17/07/2026 (Agence Europe) – At the 26th Franco-German Council of Ministers, held on Friday 17 July near Cologne, the two countries stressed, “in the light of geopolitical developments”, the need to reform the European Union’s internal organisation on external action, “so as to enable the EU to deliver firmer, faster and better coordinated responses on the international stage”. According to them, the European Council of October 2026 should ask the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU to begin this work, notably within the EU Council, with a view to stronger and better coordinated EU external action. “This work should address the role and institutional organisation of the EU institutions and bodies concerned, notably the HRVP, the Commission and the EEAS”, France and Germany explained in their joint declaration. The Franco-German Council of Ministers wants the Presidency to report to the European Council by the end of 2026. See the statements: https://aeur.eu/f/myf ; https://aeur.eu/f/mxx (CG)