A notice of meeting published by the Council of the European Union schedules a meeting of the Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) for 25 June 2026 at 09:00 in Brussels. The agenda includes discussions on Azerbaijan, two separate items on Russia, and Georgia, the latter to be examined jointly with the Visa Working Party (VISA WP). The meeting will take place at the Justus Lipsius building.
The Working Party, which prepares decisions on EU relations with Eastern Europe and Central Asia, will address Azerbaijan as a single agenda item. Two distinct items labelled [EU-R] are dedicated to Russia, reflecting the ongoing focus on EU-Russia relations amid the war in Ukraine. Georgia will be discussed in a joint session with the Visa Working Party, indicating a likely focus on visa policy or related matters. The agenda also includes an 'Any Other Business' (AOB) slot for additional topics raised by member states.
No prior coverage of this specific meeting exists in the available record. The meeting is a routine preparatory body session, with no legislative decisions expected directly from the Working Party. Outcomes will feed into higher-level Council deliberations, including the Foreign Affairs Council. Stakeholders impacted include EU member states' foreign ministries, which coordinate positions through COEST; the European External Action Service (EEAS), which provides policy input; and the governments of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Georgia, whose bilateral relations with the EU are under review. The joint session with VISA WP suggests potential impacts on visa regimes for Georgian nationals, a topic of previous EU debate. The meeting does not involve binding measures but may shape future Council conclusions or sanctions renewals regarding Russia.