The EU Council's Working Party on General Affairs is scheduled to meet on 23 July 2026 at 10:00 in the Justus Lipsius Building in Brussels, with an exchange of views on a proposed directive on transparency of interest representation on behalf of third countries, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published on 17 July 2026.
The meeting, held in a 1+1 format (with the Presidency at 2+2), will also examine draft Council conclusions on inclusive democratic participation and community resilience, based on document 11494/26. The agenda includes the adoption of the agenda as item 1, followed by the exchange of views on the transparency directive (document WK 10630/26, to be issued), and a possible examination of the draft conclusions. Any other business is listed as item 4.
The proposed directive aims to increase transparency of lobbying activities by third-country entities, potentially affecting non-EU governments, businesses, and NGOs that engage in interest representation in the EU. The draft conclusions on democratic participation could set guidelines for enhancing citizen involvement and community resilience across member states.
Delegations are required to register their presence via the delegates portal, where Council documents are also available. The meeting is a preparatory step ahead of higher-level Council discussions, with no immediate legislative outcome expected. The exchange of views will allow member states to express initial positions on the transparency directive, which has not yet been formally proposed by the European Commission. The draft conclusions, if adopted, would be non-binding but politically significant, signaling the Council's priorities on democratic engagement.