Forward look: 25 May – 7 June 2026
Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight.
Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 May 2026
Agriculture ministers will exchange views on availability and affordability of fertilisers in the EU. They will also discuss trade-related agricultural issues.
General Affairs Council, 26 May 2026
Ministers for EU affairs will start preparations for the June European Council and hold a policy debate on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034. The Council will also discuss the state of play of the EU-UK relations. In the context of the annual rule of law dialogue, the Council will hold country-specific discussions concerning France, Croatia, Italy and Latvia. Over an informal breakfast, ministers will exchange views on strategic foresight, with the Commission also briefly presenting its intergenerational fairness strategy.
Competitiveness Council (Internal market and Industry), 28 May 2026
Internal market and industry ministers will approve conclusions on tourism and hold political debates on the industrial accelerator act, the 28th regime and the impact of the Middle East crisis on tourism.
Competitiveness Council (Research and Space), 29 May 2026
Research ministers will adopt a recommendation on science diplomacy and hold a policy debate on the Horizon Europe 2028-2034 programme. In the afternoon, ministers responsible for space policy will debate the EU Space Act and space for economic security.
Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 4 June 2026
During the home affairs session, ministers will discuss the overall state of the Schengen area, including the priority actions for the Schengen Council cycle 2026-2027, and will review the state of play of the implementation of large-scale IT systems (Entry/Exit System, ETIAS). After an update on the implementation of the migration and asylum pact, ministers will hold a debate on the external dimension of migration. Over lunch, they will discuss the future legal status of displaced persons from Ukraine. Ministers will also turn to security issues, discussing the impact of the current geopolitical environment on the EU, with a focus on the consequences of the overall situation in the Middle East and the conflict in Iran.
Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 5 June 2026
Justice ministers are expected to agree position on the new justice programme 2028-2034 and to hold a policy debate over parenthood. Then the Presidency and the European chief prosecutor Laura Kövesi will give an update on the state of play on the EPPO. Over lunch, ministers will discuss hate crime and hate speech.
