The Council of the EU has adopted its position on the regulation which prohibits products made with forced labour to be placed or made available on the EU market or exported from the EU to third countries. The mandate clarifies the scope of the regulation by including products offered for distance sales, reinforcing the role of the European Commission in investigating and proving the use of forced labour, and providing for the creation of a forced labour single portal. It also envisages the establishment of the Union Network against Forced Labour Products, which would ensure better co-ordination between the competent authorities and the Commission in the application of the new regulation. This agreement provides the Council presidency with a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament.

The Council of the EU has reached a partial general approach on crucial aspects of a proposed directive aimed at harmonising insolvency law across the EU. The agreed position focuses on preserving the insolvency estate and directors' duties in the event of insolvency and transparency obligations. Key provisions include rules on avoidance actions, asset tracing through centralised bank account registers, and aligning directors' duty to file for insolvency proceedings in a timely manner. Additionally, EU countries will be required to produce factsheets detailing their domestic insolvency laws. These measures are designed to enhance the EU's attractiveness to investors by reducing barriers to cross-border investments and improving the efficiency and predictability of insolvency procedures.

The Council of the EU has formally adopted by written procedure emergency Council regulations on the security of supply and energy prices as regards the prolongation of their period of application, under Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, designed for emergency situations. The regulations were initially adopted in 2022 to enhance energy supply solidarity between EU Member States, and protect EU citizens from excessively high energy prices. The application of Regulation (EU) 2022/2576 on enhancing gas purchase solidarity between EU Member States is now extended until 31 December 2024, while the application of Regulation (EU) 2022/2578 on establishing a market correction mechanism to protect EU citizens and the economy against excessively high prices is now extended until 31 January 2025. The regulations have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Council of the EU has formally adopted a recast of the Ambient Air Quality Directives, to update air quality standards across the EU, contribute toward achieving the zero pollution target by 2050 and reduce premature deaths caused by air pollution. The recast Directive sets new limits for pollutants like PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide, to be met by 2030. Citizens will have the right to claim compensation for health damages due to violations of these standards and the European Commission will review the air quality standards by 2030 and every five years thereafter, in line with latest scientific evidence. The text will be published in the Official Journal and enter into force on the twentieth day following publication. Member States will then have two years to transpose the Directive although they may ask for the postponement of the 2030 deadline if specific conditions are met. The current Ambient Air Quality Directives (Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC) will be repealed following the transposition deadline.

The Council of the EU has approved the reform of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the EU, which aims to improve administration of justice by the Court of Justice and the General Court. The reform involves changes to Protocol Three on the Statute of the Court of Justice, to transfer jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice to the General Court in specific areas.

The Council of the EU has adopted an amendment to the regulation governing the European High‑Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU). The amendment expands EuroHPC’s mandate to support the development of AI gigafactories in Europe and adds a dedicated quantum technologies pillar. It authorises the creation of large‑scale AI compute infrastructure, sets funding and procurement rules, and includes protections for start‑ups and scale‑ups. It also gives partners more flexibility and strengthens cooperation between member states and industry. Cyprus’s deputy minister for research, innovation and digital policy, Nicodemos Damianou, said the decision will reinforce Europe’s resilience, competitiveness, and technological sovereignty. The act will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on 19 January and will take effect the following day, building on earlier amendments that broadened EuroHPC’s role in supercomputing, quantum computing, and AI infrastructure.

The Council of the European Union has adopted a regulation introducing measures to address the increase in fertiliser prices caused by the Middle East crisis. The regulation establishes a new crisis-support intervention under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), enabling Member States to provide exceptional temporary support to farmers facing higher fertiliser costs. It also gives Member States greater flexibility to respond to farmers' liquidity needs by allowing earlier direct payments and increasing the maximum advance payment rate for claim year 2026 from 70% to 75%. In addition, it allows Member States to adjust their direct payment allocations for calendar year 2027, within specified limits, to reflect national needs and priorities and support the implementation of their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans. The regulation also strengthens incentives for more efficient fertiliser use, including bio-based fertilisers. Following publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, the regulation will enter into force the following day.

The Council of the EU has adopted a regulation on the automated search and exchange of data for police cooperation. The new law will improve the existing framework–often referred to as Prüm I–which already allows law enforcement authorities to consult the national databases of other EU Member States as regards DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data. The rules agreed will broaden the data categories for which automated exchanges can happen. Police authorities will be able to also search for facial images and police records. Moreover, if allowed by national law, searches across all categories to find missing persons or identify human remains will also be possible. Europol will now also be able to search national databases to cross-check information it has received from third countries and the establishment of a modernised IT infrastructure. The regulation will enter into force on the 20th day after its Official Journal publication and is by nature directly applicable in Member States.

The Council of the European Union has adopted a regulation establishing new rules to combat cross-border unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain, strengthening cooperation between national enforcement authorities where suppliers and buyers are established in different Member States in order to improve the protection of farmers and support a fairer distribution of income. The regulation introduces a comprehensive framework for mutual assistance, enabling authorities to request and exchange information, coordinate investigations, enforce fines and penalties across borders, notify relevant decisions, and allocate associated costs, while ensuring data protection and confidentiality to safeguard suppliers from retaliation. It also provides for coordinated action in large-scale cases involving at least three Member States through the designation of a coordinator, and establishes cooperation mechanisms where unfair trading practices involve buyers outside the EU. The rules will apply 18 months after publication in the Official Journal of the EU to allow for national implementation.

The Council of the EU has adopted the Instant Payments Regulation, amending Regulations (EU) No 260/2012 and (EU) 2021/1230, which will make instant payments fully available in euro to consumers and businesses in the EU and in EEA countries. The new rules aim to improve the strategic autonomy of the European economic and financial sector by reducing any excessive reliance on third-country financial institutions and infrastructures. The new rules will come into force after a transition period that will be faster in the euro area but slower in the non-euro area, which needs more time to adjust.

The Council of the EU has formally adopted the new regulation on packaging and packaging waste. Under the new rules, binding re-use targets will be set for 2030, for example 40% for transport and sales packaging and 10% for grouped packaging, and takeaway businesses will have to offer customers the possibility to bring their own containers to be filled at no additional charge. Restrictions on single-use plastic packaging will also be introduced for pre-packed fruit and vegetables of less than 1.5kg, individual portions of condiments, as well as food and beverages filled and consumed within hotels, bars and restaurants, and lightweight plastic bags, while requirements for minimum percentage of recycled content will also be set for 2030 and 2040.

The Council of the EU has adopted new rules to prevent plastic pellet losses and reduce microplastic pollution, following a provisional agreement with the European Parliament. The regulation introduces stricter controls and management measures throughout the supply chain, requiring risk management plans, staff training, and specific provisions for transport and clean-up operations.