EU Council

The EU is pushing to develop its own payment infrastructure, reducing reliance on US-operated networks such as Visa and Mastercard. The Council of the EU has highlighted the strategic importance of European payment sovereignty, arguing that dependence on foreign card schemes leaves the bloc vulnerable and costs money in fees. Debate centres on scaling up home-grown solutions like Wero and possible regulation to support a unified European alternative.

The Council of the European Union has identified the first five projects of common interest for the European defence industry, a step meant to boost cooperation between member states' defence manufacturers and strengthen Europe's capacity to produce military equipment collectively. The move is part of broader EU efforts to deepen defence integration in response to security concerns on the continent.

The Council of the European Union has adopted the so-called pharma package, a major revision of the bloc's pharmaceutical legislation aimed at making the sector fairer and more competitive. The reform is intended to modernise rules on medicines' authorisation, availability and affordability across EU member states, and now forms part of the Union's wider health policy agenda.

Greece has announced plans to establish a European deportation centre in Africa during its EU Council presidency, which begins in summer 2027. The government says preparations are reportedly already underway. The proposal revives long-debated plans to process returns and deportations outside Europe, a highly contentious idea among EU member states, human rights groups and migration experts.

A rally in support of residents of Oleshky, a Ukrainian town in Kherson region under Russian occupation, is taking place in Brussels. It began at 10:00 near the Schuman roundabout, as EU officials meet. Organisers are drawing attention to a humanitarian crisis in the town, where people have limited access to food, water and electricity.

The Council of the European Union has decided to extend the mandate of EUBAM Rafah, the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah crossing point, until 30 June 2027. The announcement was made by the European External Action Service. The mission concerns the monitoring of the crossing between Gaza and Egypt, and the extension signals continued EU commitment to a border presence in the region.

The Council of the European Union has announced measures to strengthen the EU's architecture for responding to threats in space. The move is part of broader European efforts to protect space-based infrastructure, such as satellites and navigation systems, which are increasingly vital to security, communications and the economy. Details of the specific measures were not immediately available, but the announcement underlines growing EU concern about vulnerabilities in orbit.

The Council of the EU is asking whether Europe should develop its own payment system, reducing dependence on non-European card networks and platforms. The debate centres on achieving strategic autonomy in retail payments, with supporters arguing a European alternative would strengthen sovereignty and cut reliance on US-based providers like Visa and Mastercard, while critics question the cost and viability of such an ambitious project.

The Council of the European Union has given its final approval to updated rules on social security coordination, which determine how workers' pension, unemployment and other benefits are handled when people move between EU member states. The update modernises a framework that affects millions of cross-border workers, students and families across the union, aligning it with current employment patterns.

The Council of the EU has appointed new prosecutors for Germany and Slovenia to serve at the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the body that investigates and prosecutes crimes against the EU's financial interests such as fraud and corruption affecting EU funds. The appointments fill key national posts within the office, which operates across participating member states.

The Council of Europe has presented its updated Rule of Law Checklist to the European Parliament. The checklist is a practical tool used to assess the state of the rule of law in states and organisations. The presentation highlights ongoing cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Parliament on strengthening rule of law standards across Europe.