Rat (Wirtschaft und Finanzen), 9. November 2026

Agenda highlights

Tobacco taxation

EU finance ministers will be invited to reach a political agreement on the tobacco taxation package.

This revision of the current outdated rules aims to modernise the tobacco tax framework in support of public health objectives and to align fiscal policy with current market dynamics.

It should achieve this by increasing minimum excise duty rates across the EU and extending the scope of products covered to include new tobacco and nicotine products.

• Tobacco taxation (background information)
• Taxation (background information)

Stability and growth pact

The Council is expected to take decisions under the stability and growth pact.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

Ministers will exchange views on the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This is a recurring agenda item for the meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers.

• EU solidarity with Ukraine (background information)
• Russia's war against Ukraine (background information)

Simplification and economic consequences

Ministers are expected to exchange views on the economic consequences of proposed EU legislation, as well as on the simplification, implementation and enforcement of existing legislation, based on recent Commission reports.

Recovery and resilience facility

The Council is expected to exchange views on the implementation of the recovery and resilience facility.

• The recovery and resilience facility (background information)
• A recovery plan for Europe (background information)

G20

The Council presidency and the Commission will debrief ministers on the main results of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting that took place on 15 October 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.

EU statistics

The Council will approve conclusions on the progress made on the EU’s statistical priorities, while providing guidance for further work.