The Council of the European Union (Environment) will formally adopt 15 non-legislative 'A' items at its meeting in Luxembourg on 25 June 2026, covering environment, appointments, transparency, economic and financial affairs, justice and home affairs, and foreign affairs. The items, pre-approved by Coreper (the Committee of Permanent Representatives) on 17 and 24 June, include authorisations to negotiate a non-binding Political Declaration for the UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar and to sign a non-binding Friends of the Cali Fund Statement, as well as tariff amendments, visa measures against Somalia, and cooperation decisions with non-EU states.
Among the environment-related items, the Council will authorise the negotiation of a non-binding Political Declaration for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), scheduled for 17-28 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This authorisation was approved by Coreper Part 1 on 24 June. Separately, the Council will authorise the signing of a non-binding Friends of the Cali Fund (FCF) Statement, also approved by Coreper Part 1 on 24 June. The Cali Fund, established under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aims to support the implementation of the framework in developing countries.
In economic and financial affairs, the Council will adopt two regulations amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2278, which suspends Common Customs Tariff duties on certain agricultural and industrial products, and Regulation (EU) 2021/2283, which establishes autonomous tariff quotas for similar products. Both amendments were approved by Coreper Part 2 on 24 June. Additionally, the Council will adopt a Council Implementing Decision authorising Germany to extend a derogation under the Energy Taxation Directive, allowing Germany to continue applying reduced tax rates to certain energy products. This decision was also approved by Coreper Part 2 on 24 June.
On justice and home affairs, the Council will adopt a Council Implementing Decision setting the date for the start of dactyloscopic (fingerprint) data exchanges with Switzerland and Liechtenstein under the Prüm framework, which facilitates cross-border law enforcement cooperation. This item was approved by Coreper Part 2 on 24 June. Another Implementing Decision will impose restrictive visa measures against Somalia, approved by the same Coreper session. Furthermore, the Council will adopt a Council Decision providing a negotiation mandate for the participation of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein in the solidarity mechanism for migration management, approved by Coreper Part 2 on 17 June.
In foreign affairs, the Council will adopt a Council Decision on financial contributions to the European Development Fund, specifically the second instalment for 2026, approved by Coreper Part 2 on 24 June. Two additional decisions concern the positions to be adopted on the application of certain Community Acts in Monaco and on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms, namely Govsatcom and Secure Connectivity, and the EDIP Regulation (European Defence Industrial Programme). Both were approved by Coreper Part 2 on 24 June.
Appointments include the adoption of one member from Luxembourg and one alternate member from Spain to the Management Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), approved by Coreper Part 1 on 17 June. A transparency item involves the approval of a confirmatory application regarding public access to documents, approved by Coreper Part 2 on 24 June.
The 'A' items are non-legislative and are adopted without debate, as they have been previously agreed upon at the Coreper level. The meeting will be chaired by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.