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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13776
Contents Publication in full By article 39 / 41
NEWS BRIEFS / Eu2026cy

Nikos Christodoulides to outline political priorities of Cyprus Presidency of EU Council on 21 December in Lefkara

18/12/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Sunday 21 December in Lefkara, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, will outline the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2026 (see EUROPE 13764/23). On his arrival at the European Council on Thursday 18 December, he cited “three objectives”: - “to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy”, by taking forward the issues (support for Ukraine, post-2027 multiannual financial framework, trade policy) on the summit agenda; - “to bring the European Union closer to the countries of the region and the Middle East in the broadest sense”; - “to provide answers to the major challenges facing European citizens on a daily basis, notably housing and the cost of energy”. (MB)

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
ECONOMY: unanimous agreement by EU27 to grant Ukraine a €90 billion loan from EU budget
UKRAINE: Volodymyr Zelensky calls for strong security guarantees to put end to Russian aggression
MERCOSUR: signing of trade agreement postponed by one month, Ursula von der Leyen tells EU27 leaders
BUDGET: rebates put on hold in negotiations for MFF 2028-2034, next meeting in March 2026 for European leaders
ENLARGEMENT: European Council reaffirms “geostrategic importance” of enlarged Union
MIGRATION: European Council calls to intensify work “on all aspects”
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: EU Council and European Parliament reach agreement on new concepts of ‘safe third countries’ and ‘safe countries of origin’ in record time
CLIMATE: 2040 target - European Commission insists on its right of initiative to submit new legislative proposals
TRANSPORT: MEP Jens Gieseke wants to streamline European Commission’s proposal to revise rules governing roadworthiness tests
AGRICULTURE: European Commission presents a roadmap for revising organic farming rules
GMOs: European Commission authorises products containing genetically modified maize DAS1131
FISHERIES: EU shipowners concerned about partial international agreement on mackerel stocks
ENERGY: in front of Energy Community, EU defends regulation on ban of Russian gas imports
DIGITAL: BEUC urges Member States not to back European Commission’s digital simplification package
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
FINANCE: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on retail investment package
ECB: Frankfurt institute keeps key rates unchanged
FINANCE/CLIMATE: European Commission publishes guidelines on reporting of activities and economic assets eligible or aligned with taxonomy
FINANCE/CLIMATE: guidelines on fund names have helped reduce greenwashing, ESMA concludes in report
EXTERNAL ACTION
MERCOSUR: the new safeguard clause agreed between the EU co-legislators does not yet clear the way for the agreement to be signed
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
BUDGET/RULE OF LAW: MEPs propose improvements for better application of Rule of law conditionality regime
BELARUS: hybrid attacks, European Parliament calls for sanctions
FISHERIES: MEPs call for emergency fund to speed up fleet renewal
FOOD SAFETY: European Parliament not opposed to raising thresholds for acetamiprid in honey
AZERBAIJAN: European Parliament calls for researchers and academics Bahruz Samadov, Igbal Abilov, and Gubad Ibadoghlu to be released
NIGERIA: European Parliament denounces mass abduction of children
GUINEA-BISSAU: following military coup, European Parliament urges EU to immediately review its funding to Bissau
MONEY LAUNDERING: European Parliament approves appointment of Henrica Verbeek-Kusters as member of AMLA Executive Board
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
RULE OF LAW: Polish Constitutional Court has failed to comply with several fundamental principles of EU law, confirms Court of Justice
MIGRATION: CJEU sets aside EU General Court ruling dismissing Frontex’s liability for possible fundamental rights violations
JUSTICE/DIGITAL: people filmed by pedestrian cameras must be duly informed about processing of their data, says CJEU
INTERNAL MARKET/DIGITAL: imposition of minimum rates for delivery of books falls within rules on free movement of goods, according to CJEU
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: exposure to asbestos - Commission publishes guidelines and an extended recommendation on recognition of occupational diseases
INSTITUTIONAL
FUTURE OF THE EU: Europe’s Social Democrats reject attempts by Trump administration to weaken Europe
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: combating antisemitism—as Ursula von der Leyen celebrates Euro-Hanukkah, she warns against return of “old evil”
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: EU Council formally adopts ‘package’ simplifying rules of Common Agricultural Policy
HUMANITARIAN AID: European Commission is providing €4 million for protection of humanitarian workers
DEFENCE: EU Council adopts interinstitutional agreement on ‘mini-omnibus for defence’
ENVIRONMENT: EU Council adopts revised text on combating imported deforestation
EU2026CY: Nikos Christodoulides to outline political priorities of Cyprus Presidency of EU Council on 21 December in Lefkara
RUSSIA: EU imposes sanctions on another 41 vessels in shadow fleet
CORRIGENDUM
EMPLOYMENT: European Parliament called on European Commission for a ‘proposal’ on use of algorithmic management at work