A Council summary of acts adopted by written procedure in March 2026, published on 10 July 2026, lists five decisions including renewed Ukraine sanctions, a position on migratory species, and a contested revision of air passenger rights. The document provides public notice of legislative and non-legislative acts approved without debate during the month.
On 14 March 2026, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/696 amending restrictive measures regarding Ukraine under Decision 2014/145/CFSP, alongside Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/695 and a related notice for affected persons and entities. These measures extend the EU's sanctions framework targeting individuals and entities linked to the Ukraine conflict.
On 19 March 2026, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2026/733 establishing the EU position for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, setting the bloc's negotiating stance on wildlife protection.
The most politically notable act came on 24 March 2026, when the Council decided not to approve the European Parliament's amendments to the proposed regulation amending air passenger rights (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 2027/97) at second reading. Portugal abstained and voted against the Council's political agreement, arguing that the thresholds set in the revision weakened passenger protections. The Council's position now returns to the Parliament for further negotiation.
The summary serves as a transparency record of acts adopted without formal Council meetings, a standard procedure for routine or urgent decisions. Stakeholder impact varies: Ukraine sanctions continue to affect targeted individuals and entities; the migratory species position influences EU environmental diplomacy; and the air passenger rights revision, if enacted, would alter compensation rules for travellers, with Portugal's objection highlighting a split between member states on consumer protection versus airline competitiveness. The next step for the passenger rights file is a potential conciliation or third reading if the Parliament maintains its amendments.