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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13734
Contents Publication in full By article 24 / 28
NEWS BRIEFS / European council

Diplomats and ministers seek balance in EU position on Ukraine, defence and economic competitiveness

20/10/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 20 October, the ambassadors of the Member States of the European Union (Coreper) continued their preparations for the European Council meeting on Thursday 23 October on the basis of a second set of draft conclusions. Dated Friday 17 October, this text refines the position of the EU27 on the following issues: European defence (see EUROPE B13732A1), military and financial support for Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, climate action,...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
MIDDLE EAST: European foreign ministers discuss specific support for Donald Trump’s peace plan
IRAQ: EU to observe parliamentary elections on 11 November
INDO-PACIFIC: European foreign ministers agree on EU’s enhanced role as “reliable partner” in region
INDIA: EU Council calls for discussion on “all aspects” of fight against Russian aggression
SUDAN: European foreign affairs ministers call on warring parties to negotiate
MEDITERRANEAN: Níkos Christodoulídis announces informal European summit to be held on 23 and 24 April 2026
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: European foreign ministers want to step up sanctions against Russian fleet
SECTORAL POLICIES
ENERGY: EU Council adopts its position on ‘REPowerEU’ regulation for a complete phasing out of Russian gas
ENERGY: pro-nuclear and pro-renewable energy countries meet to advance their respective agendas
AGRICULTURE: European Commission unveils its strategy to double number of young farmers by 2040
AGRICULTURE: initial negotiations between EU Council and European Parliament on CAP simplification measures end in failure
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: European Commission due to unveil ambitious strategy for bioeconomy on 13 November
COMPETITIVENESS/CLIMATE: European Council expected to call for realistic 2040 climate target
DIGITAL: European Council should call on Commission to remain “ambitious” in its forthcoming initiatives on AI and ‘cloud’
DIGITAL: EDPB finds new UK data protection framework compliant, but calls on European Commission to be “vigilant”
HEALTH: European Commission adopts detailed rules for joint clinical assessments of medical devices
MIGRATION: led by Belgium, twenty States confirm their desire for joint action at EU level to speed up return of Afghans
TRANSPORT: number of road deaths decreased by 2% between 2023 and 2024, according to European Commission
INSTITUTIONAL
TRANSPARENCY: European Court of Auditors calls for greater transparency in European funding of NGOs
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: European Parliament adds to its agenda debates on a just peace in Ukraine and persecution of journalists in Italy
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL: 14 EU countries urge Commission to give proposals on coordinating social security rules one last chance
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
Interview GENDER EQUALITY: Magnus Heunicke “regrets” that 2024 directive did not include a definition of rape based on consent but now sees a possibility
NEWS BRIEFS
COMPETITION: unannounced inspections by European Commission in ski equipment sector
EUROPEAN COUNCIL: diplomats and ministers seek balance in EU position on Ukraine, defence and economic competitiveness
ENLARGEMENT: according to Marta Kos, Ukraine and Moldova are ready to open all sets of negotiation clusters on EU accession
CHINA: EU seeks solutions to Chinese restrictions on rare earths
HOUSING: EU27 to call for rapid presentation of a European Affordable Housing Plan
NIGER: EU extends sanctions for one year