On 29 June 2026, the European Council approved and published the minutes of its 19 March 2026 meeting, formalising discussions on Ukraine, competitiveness, defence, migration, and multilateralism. The document records that the Council removed the item on the Next Multiannual Financial Framework from the agenda, deferring it to a future meeting, and appointed Boris Vujčić as Vice-President of the European Central Bank for an eight-year term starting 1 June 2026.
The minutes show that the Council exchanged views with European Parliament President, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy via videolink, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. On Ukraine, 25 Heads of State or Government firmly supported the conclusions in document EUCO 2/26, with the Council set to revert at its next meeting. On competitiveness, the Council provided guidance through a 'One Europe, One Market' agenda and will review progress on 'Affordable energy prices and Energy Union 2030' in June 2026. The Council also discussed priorities for the 2026 European Semester and the draft recommendation on euro area economic policy.
The document also approved and made public the minutes of the 18 December 2025 meeting (EUCO 27/25). The publication of the minutes provides transparency on the Council's deliberations, including the decision to postpone the MFF debate, which has significant implications for EU budget planning and member state contributions. The appointment of Vujčić as ECB Vice-President ensures continuity in the Bank's leadership, affecting euro area monetary policy stakeholders. The reaffirmation of support for Ukraine signals continued EU solidarity, impacting EU foreign policy and defence cooperation. The deferral of the MFF may delay decisions on EU spending priorities, affecting sectors reliant on EU funding.