European Union

The Council issued a statement on the lifting of EU economic sanctions on Syria.

President Costa and President von der Leyen received letters of credence from ten new Ambassadors to the European Union and one letter of mission from a new Delegate-General.

A provisional agreement enhances EMSA's role in addressing maritime challenges, like cyber threats, pollution, and the greening of maritime transport.

The Council adopted conclusions on Yemen, in which it expresses grave concerns over the situation in the country and calls for a renewed momentum in the peace efforts.

The Council imposed restrictive measures on three entities belonging to the Russian Armed forces, responsible for the development and use of chemical weapons.

The Council imposed restrictive measures against 21 individuals and 6 entities responsible for Russia’s destabilising actions against the EU and its member states and broadened the scope of the sanctions regime to target physical and digital assets, as well as media outlets.

The Council imposed restrictive measures on 28 individuals responsible for serious violations of human rights, the repression of democratic opposition, and activities seriously undermining the rule of law in Russia.

The Council adopted a 17th package of economic and individual restrictive designed to massively target Putin’s shadow fleet and weaken Russia’s military and industrial complex.

As part of the revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation, the European Commission presented in December 2023 a proposal for new rules on the protection of animals during transport.

The text almost mirrors the draft first reported by Euractiv earlier this month.

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about Germany showing signs of ending its anti-nuclear stance, Spain's Sánchez turning to the Arab world for a UN Gaza push, and so much more.

Slovakia’s silence on rejecting an EU tribunal for Russian aggression, despite championing international law, draws criticism from experts and opposition.

PiS-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki signed a far-right pledge by Sławomir Mentzen to secure his second-round support.

Two landmark Italian court rulings have reignited the LGBTQ+ parenthood debate, clashing with Meloni’s hardline stance and restrictive laws.

Kushner's mission extends beyond diplomacy – and his past is nearly impossible to ignore.

Spain leans into its long-held mediator role in the Middle East as Sánchez turns to Erdoğan for support on Gaza at the UN.

Constitutional experts doubt that conditionality will be effective in the long term, especially if richer member states begin to violate EU values.

The next meeting of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 from 9:00 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 18:30 in Brussels (ANTALL 4Q2).

Further information about the meeting can be found here.

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SEDE missions 2025:

• Moldova and Ukraine - 14-17 April 2025
  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - 24-27 February 2025
• Israel and Palestine - 5-8 February 2025

SEDE missions 2024:

• United Kingdom - 28-30 October 2024
• Ukraine - 25-26 October 2024

SEDE Committee meetings' calendar 2025
EP calendar 2025
SEDE meetings' calendar 2nd half of 2024 - 10th legislature
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Political leaders continue to pour public money and political capital into carbon capture and storage. But major doubts surround this much-touted climate-fix technology.

Deals under the EU's soon-to-launch 'SAFE' joint defence procurement deal could move at high speed for Brussels.