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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 13732/1), military and financial support for Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, climate action, economic competitiveness, migration and housing (see other news). Discussions will continue at the ‘General Affairs’ Council on Tuesday (see EUROPE 13733/13). See the draft conclusions of the European Council: https://aeur.eu/f/j1e (MB)

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