European Council • Table.Briefings

Auch das Dampfen in Außenbereichen wollte die Resolution unterbinden.

May 18th, 2026

Tobacco tax: Sweden criticizes tax rates for tobacco pouches

Council negotiations on tobacco taxes are entering the final stretch. Indexation remains the most contentious issue, while two opposing camps have emerged over tax rates.

By Markus Grabitz

News | MFR

May 15th, 2026

MFF: Merz criticizes Commission proposal

In his laudatory speech for Mario Draghi at the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony, Friedrich Merz expressed fundamental criticism of the Commission’s proposal for the MFF. Negotiations on the MFF for 2028–2034 will begin shortly.

By Markus Grabitz

News | Tobacco tax

May 11th, 2026

Tobacco tax: Council presidency makes further cuts

The Cyprus Council Presidency has put forward a new compromise on tobacco taxes, offering concessions to critics on most tax rates and transition periods for member states

By Markus Grabitz

Talk of the Town | Automotive

May 11th, 2026

Clean corporate vehicles: Parliament rapporteurs call for stricter standards

Parliament’s rapporteurs want member states to phase out subsidies for fossil fuel-powered company cars by 2028, according to their unpublished report.

By Markus Grabitz

Talk of the Town | European Parliament

May 4th, 2026

Midterm elections in the European Parliament: How Metsola could secure a third term

The European Parliament president is usually replaced halfway through the legislative term. The European Council president and hundreds of other parliamentary posts must also be confirmed.

By Markus Grabitz

Marc De Vos is the co-CEO of the Brussels-based Itinera Institute and the author of ‘Superpower Europe. The European Union’s silent revolution’ (Polity).

Opinion | European Union

April 30th, 2026

Single market roadmap: One Europe, Three Speeds?

The One Europe, One Market roadmap could finally put the idea of a multi-speed EU into practice. While the content of the roadmap comes as no surprise, its implementation does: The three EU institutions will jointly monitor progress, and the timeline is binding, measurable and tight, the political scientist argues.

By Marc De Vos

News | Tobacco tax

April 29th, 2026

Tobacco tax: Council presidency's compromise needs further improvements

The Commission is proposing that member states transfer 15% of tobacco tax revenues to the EU. In total, tobacco taxes amounting to approximately €14 billion are expected to be allocated to the next MFF starting in 2028.

By Markus Grabitz

Feature | European Council

April 27th, 2026

How Emmanuel Macron is pushing ahead with the mutual assistance clause

The European Union is dragging its feet on Ukraine, remains divided over the mutual assistance clause, Article 42(7), and is waiting for a signal from France in the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). At the informal EU summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also surprised participants with an offer to Tehran.

By Stephan Israel

Feature | European Council

April 24th, 2026

Informal summit: Ukraine has reason to hope for a quick start to accession negotiations

At the informal summit, EU heads of state and government celebrated the agreement on a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions. António Costa supported Ukraine’s call for the start of accession negotiations.

By Stephan Israel and Sara Sievert

Wolodymyr Selenskyj und António Costa in Brüssel beim EU-Giofel.

Feature | European Council

April 23rd, 2026

Informal summit in Cyprus: How Zelenskiy plans to capitalize on current momentum for Ukraine’s accession process

Volodymyr Zelenskiy expects to be given the green light to open negotiating clusters at the informal summit in Cyprus. Following the breakthrough on the €90 billion loan and the 20th package of sanctions, the Ukrainian president hopes to capitalize on current momentum.

By Stephan Israel