The EU Council Working Party on International Environment Issues (Global) will meet on 15 July 2026 in Brussels to coordinate EU positions on global water issues, UNEP/UNEA matters, and the plastics pollution treaty negotiations, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published on 9 July 2026.
The meeting, scheduled for 10:00 in the Justus Lipsius Building, will open with a presentation of the Irish Presidency programme. Discussions on global water issues will focus on EU and member state preparations for the UN Water Conference 2026, updates from the UN High Level Political Forum taking place in New York from 7 to 15 July 2026, and preparations for the UN 2028 Water Conference, with information from the Presidency and the European Commission.
Under UNEP/UNEA matters, the working party will receive a debriefing on recent meetings, including the UN80 Initiative Work Package 27 (19 June), the UNEA-8 Bureau (23 June), the 174th meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (26 June), and the CPR subcommittee (7 July). It will also prepare for the 13th annual CPR subcommittee meeting scheduled for 7–11 September, with a presentation by the UNEP Head of Brussels Office and input from the EU Delegation in Nairobi, the Presidency, the Commission, and EU Bureau members.
On the plastics pollution treaty, the agenda includes a debriefing on INC Bureau meetings, an informal Heads of Delegation meeting held in Nairobi from 29 June to 3 July 2026, and outreach and core team meetings. An online intervention by the INC Chair is planned. The working party will then discuss next steps, including the organisation of work, submissions to the INC Chair, and upcoming meetings: an online EU INC HoDs meeting, a HAC & Friends meeting in Copenhagen on 2–4 September 2026, and an in-person HoD meeting in Bangkok on 26–30 September 2026. Information will be provided by the Presidency, the Commission, and the EU Bureau member.
The meeting will conclude with any other business. The working party's coordination aims to align EU positions ahead of key international deadlines in 2026 and 2028.