European Union

Calls for developed countries to prepare for the arrival of "climate refugees" and to expand the UN Refugee Convention accordingly are uninformed and, worse, counter-productive.

The relationship between one of Africa's smallest countries, run by the world's longest-serving dictator, remains difficult — especially after the European Parliament broke its 20-year silence on human rights in the country.

Moldova's president Maia Sandu recently said that the EU should let Moldova into the bloc "as soon as possible" to better protect the country against rising Russian threats.

The next ordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 28 June 2023 from 9.00 - 12.30hrs and 14.30 - 18.30 and on Thursday, 29 June 2023 from 9.00 - 12.30 in Brussels (room SPINELLI 1E2).

The meeting agenda and documents will be published here.

SEDE missions 2023:

• Armenia - 19-22 June 2023
  
• Romania and Moldova - 15-18 May 2023
  
• Djibouti and Somalia - 1-4 April 2023
  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - 20-23 February 2023
  

SEDE missions 2022:

• SEDE mission to South Korea and Japan - 18-22 December 2022
  
• SEDE mission to Niger from 31 October - 3 November 2022
  
• SEDE mission to Mozambique from 18-22 September 2022
  
• SEDE mission to France from 19-21 July 2022
  
• SEDE mission to Iraq from 24-28 May 2022
• SEDE mission to Georgia from 10-14 April 2022

SEDE meetings' calendar 2023
EP calendar 2023
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

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

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

The briefing will take place on Tuesday 30 May 2023 at 14.00

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel, 29 May – 3 June 2023

The Council adopted today a Regulation which renews the suspension of all customs duties, quotas and trade defence measures on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year, until June 2024. By renewing these measures the EU is continuing to demonstrate its unwavering political and economic support for Ukraine, which is still facing Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression.

WTO: Council approves an agreement on fisheries subsidies to boost environmental sustainability On 25 May 2023, the Council adopted a decision approving, on behalf of the EU, the conclusion of a World Trade Organization (WTO) protocol establishing a fisheries subsidies agreement. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is the first WTO agreement that focuses on environmental sustainability, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 (UN SDG).

At the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the European Central Bank, President Michel emphasised the key role the institution and the euro play in boosting European sovereignty.

Today the Council adopted its negotiating mandate to start talks with the European Parliament on a proposal to update EU legislation on cross-border waste shipments. The aim is to ensure that international shipments of waste don’t pose a threat to human health and the environment, and to promote the use of waste as a resource in a circular economy.

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming General Affairs Council will take place on 26 May 2023 at 12.00.

Council adopts conclusions on fair and sustainable use of space.

The co-legislators reached a provisional agreement on a European single access point (ESAP) which will make it easier for European companies and financial products to attract investors.

The Council approved conclusions on cyber defence stressing the need for the EU, its member states and partners to further strengthen their resilience to face cyber threats.

The Council confirms the participation of Denmark in PESCO.

Council adopts conclusions on scholarly publishing.

Following the EU-ROK summit, European Council President Charles Michel highlighted that the two partners share common interests and goals and continue strengthening their strategic partnership.

The Council decided to impose further restrictive measures on 5 individuals and 2 entities responsible for human rights violations in Iran.