The Council of the European Union has published a notice of meeting and provisional agenda for the Mertens Group, which is scheduled to convene on 2 July 2026 at 11:00 in the Europa building in Brussels. The meeting, held in a 1+1 format, will focus on procedural approvals and preparation for the upcoming Coreper meeting on 3 July 2026.
According to the agenda, the Mertens Group will first approve its own agenda and then examine the minutes of two recent AGRIFISH Council meetings: those of 30 March 2026 (documents 7905/26 REV 1 + ADD1 + ADD 1 COR 1) and 27 April 2026 (document 8575/26 + ADD1). Following the review of minutes, the group will prepare for the Coreper meeting scheduled for 3 July 2026 and receive information from the Presidency on planning for forthcoming Coreper meetings. Under any other business, the Commission will provide an update on College activities.
The Mertens Group is a preparatory body of the Council that handles procedural and administrative matters, typically clearing the ground for decisions by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper). This meeting is a routine procedural step, with no substantive policy decisions expected. The main outcome will be the approval of the AGRIFISH minutes and the setting of the agenda for the subsequent Coreper session.
Stakeholders directly affected include national officials participating in Coreper and AGRIFISH, as the Mertens Group's work ensures that documentation and procedural steps are in order for higher-level negotiations. No broader policy impact is anticipated from this meeting alone.