European Council

The Council has adopted restrictive measures against 826 Russian companies and 743 individuals active in Russia’s military-industrial complex in single largest set of listings since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Council has adopted restrictive measures against 77 individuals who were involved -as either candidates or members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation- in the illegal so-called 'elections' for the Russian State Duma, held in September 2026 in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily and illegally occupied.

The press briefing will take place on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at 14.30.

The Council has prolonged the application of the framework for restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons for five years, until 30 October 2031, and the validity of individual listings within that framework, for one year until 30 October 2027.

The Council formally adopted the regulation establishing the programme for agile and rapid defence innovation (AGILE), a new €115 million programme designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises developing emerging and disruptive defence products.

International Criminal Court: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU following the announcement of US sanctions.

European Council President, António Costa, had a meeting with Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten, on 9 October 2026, in the Hague. The meeting is part of President Costa's annual "Tour des Capitales".

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

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 12-18 October 2026.

Press conference and technical briefing on the MFF will take place on 10 October at 11.00. 

The Council adopted targeted amendments to the market stability reserve (MSR) under the EU’s emissions trading system for the buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2).

The Council agreed its position on the market integration and supervision package (MISP), the centrepiece of the savings and investments union (SIU) and a key part of the EU’s ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap. The package aims to strengthen EU capital markets and the EU’s long-term competitiveness.

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

Today, the Council removed Panama and Viet Nam from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, bringing the total number of jurisdictions on the list to 8.

The Council extended EU restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua by one year, until 15 October 2027.

Council adopts new laws to simplify rules on security and defence procurement, accelerate permit-granting procedures and strengthen defence readiness.

The Council has appointed Carlo Comporti as chairperson of the European securities and markets authority (ESMA).

Remarks by Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis on global energy markets, the effectiveness of public finances and fiscal challenges, progress on the capital markets union, and international economic developments.

European Council President António Costa invited leaders to the meeting of 15 and 16 October 2026 in Brussels, during which they will discuss competitiveness, Ukraine, the next Multiannual Financial Framework, Middle East, defence and security, migration, and enlargement and reforms. 

The Council extended EU restrictive measures against those responsible for Russia’s destabilising activities against the EU and its member states and partners by one year, until 9 October 2027.