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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13793
Contents Publication in full By article 5 / 28
INSTITUTIONAL / General affairs

Cyprus priorities, Rule of law, ‘Democracy Shield’ and Montenegro at heart of first EU ‘General Affairs’ Council in 2026

On Monday 26 January, the European Affairs Ministers of the EU27 will meet in the ‘General Affairs’ Council to discuss the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the state of the Rule of law in the Member States and the future ‘European Democracy Shield’.

In the evening, they will be invited to Montenegro’s 25th EU accession conference, which will serve to provisionally close negotiations on Chapter 32, i.e. financial control.

Priorities of the Cyprus...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
INDIA: EU-India summit should seal negotiations on bilateral free trade agreement
ECUADOR: EU concludes negotiations with Quito on agreement to facilitate sustainable investment
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: EU close to agreement with US and Ukraine on ‘prosperity framework’ should there be peace
CIVIL PROTECTION: European Commission mobilises 447 emergency generators to supplement Ukrainian energy infrastructure, under attack by Russian strikes
INSTITUTIONAL
GENERAL AFFAIRS: Cyprus priorities, Rule of law, ‘Democracy Shield’ and Montenegro at heart of first EU ‘General Affairs’ Council in 2026
FUTURE OF THE EU: European federalists set out a number of urgent measures to strengthen EU’s sovereignty
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
CUSTOMS: discussions on future seat of EU Customs Authority intensify
ECONOMY: public deficit at 3.2% and public debt at 88.5% of GDP in euro area in third quarter of 2025
SECTORAL POLICIES
JUSTICE: faced with a confiscation rate of less than 2%, European ministers make better recovery of criminal assets a priority
AGRICULTURE: European ministers to discuss bioeconomy and organic farming on Monday 26 January
AGRICULTURE: European Commission works on EU Livestock Strategy
HOME AFFAIRS/CULTURE: European Justice Ministers ask European Commission to look into illegal export of cultural goods in EU
INDUSTRY: chemicals - EU Council to discuss “careful” alignment of climate ambitions with competitiveness imperatives on 29 January
COMPETITIVENESS: Industrial Accelerator Act - EPP and Renew Europe MEPs criticise new postponement decided by Commission
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
HOUSING: annual costs of around €60 higher on average means new EU ETS2 requires targeted support for most affected households
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
JUSTICE: Council of Europe denounces arrest and detention conditions in France
JUSTICE: Council of Europe evaluates Croatia’s and Estonia’s progress in fight against money laundering and terrorist financing
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: MEP Éric Sargiacomo appointed European Parliament rapporteur on reform of CMO rules
CLIMATE: European Commission consults on certification of carbon removals and carbon farming
ECONOMY: continuation of discussions in EU Council on loan to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027
GENDER EQUALITY/RESEARCH: European Commission launches a call for evidence to promote participation of women in research and innovation
EMPLOYMENT: Amazon representatives, invited to discuss warehouse working conditions, soon to have permanent access to European Parliament
UNITED STATES: partnership on critical materials - European Commission still waiting for EU27 to green light negotiation of an agreement with Washington
GREENLAND: Mette Frederiksen and Mark Rutte agree on need for greater NATO involvement in Arctic
MIGRATION: Frontex and EU Agency for Asylum sign a new working agreement to support forthcoming implementation of ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’
DIGITAL: Digital Networks Act - SME technology sector cautions against regulatory intervention
UGANDA: presidential elections - EU notes official results of Electoral Commission, but deplores violence
SERBIA/KOSOVO: Joint Commission on Missing Persons meets for first time in trilateral format