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The Council started by discussing draft conclusions for the upcoming European Council. In the context of the 2025 European Semester, the Council approved a horizontal note on the integrated country-specific recommendations and agreed to transmit it to the European Council for endorsement. Finally, in the framework of the annual rule of law dialogue, the Council held a country-specific discussion focusing on the rule of law situation in Finland.
On competitiveness, the omnibuses are the right first steps. We want to lead a real simplification revolution – making it part of every stage of EU lawmaking. Less bureaucracy means easier investment and stronger competitiveness for our companies.
Ignacy Niemczycki, Deputy Minister for the European Union of Poland
June European Council preparation
The Council continued preparations for the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025 by discussing draft conclusions. EU leaders are expected to discuss:
In the framework of the European semester 2025, the Council approved a horizontal note on the integrated country-specific recommendations and agreed to transmit it to the European Council for endorsement.
Ministers held a country-specific discussion in the framework of the annual rule of law dialogue, focusing on the rule of law situation in Finland.
This was a continuation of the twelfth round of country-specific discussions of 27 May 2025, which could not be concluded due to time constraints. The Commission presented the main findings of Finland’s chapter in its 2024 rule of law report. The Finnish delegation then presented key national developments and particular aspects of its national rule of law framework. This was followed by a round of comments and questions in which other delegations shared their experiences and best practices in relation to the developments mentioned.
Under any other business, the Council heard presentations by Portugal on the European University Institute (EUI), by Belgium and Luxembourg on the European baseline requirements to strengthen resilience across the EU, and by Denmark on the priorities of the upcoming Danish presidency for the second half of 2025.
Finally, under items without discussion, the Council adopted a directive on facilitating the right to vote and stand as candidate in elections to the European Parliament (EP) for EU citizens residing in a member state of which they are not nationals and took note of a progress report on the draft directive on transparency of interest representation on behalf of third countries
