On 25 June, the Council formally adopted two regulations implementing the tariff provisions of the EU-US Joint Statement. The two texts remove customs duties on US industrial products and provide for preferential access to the European market for certain seafood and agricultural products. These tariff commitments are accompanied by safeguard and suspension mechanisms. They enable the EU to suspend tariff preferences where the US fails to honour its commitments, and to act swiftly if such preferences lead to a significant increase in imports that threatens EU operators.

On 25 June, European environment ministers reviewed progress made on amending the regulation on CO2 emission standards for cars. They then took stock of the water resilience strategy and held a discussion on the link between biodiversity loss and a decline in competitiveness. Finally, they exchanged views on the future of the REACH Regulation, which governs the use of chemicals. They focused in particular on ways to strengthen its enforcement and modernise the existing rules.

On 26 June, European energy ministers approved the Council's negotiating position on the 'European Grids' package, which aims to modernise and develop Europe's energy infrastructure in order to promote the electrification and decarbonisation of the continent. They exchanged views on decarbonisation efforts beyond 2030 to achieve the target of a 90 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and on the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on the energy sector.

Until 21 July, the city of Aix-en-Provence is hosting the 78th edition of its opera festival, centred on the theme of the "quest for humanity". It aims to present a high-quality and highly diverse programme: opera productions, contemporary works, and the rediscovery of Baroque masterpieces and chamber music.

On 24 June, meeting in Berlin, the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom reiterated their commitment to strengthening Euro-Atlantic security in the run-up to the NATO summit on 7 and 8 July in Ankara. In particular, they agreed to step up their defence cooperation, strengthen military and political support for Ukraine, develop European defence industrial capabilities and coordinate their efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The five countries also welcomed the memorandum of understanding concluded between the United States and Iran, which they regard as an opportunity to strengthen regional stability.

On 24 June, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, announced appointments within the European External Action Service (EEAS). The former Dutch minister, Kajsa Ollongren, has been appointed Secretary-General of the EEAS. Currently the European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, she will take up her post on 1 September. Matti Maasikas of Estonia, currently Deputy Secretary-General and Director-General for Europe and Central Asia, has been appointed Deputy Secretary-General for Geo-Economy and Inter-institutional Affairs. Finally, David Cvach, currently France's Permanent Representative to NATO, has been appointed Deputy Secretary-General for Peace, Security and Defence.

On 1 July, the De Gasperi Foundation, in collaboration with the Robert Schuman Foundation, is organising a conference to mark the 75th anniversary of the Santa Margherita Ligure summit, the founding event of post-war European cooperation at which the Italian and French heads of government, Alcide De Gasperi and René Pleven, met, accompanied by the Foreign Ministers Carlo Sforza and Robert Schuman. In the presence of various political leaders, academics and representatives of institutions, discussions will focus on the current challenges facing European integration, particularly in the areas of security, competitiveness, the digital transition and strategic sovereignty.

On 22 June, the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly (APFA) held a further plenary session in Paris, co-chaired by the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, and the President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner. French and German MPs renewed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the face of European challenges relating to security, economic competitiveness and the energy transition. Discussions focused on support for Ukraine, strengthening European defence and Franco-German coordination within the European Union. This meeting confirmed the APFA's role as a key forum for parliamentary dialogue between Paris and Berlin and as an instrument for political rapprochement between the two countries.

On 25 June, a summit between France and Italy was held in Antibes. Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni reiterated their shared commitment to achieving a more united, sovereign, democratic and competitive Europe. They agreed to deepen their bilateral cooperation, particularly in the political, economic, agricultural, social, educational, scientific and cultural spheres, as well as in the industrial and innovation sectors. Furthermore, after reaffirming their support for Ukraine and welcoming the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, they indicated their intention to further strengthen Franco-Italian cooperation on foreign, security and defence policies across all sectors.

On 23 June, Hungarian MPs approved measures designed to tackle corruption, as part of Prime Minister Peter Magyar's wave of reforms. The legal powers of the Integrity Authority – an anti-corruption body established in 2022 as part of reforms driven by the European Union – have been strengthened. It will now be able to scrutinise asset declarations, request anti-corruption investigations from the judiciary, and even suspend procurement procedures in order to protect EU funds. This wave of reforms aims to provide the country with access to the €16 billion in EU funds that the Commission has announced it intends to release, provided that reforms are put in place to address issues relating to corruption and the rule of law.

On 23 June, the Lithuanian Prime Minister, Inga Ruginienė, announced her resignation and that of her government, which had been rocked by a series of crises, bringing her ten-month term to an end. A new government led by Mindaugas Sinkevičius, leader of the Social Democratic Party, is expected to be formed in the coming days. It will be the third government led by this party since the 2024 elections.

On 22 June, Adrian Vestea, the Prime Minister appointed by Romanian President Nicosur Dan, failed to win Parliament's confidence, securing only 189 votes out of the 233 required. Almost two months after the government of Ilie Bolojan was brought down by an alliance between the Social Democrats and the far-right AUR, the President must once again appoint a new Prime Minister.

On 23 June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Secretary-General of the OECD, Mathias Cormann, to discuss the implementation of the reforms undertaken by Ukraine and the prospects for closer ties with the Organisation. On this occasion, he submitted an updated application with a view to obtaining candidate country status for OECD membership from autumn 2026. Discussions focused on the continuation of reforms in the areas of governance, the fight against corruption, the modernisation of public administration and economic reconstruction.

On 25 June, the Council renewed the sanctions against Russia for one year, until 31 July 2027, in response to the war of aggression it is waging in Ukraine. The existing measures cover sectors such as trade, finance, energy, financial services and oil. Since 24 February 2022, the European Union has adopted 20 packages of sanctions aimed at stepping up pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression and engage in a peace process.

On 26 June, the European Commission proposed to extend, by one year, until 4 March 2028, the temporary protection for people fleeing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Nearly 4.4 million displaced people currently benefit from this protection. The Commission's aim is also to balance the need to protect people with Ukraine's ability to defend itself. Temporary protection is therefore not granted to people who are required to remain on Ukrainian territory due to their military obligations. The Council must now adopt the proposal.

On 25 and 26 June, the Polish city of Gdańsk hosted the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, co-chaired by Poland and Ukraine, with the aim of mobilising international support for the country's recovery. Bringing together representatives from governments, international organisations, financial institutions and the private sector, the conference focused on the reconstruction of critical infrastructure, strengthening energy security and mobilising investment. On this occasion, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the disbursement of a first tranche of €3.2 billion as part of the €90 billion European loan intended to finance Ukraine's budgetary support and defence needs for 2026 and 2027.