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European Council
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What is said in the sittings, update by update, the latest first. Each update opens the video at the second it was said.
Press conference - Environment Council
Overall press conference following the first Environment Council under the Irish Presidency, with Irish ministers and the European Commissioner presenting outcomes and taking media questions.
In this chapter
afternoon - Environment Council
Any other business item requested by Poland on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme foreseen in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and its practical feasibility and proportionality.
Press conference - Foreign Affairs Council
Kaja Kallas
Post-meeting press conference presenting the outcomes of the EU Foreign Affairs Council and answering journalists’ questions.
In this chapter
afternoon - Environment Council
Any other business item proposed by France on ensuring sufficient EU‑level financing for nature protection and restoration across policies and instruments.
afternoon - Environment Council
Any other business item from the Presidency and Commission on the main results of the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC 70) in Hobart.
afternoon - Environment Council
Any other business item from the Presidency and Commission on the outcomes of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17).
afternoon - Environment Council
Any other business item requested by Austria on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and extended producer responsibility for small producers.
afternoon - Environment Council
Any other business item requested by Italy on stabilising and strengthening the EU market for secondary plastic raw materials and supporting the plastics recycling industry.
Item devoted to the Council policy debate on the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) in light of the 2040 climate target set by the European Climate Law.
In this chapter
Press conference on the MFF - Presidency events
Answering Sophie Dupuy, Byrne explains why Parliament’s three new own-resource ideas, including a digital levy, were not included, citing tests on unanimity, revenue potential and 2028 readiness while keeping the door open for future discussions; replying to Mark Beebecorn, he defends the proposal’s balance by stressing strong member state backing for heading 1 alongside large percentage increases for headings 2 and 3 despite higher relative savings there compared with administration.
Press conference on the MFF - Presidency events
In response to Suzanne Lynch, Byrne defends the substantial increase over the current MFF amid national fiscal pressures, arguing that member states insisted on protecting traditional policies in heading 1 while expanding future-oriented competitiveness spending, and that a seven‑year MFF agreement provides market certainty and a basis for EU-wide growth.
Press conference on the MFF - Presidency events
The Minister frames the negotiating box as a stepping stone rather than a final deal, explaining how it is intended to guide Coreper, the General Affairs Council and the European Council towards an agreement by year-end, and reiterates that the EU budget must deliver tangible benefits for citizens at home and abroad.
Press conference on the MFF - Presidency events
Byrne outlines the Irish Presidency’s own resources package estimated at 55 billion euro annually, including raising the CBAM call rate to 90% and introducing a phased-in ETS resource to address concerns over regressivity, aiming to stabilise national contributions and secure broad member state acceptance.
Press conference on the MFF - Presidency events
The Minister presents the proposed envelope per heading (cohesion/agriculture; competitiveness/prosperity/security; Global Europe; administration), comparing increases to the current MFF and savings versus the Commission draft, and stresses added flexibility within headings to respond to member state demands for a more adaptable framework.
Press conference on the MFF - Presidency events
Byrne turns to the quantitative parameters of the revised MFF, detailing the 141 billion euro savings versus the Commission proposal, the resulting 1.16% of EU GNI, significant real-terms increase versus the current MFF, and the protection of CAP and cohesion while boosting funding for competitiveness, research, innovation, security and defence.
Press conference on the MFF - Presidency events
Chair introduces the press conference and Minister Thomas Byrne outlines the Irish Council Presidency’s role as honest broker on the revised negotiating box for the next MFF, highlighting the political milestone, overall objectives, and extensive consultations with member states and EU institutions.
Press conference - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Journalists question the Commission on whether it will propose an EU windfall profit tax and the Irish Presidency on criticism of the MiSP compromise and ESMA effectiveness; Dombrovskis stresses member state competence with an EU working group, Harris defends the agreement as an ambitious, pragmatic strengthening of ESMA, and both outline priorities, trade-offs and timelines for the 2025 banking competitiveness and simplification package and further work on Banking Union and deposit insurance.
Press conference - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Commissioner Dombrovskis notes the political agreement on the market integration and supervision package while signalling a preference for more ambition, sets out plans for a 2025 banking competitiveness and simplification package, explains Council decisions on Czechia’s fiscal-structural plan and Greece’s escape clause, and provides figures and timelines on EU financial support to Ukraine and the final phase of RRF disbursements.
Press conference - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Harris reports on ministers’ discussion of EU banking sector competitiveness and Banking Union as a political priority, reviews standard ECOFIN items including the impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine, RRF implementation, European Semester follow-up, G20/IMF-World Bank preparations, and describes the informal breakfast on possible windfall taxes for energy profits and the mandate for further technical work with the Commission.
Press conference - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Minister Harris details the political agreement on the Market Integration and Supervision Package, outlining the transfer of direct supervision to ESMA, new ESMA governance with an independent executive board, strengthened convergence powers, national authority involvement, and the One Europe, One Market roadmap timeline and next steps with Parliament.
Press conference - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
The Presidency opens the press conference in Luxembourg, introduces Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris and Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, and hands the floor to the Minister.
Public session - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Commission and EIB outline the implementation focus needed to enhance EU financial sector competitiveness and describe complementary financial instruments, including securitisation support, digital euro cooperation and equity initiatives targeting tech and defence sectors.
Public session - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Round of Member State interventions setting out national reservations and conditions on ESMA governance, funding and CASP coverage, followed by confirmation of a political agreement on the MISP general approach and explanation of the procedural next steps toward formal adoption.
In this chapter
Public session - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Simon Harris and 3 others
Introduction of the Council compromise on the Market Integration and Supervision Package, the Commission’s objections on reduced ESMA direct supervision and funding design, and subsequent backing from key Member States and the ECB framing the deal as a step for Capital Markets Union despite governance and DLT‑threshold concerns.
In this chapter
Public session - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Formal opening of the public Council session, practical arrangements for broadcasting, and qualified‑majority adoption of the A items, including Omnibus 5 defence‑readiness acts and the ETS Market Stability Reserve amendment.
Questions focus on the timetable and scope of the ECB Executive Board succession and on the Eurogroup’s divided debate over national escape clause use, with the presidency rejecting speculation on broader appointments while stressing the balance between protecting vulnerable citizens and preserving fiscal stability and rule credibility.
In this chapter
Journalists question the Eurogroup president and Commissioner Dombrovskis on extra fiscal flexibility requested by Italy and Greece and on bond market tensions, prompting clarifications on existing tools, market differentiation, and expectations for credible medium‑term fiscal plans, including France’s commitments.
In this chapter
Commissioner Dombrovskis and the ESM Managing Director assess the impact of the renewed energy shock, explain the use and limits of fiscal framework flexibilities, and set out principles for improving spending quality, tax collection, investment protection and defence-related outlays within the new EU fiscal rules.
In this chapter
The Eurogroup president opens the press conference, outlines macroeconomic and energy challenges, discusses principles for targeted support and fiscal sustainability, reviews progress on the Capital Markets Union, and details the procedure and timetable for appointing a new ECB Executive Board member.
In this chapter
The search covers the sittings held more than two weeks ago. A Polyfact subscription searches every sitting as soon as it is transcribed.
Sari Essayah 10 sittings 
Benjamin Haddad 7 sittings 
Kaja Kallas 7 sittings 
Sébastien Martin 7 sittings European Council broadcasts the sittings of the Council of the European Union. Polyfact shows each one live, keeps it as a replay with its transcript and links its key moments to the second they were said.
316 sittings on Polyfact since 20 October 2025
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Updated
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