The Council of the European Union and European Parliament has reached a provisional agreement on new regulation covering circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The regulation expands scope beyond existing directives to include heavy-duty vehicles, motorcycles and special purpose vehicles, introduces mandatory recycled plastic content targets of 15% within six years and 25% within ten years and establishes enhanced traceability measures to address 3.5m vehicles that disappear from EU roads annually. The agreement strengthens extended producer responsibility frameworks, introduces a cross-border mechanism for producer obligations and bans exports of non-roadworthy vehicles five years after entry into force. The regulation will apply two years after formal adoption by both institutions.

The Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on 10 April 2025 on the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, establishing the first EU-wide framework for soil health assessment. The law requires member states to implement soil monitoring systems within three years, create public lists of contaminated sites within 10 years, and establish a watch list for emerging contaminants within 18 months. While setting an aspirational goal for healthy soils by 2050, the directive avoids imposing direct obligations on farmers and land managers, instead requiring member states to provide support measures. The agreement addresses soil degradation currently affecting 60-70% of EU soils at an estimated cost of €50bn annually.

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement on the reform of the EU’s crisis management and deposit insurance (CMDI) framework. The Single Resolution Board (SRB) welcomed the agreement and confirmed its readiness to implement the new rules. The legislative package amends the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (Directive (EU) 2014/59) (BRRD), the Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation (Regulation (EU) 806/2014) (SRM Regulation) and the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive (Directive 2014/49/EU) (DGSD). The agreed text will now be finalised at technical level before formal adoption by both institutions.

The Council of the European Union and European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on the CountEmissionsEU proposal establishing a single methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions from passenger and freight transport services. The agreement introduces a common calculation method based on EN ISO standard 14083:2023, which applies the well-to-wheel principle covering emissions from fuel production through to transport operations. Transport companies will not be obliged to calculate emissions, but if they choose to do so for reporting, contractual or marketing purposes, they must apply the common EU methodology. The European Commission is required to develop a free calculation tool for small and medium-sized enterprises within four years, and must assess the possibility of expanding the methodology to include life-cycle emissions within four years after the rules begin applying. The provisional agreement requires endorsement by member states' representatives within the Council and by the European Parliament before formal adoption by both institutions. The new rules would apply four and a half years after publication and entry into force, with some exceptions.

The Council of the EU and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to significantly narrow the scope of EU sustainability reporting and due diligence rules. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will now apply only to companies with over 1,000 employees and €450m annual turnover, removing listed SMEs from scope. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) scope is reduced to companies with over 5,000 employees and €1.5bn turnover. The agreement removes the EU harmonised liability regime from CSDDD, eliminates climate transition plan requirements, and postpones the transposition deadline to 26 July 2028 with compliance required by July 2029. The Legal Affairs Committee votes on 11 December 2025, followed by Parliament's plenary vote in December, before formal adoption by both institutions.

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to update the regulatory framework for forest reproductive material (FRM), intending to improve its quality, availability and traceability while supporting innovation and competitiveness in the EU seed sector. The European Commission welcomed the agreement, noting its importance for conserving and restoring forest ecosystems, strengthening forest resilience to climate change and ensuring that high-quality seeds and seedlings are supplied across the EU.

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a new regulation to improve cross-border enforcement of the GDPR. The deal, led by the Polish presidency, harmonises rules on admissibility, complainants’ rights, and procedural deadlines, with the aim of accelerating the handling of cross-border complaints and strengthening cooperation between national data protection authorities. The agreement must now be formally adopted by both institutions before entering into force.

The Council of the EU has approved a fishing agreement with the United Kingdom for 2025, covering over 80 total allowable catches (TACs) for jointly managed stocks in the Atlantic and North Sea. The agreement, based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), aims to ensure sustainable fishing practices and economic stability for EU fishers.

The Council of the EU has approved the European Union's general budget for 2025, setting total commitments at €192,768.6m and total payments at €149,615.7m. The budget, agreed upon with the European Parliament, maintains a €800.5m margin under the multi annual financial framework expenditure ceilings to address unforeseen needs. The Council emphasises that the 2025 budget focuses on EU priorities whilst ensuring prudent use of taxpayers' money. The European Parliament is expected to formally approve the budget within 14 days, completing the adoption process for this fifth annual budget under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework.

The Council of the EU has approved a regulation establishing the EU's first certification framework for carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products. This voluntary scheme aims to promote high-quality carbon removal and soil emission reduction activities across the EU. The framework covers permanent carbon removals, carbon storage in long-lasting products, and carbon farming activities. Certification criteria include quantified net benefits, additionality, long-term storage, and environmental safeguards. The regulation mandates independent verification and the creation of an EU-wide electronic registry within four years. It will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU's Official Journal.

The Council of the EU has approved conclusions on the European Commission's White Paper regarding the EU's digital infrastructure needs. The conclusions offer political guidance on improving competitiveness and addressing challenges in the digital sector. Key areas addressed include fostering innovation, ensuring security and resilience, promoting fair competition, and driving investments in digital infrastructures. The Council emphasises the importance of maintaining ex-ante control on certain access markets and considering member states' specificities, competition, and consumer welfare in the transition from copper to fibre networks.

The Council of the EU has unanimously approved conclusions on a farmer-focused post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The conclusions emphasise maintaining the CAP's two-pillar structure, call for dedicated resources, and stress the need for simplified procedures. Key focus areas include improving farmers' position in the food supply chain, supporting young farmers, providing incentives for the green transition, and crisis-proofing agriculture. The Council has urged the European Commission to consider these conclusions when preparing future CAP legislative proposals and the upcoming Vision for Agriculture and Food.