European Council

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 17-25 January 2026.

Council gives its final approval to the amended EuroHPC regulation.

The Council decided to prolong existing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad by another year.

Press briefing ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will take place on 19 January at 10.30. The briefing will be "off the record".

The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will travel to India to represent the EU in the 16th EU-India Summit, scheduled to take place on 27 January.

On 14 January 2026, European Council President António Costa delivered a speech at the New Year's reception co-hosted by the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend the EU-Mercosur signature ceremony in Asunción, Paraguay on 17 January 2026. Ahead of the ceremony, on 16 January, President Costa and President von der Leyen will visit Rio de Janeiro to meet President Lula of Brazil.

Press briefing ahead of the Eurogroup meeting will take place on 15 January 2026 at 14.00. 

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the situation in Iran.

President of the Eurogroup, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, issued a statement on the nominations for the post of ECB Vice-President.

The Council adopted the decisions authorising the signature of the EU-Mercosur Partnership and Interim Trade Agreements, advancing political cooperation, trade partnership and sustainable development between the EU and Mercosur.

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 12 January - 18 January 2026.

European Council President António Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen met with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, in Beirut, Lebanon, as part of the official visit to Lebanon on 9 January 2026.

European Council President António Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen met with the President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, Syria, as part of the official visit to Syria on 9 January 2026.

The Council prolonged EU restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guatemala until 13 January 2027.

On 8 January 2026, European Council President António Costa attended the EU-Jordan summit in Amman, Jordan. In his opening remarks, he emphasised that EU-Jordan relations are strong and will only get stronger. Our strategic and comprehensive partnership is a key milestone. 

At the Jordan-EU summit in Amman, Jordan on 8 January 2026, the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, representing the EU, and King Abdullah II of Jordan, issued a joint statement.

President António Costa travelled to Nicosia (Cyprus) to attend the opening ceremony of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union where he delivered a speech.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2594 of 15 December 2025 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.