European Council

Boris Vujcic, a member of the European Central Bank's governing council and Croatia's central bank governor, said energy prices will remain elevated for an extended period, warning of persistent pressure on inflation and the eurozone economy. His remarks come as policymakers weigh how long to keep interest rates restrictive amid uncertain energy costs and uneven growth across the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered a speech to the UN Security Council during the General Assembly, with footage of the address now circulating widely. The speech covers Russia's war against Ukraine and is drawing attention alongside related debates on NATO, European security and Poland's role in the conflict.

Boris Vujcic, a governor of Croatia's central bank and member of the European Central Bank's governing council, has warned that rising diesel prices could feed through into broader inflation. The comments come as energy costs remain a sensitive input for eurozone price pressures. Beyond the Reuters headline, the posts collected do not show detailed discussion, so the fuller reasoning behind the warning is not clear from the available evidence.

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.

Iran has called on the UN Security Council to examine the role of European countries in the ongoing war. The appeal, reported by Iranian state media, frames European involvement as a matter requiring international scrutiny. The specifics of what role Iran attributes to European powers remain unclear, and there has been no immediate public response from the European governments concerned or from the Security Council itself.

The European Union is pressing ahead with plans to build a homegrown payment system, reducing reliance on US-dominated card networks like Visa and Mastercard. The initiative, promoted by the Council of the EU, aims to give Europe strategic autonomy over financial infrastructure, ensure cheaper transactions within the bloc, and protect against geopolitical shocks. The push has drawn wide attention and debate about cost, practicality and whether a European scheme can win over consumers and merchants.

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.

A Council of Europe delegation is visiting Warsaw for talks with Polish authorities on the execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments, focusing on the rule of law and on abortion. The discussions concern how Poland implements court rulings, including the near-total abortion ban and judgments related to judicial independence. The visit highlights continued international pressure on Poland to comply with Strasbourg's decisions.

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 moved to strengthen the EU's architecture for responding to threats in space. The step is part of broader European efforts to protect satellites and space infrastructure that underpin communications, navigation and security. The announcement comes as concerns grow over anti-satellite weapons, space debris and the vulnerability of critical orbital assets.

The Council of the EU has drawn attention to the idea of creating a European-made payment system, raising the question of whether the bloc can reduce its reliance on US-dominated networks such as Visa and Mastercard. The discussion reflects growing interest in European payment sovereignty and in strengthening the role of existing options like the European Payments Initiative and the digital euro.

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.

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, alongside Martins Seguro of Portugal, are set to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The two heads of state will deliver speeches to assembled parliamentarians in Strasbourg, an honour reserved for prominent European leaders on matters of shared concern.

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 National Council of Resistance of Iran says its supporters mobilized during the UN General Assembly in New York and held demonstrations across several European cities, as part of its ongoing campaign against the Iranian government. The group frames the rallies as showing international backing for its opposition movement.

The Atlantic Council argues Europe needs a new strategy to counter Russian grey zone aggression, meaning hostile actions below the threshold of open war such as sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks. The analysis, published on its Ukraine Alert blog, warns that current responses are inadequate and calls for a coordinated European approach to these destabilising tactics amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Atlantic Council argues Europe lacks an adequate response to Russia's grey zone aggression, including sabotage, disinformation, cyberattacks and other deniable actions below the threshold of open war. The think tank is calling for a new, coordinated European strategy to detect, deter and counter these tactics, warning that current approaches leave the continent exposed to ongoing hybrid threats.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has discussed how European countries can provide systemic, long-term support for Ukrainian veterans of the war with Russia. The debate focuses on coordinated rehabilitation, healthcare, and reintegration measures across the continent rather than piecemeal national efforts, reflecting the growing number of Ukrainian service members wounded or demobilised since 2022.

Germany's Foreign Minister has publicly reaffirmed the country's commitment to the Council of Europe, the Strasbourg-based organisation devoted to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The statement signals continued German support for the body's mission and its institutions at a time when European unity and human rights commitments face political pressure.

The United States has withdrawn from the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the Council of Europe's anti-corruption monitoring body, in the latest American retreat from international organisations. The move was widely reported across US local and national outlets, with coverage framing it as part of a broader pattern of the current administration stepping back from multilateral institutions and international cooperation efforts.

The Council of Europe presented an updated version of its Rule of Law Checklist to the European Parliament. The checklist is a practical tool used to assess how well states uphold the rule of law, covering areas such as independence of the judiciary and protection of fundamental rights. The presentation signals continued cooperation between the two institutions on rule-of-law monitoring.

Ukrainian human rights defenders, former civilian prisoners released from Russian captivity, and relatives of people still held by Russia addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, calling on European politicians to raise the release of civilian prisoners at every negotiation with Moscow. The activists argue that the fate of unlawfully detained civilians must be a standing item on all negotiation agendas.

Analysts Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon argue Europe needs a new strategy to counter Russian grey zone and hybrid aggression, in a piece published by the Atlantic Council. Their central warning: until Russia's hybrid attacks on Europe begin producing direct strategic losses for Moscow, Putin will continue to escalate. The argument adds to growing debate over how European countries should deter sabotage, disinformation and other deniable actions below the threshold of open war.

The Council of Europe is consulting experts to develop a practical guide on how public service media can remain independent, sustainable and pluralistic. Announced through its freedom of expression work, the initiative aims to give member states concrete standards for protecting broadcasters from political and commercial pressure. The guide is expected to support reforms of media governance across Europe.

EU member states have agreed a common negotiating position on the next Multiannual Financial Framework's support for the fisheries sector covering 2028-2034. The Council will now negotiate with the European Parliament and the European Commission over how future funding for fishing communities, fleet measures and sustainable fisheries will be structured under the next long-term EU budget.