The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper II) of the Council of the European Union is scheduled to meet on 1 July 2026 in Brussels to prepare upcoming Council meetings and adopt decisions on restrictive measures, legislative acts, and working party attendances. The meeting, set for 09:30 in the Europa building, will operate in a 1+2+1 format, meaning ministers, deputies, and experts will participate.
Coreper II will discuss the Irish Presidency's priorities, preparation for the General Affairs Council on 14 July 2026 and the Economic and Financial Affairs Council on 10 July 2026, the state of play of EU-UK relations, and the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, including restrictive measures on Russia and Belarus. Non-discussion items include adoption of minutes from previous Council meetings (ECOFIN on 5 May 2026, FAC on 11 May 2026, FAC/Defence on 12 May 2026, FAC/Trade on 22 May 2026, GAC on 26 May 2026), approval of third-party attendance at various working parties, adoption of a Council Regulation on access of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and OLAF to VAT information, restrictive measures against chemical weapons proliferation, coordination with third countries on Russia-related measures, appointment of European Prosecutors, and interim use of cryptographic products. Decisions will be adopted via written procedure for some items.
This meeting is a routine preparatory session for Coreper, which handles the groundwork for Council decisions. The agenda reflects ongoing EU priorities: maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia and Belarus, enhancing cross-border law enforcement cooperation through EPPO and OLAF access to VAT data, and ensuring procedural continuity across working parties. The Irish Presidency, holding the rotating Council chair, will steer discussions on legislative and foreign policy files.
EU member states will see their ambassadors coordinate positions on sanctions and legislation, with decisions affecting national implementation. EU producers and exporters to Russia and Belarus face continued restrictive measures, impacting trade flows. EU law enforcement agencies (EPPO, OLAF) gain improved access to VAT information, enhancing their ability to combat fraud. The Council's adoption of restrictive measures against chemical weapons proliferation signals a firm stance on non-proliferation, affecting chemical industry compliance.
The outcomes of Coreper II will feed into the General Affairs Council and ECOFIN meetings in July, where ministers will formally adopt the prepared decisions. The European Parliament may be consulted on legislative acts such as the VAT information access regulation, depending on the legal base.