Council of Foreign Affairs Meeting – 24 February 2025

The European Union's Commitment to Litter-Free Coastal Communities
The increasing presence of litter in our oceans is a major environmental concern, threatening marine life and human health. Addressing this issue requires international cooperation as waste moves across borders through land, rivers, and seas. Effective solutions demand the collaboration of policymakers, local authorities, res

British PM Keir Starmer and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen discussed “the need to secure a just and enduring peace in Ukraine” during a telephone call, a Downing Street spokesperson stated.
The phone conversation follows concerns among European leaders about being excluded by US President Donald Trump from discussions with Russia regarding the future of the conflict in Ukraine, whi

The much-anticipated proposal is expected to bring relief to many businesses concerned about complying with complex environmental reporting requirements. Many companies have complained that these regulations overlap and require significant investments to ensure compliance.
However, green and center-left groups are likely to push back against the proposed changes, potentially setting up a clash i

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Berlin (Eurotoday) – Berlin prosecutors stated that the man arrested after a Spanish tourist was stabbed at Berlin’s Holocaust memorial was a 19-year-old Syrian refugee.
The incident occurred a day before a national election in which concerns over migration are expected to boost the far-right AfD party. Motivated by the Middle Eastern conflict, the suspect had seemingly been planning to target J

Altin Dumani, the head of Albania’s Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime, unveiled a new strategy aimed at preventing electoral crimes during a roundtable discussion organized by civil society in preparation for the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 11th.
Dumani stated, “This initiative is a constitutional and legal obligation, but I urge everyone to re

France is still working to gather enough support within the EU to block a major trade agreement between Brussels and Latin American nations, which President Emmanuel Macron argues would be harmful to French farmers.
Speaking at the opening of France’s annual agricultural fair in Paris, Macron emphasized that farmers should not be used as a “bargaining tool” either for economic

Escalating Conflict in Eastern DRC Triggers Mass Refugee Influx into Burundi
As violence intensifies in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), over 40,000 Congolese refugees, predominantly women and children, have sought refuge in Burundi since February. In a single day this week, more than 9,000 individuals crossed the border.
Many are risking their lives by crossing the Rusizi River

Helsinki – The European Commission has unveiled an action plan aimed at addressing cable breaks at sea, which includes enhanced monitoring, expedited repairs, and stricter accountability measures for those responsible.
“We have observed that nearly anything can be weaponized against us, and we cannot allow this to happen,” stated EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen during a press conference in Helsin

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – According to estimates by the European Union, Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs will hit as much as €28 billion of the EU’s exports, Bloomberg reported. 
Based on the EU assessments, the number of goods will include derivative products as well — would be nearly four times larger than the last time Trump targeted the EU’s metals sector, according to