December, as well as to the EU-Western Balkans Summit on Wednesday 18 December, both in Brussels. You have already received the draft annotated agenda of the European Council meeting. The situation in Ukraine will be at the forefront of our discussions. I have just returned from a visit to Kyiv, on the first day of my mandate. We need to stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary and do whatever it takes for Russia’s invasion to be defeated and international law to prevail.

EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, update

 

Press material Friday, 06 December 2024

● Council of the EU   06/12/2024 11:08 | Press release | Digital infrastructure: Council approves conclusions on the Commission’s White Paper   At the initiative of the Hungarian presidency, today the Council approved conclusions on the Commission’s White Paper titled ‘How to master EU’s digital infrastructure needs’.  Extensive transformations, driven by rapid technological progress, have been shaping the electronic communications sector, as well as the whole digital landscape in the past decade. The cross-sectoral nature of the digital transition also signifies that its impact extends well beyond the digital realm, touching upon environmental and societal aspects, as well. “Today’s comprehensive set of conclusions provide a clear political guidance on what Europe needs in terms of digital infrastructure in the coming years to improve its competitiveness and address the current and future challenges.” — Zoltán Kovács, Hungarian minister of state for international communication and relations In light of the Commission’s White Paper and the recent Draghi and Letta reports, the Council conclusions aim to take stock of the progress made at European level, with particular attention to digital infrastructures, while identifying the numerous challenges that still lie ahead. The conclusions also aim to convey a comprehensive set of messages on fostering innovation, ensuring security and resilience, promoting fair competition, and driving investments in digital infrastructures to advance the EU's competitiveness and digital transformation goals.