European Council

The meeting of the European Council will take place on 18 and 19 December 2025 in the Europa building in Brussels. It will be preceded by the EU-Western Balkans summit on 17 December 2025.

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

At the 7th European Union-African Union summit in Luanda (Angola) on 24-25 November 2025, the EU and African Union leaders agreed on a joint declaration.

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council will take place on 26 November 2025 at 14.30.

On November 24, the President of the European Council, António Costa, participated in the European Union-African Union Summit in Luanda, Angola.

Remarks by President António Costa following the informal EU Leaders’ meeting of 24 November 2025 in Luanda

Today, the Council formally adopted the EU’s budget for 2026. This budget is the result of negotiations with the European Parliament that lead to an agreement on 15 November 2025.

The Council adopted a set of decisions establishing three assistance measures under the European Peace Facility in support of Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad. These measures aim to strengthen the capacities of beneficiary countries in military and defence matters, with the aim of promoting domestic resilience and peace.

Ahead of the European Union - African Union summit in Luanda, President António Costa and President Ursula von der Leyen shared their thoughts on the relationship between the EU and Africa.

President António Costa attended the G20 summit in Johannesburg. He spoke at Session III: "A fair and just future for all", on 23 November 2025.

G20 leaders met in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 22-23 November 2025 and agreed on a joint declaration.

President António Costa attended the G20 summit in Johannesburg. He spoke at Session II: "A resilient world", on 22 November 2025.

The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on an EU directive about harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law.

The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Tajikistan held its eleventh Cooperation Council meeting on 19 November, in Brussels, and reviewed the state of play of bilateral relations, and addressed political and socio-economic developments, trade, investment and energy cooperation, as well as regional and international issues.

The Council agreed its negotiating mandate to simplify the EU deforestation-free products regulation and postpone its application by one year to ensure effective implementation.

From 20 to 25 November 2025, the President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to South Africa and Angola. He will attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg, on 22-23 November. He will then co-chair the 7th summit between the European Union and the African Union, in Luanda, on 24-25 November.

The Council backs the Commission proposal on EU-Mercosur safeguard clauses, ensuring swift action to protect EU farmers from harmful import surges.

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

The Council has reached agreement on its negotiating position for a regulation establishing an EU digital travel application.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2136 of 17 October 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/2287 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Niger.