EU Council

The European Council has extended the mandate of the EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) for an additional two years, now set to continue until November 15, 2026. Established in October 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the mission aims to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities through targeted training programs.

GERB is committed to forming a stable Bulgarian government with a full mandate, according to party leader Boyko Borissov. He shared this information on Facebook following a meeting with EU ambassadors in Bulgaria. During this discussion, Borissov expressed gratitude to the Hungarian ambassador, Miklós Boros, whose country currently holds the EU Council presidency.

In this handout picture taken and released by the Georgian presidential press service on October 27, 2024, Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili, flanked by leaders of opposition parties, speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Tbilisi, a day after the parliamentary elections.

Albania has officially commenced its EU accession negotiations today, starting with the first cluster of talks. An Intergovernmental Conference between the EU and Albania will take place in Luxembourg, marking the initiation of this significant phase in the negotiation process.

Migration policy in most European Union member states has become a nagging issue, heard not just as far away as Brussels but also as far away as Luxembourg, where the 27 interior and justice ministers of EU member states are meeting today.

Acting Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov stated today in Luxembourg that Bulgaria has received substantial support for full Schengen membership during a meeting of the EU Council.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized the importance of securing full Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania during his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He described the complexities of Hungary's presidency of the EU Council, stating that it is characterized more by political considerations than by bureaucratic processes.

The EU Council has established a new legal framework enabling sanctions against Russia for hybrid attacks targeting EU member states.

Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has urged for understanding and a "fair unblocking of the process" regarding North Macedonia's negotiations with the EU. Speaking from the UN podium, she expressed concerns following the EU's decision to commence negotiations with Albania while sidelining North Macedonia.

Türkiye is nearing an agreement to purchase Eurofighter jets, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said on Aug. 14, expressing optimism about the negotiations.

"I think we are nearing the end," Güler told private broadcaster HaberTürk during a televised interview.