The ninth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania was held today provisionally closing chapters 25 (science and research), 26 (education and culture), and 30 (external relations).

At the third meeting of the Accession Conference, the EU and Moldova opened negotiations on the EU acquis related to external relations. 

The 28th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro provisionally closed chapters 8 on competition policy and 29 on customs union

On the third meeting of the Accession Conference, the EU and Ukraine opened negotiations on the EU acquis related to external relations.

During the press conference held at the end of the European Council meeting of 18-19 June 2026, President António Costa presented the main results of the discussions.

On 18 and 19 June, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East, the next multiannual financial framework, competitiveness and global economic challenges, European defence and security, migration, illicit drugs, enlargement and reforms, the Republic of Moldova, Western Balkans and other items.

European Council President, António Costa, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed the press ahead of their meeting in Brussels on 18 June 2026.

The EU Council adopted its partial negotiating position on the Global Europe external action instrument for 2028-2034 under the next MFF.

On the occasion of the second meeting of the Accession Conference, the EU and Moldova opened negotiations on the EU acquis related to the rule of law and fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and economic criteria. 

On the second meeting of the Accession Conference, the EU and Ukraine opened negotiations on the EU acquis related to the rule of law and fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and economic criteria. 

The 27th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro provisionally closed chapters 2 on freedom of movement of workers and 28 on consumer and health protection

President of the European Council, António Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, issued a joint statement on the agreement to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova.

Council approves the opening of negotiations with the six Western Balkan partners with a view to extending the EU's Roam Like at Home (RLAH) area to them.

The Council approved a payment of nearly €2.8billion to Kyiv under the EU's Ukraine Facility, after the successful completion of eleven of the twenty steps required for the seventh instalment under the Ukraine Plan. Ukraine also completed two outstanding steps required for the fifth instalment and two outstanding steps required for the sixth instalment of the Ukraine Plan.

The eighth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania was held today in Brussels confirming that Albania has, overall, met the interim benchmarks and setting closing benchmarks for cluster 1: Fundamentals.

On 23 March 2026, the President of the European Council, António Costa, addressed the University of Porto as part of the celebrations marking the 115th anniversary of its foundation.

The 26th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro provisionally closed chapter 21 on Trans-European networks.

European Council President António Costa spoke at the annual conference of the EU ambassadors from the EU delegations and offices around the world, the heads of EU military and civilian missions and the heads of the European Commission representations in all 27 EU member states.

The 25th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro provisionally closed chapter 32 on financial control.

President António Costa travelled to Nicosia (Cyprus) to attend the opening ceremony of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union where he delivered a speech.