European Council

Press briefing ahead of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy) will take place on 16 October at 17:00. The briefing will be "off the record".

The second Summit between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, originally planned for 24 October 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed. A new date will be announced in due course.

In their second review of the joint declaration and roadmap, designed to boost economic growth, the EU institutions reaffirmed their commitment to timely delivery.

Approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

EU leaders and social partners met in Brussels for the Tripartite Social Summit, a twice-yearly forum for dialogue that brings together the leaders of the EU institutions and the European social partners. Today’s discussion focused on ‘Driving Europe Forward’.

Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the Tripartite Social Summit on 14 October 2026.

The High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on the postponement of elections in Palestina.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The EU and Moldova opened negotiations on the EU acquis related to internal market, competitiveness and inclusive growth.

The EU and Ukraine opened negotiations on the EU acquis related to internal market, competitiveness and inclusive growth.

The EU and Albania provisionally closedaccession negotiations on enterprise and industrial policy (chapter 20).

Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis will represent the Eurogroup at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand.

Council approves conclusions on inclusive democratic participation, and societal and community resilience.

The EU and Montenegro provisionally closed accession negotiations on economic and monetary policy (chapter 17), statistics (chapter 18) and social policy and employment (chapter 19).

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The second annual EU-UK Summit after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will take place in Brussels on 20 November 2026.

The Council approved conclusions on the EU’s main negotiating positions ahead of the United Nations climate change (COP31) and biodiversity (COP17) summits.

President of the European Council, António Costa, delivered a speech at the opening session of the 24th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, on 12 October 2026.

The Council adopted restrictive measures against three individuals and four entities supporting North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction programmes and violating UN sanctions, including through Russia-DPRK cooperation.

The Council has established the EU Support Mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces and support stability in the country.