European Union

The Council adopted a directive aimed at boosting transparency with regard to tax intermediaries that design and promote tax planning schemes.

On 25 May 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on the EU standard provision on good governance in tax matters for agreements with third countries.

The Council removed Bahamas and St Kitts and Nevis from the list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, bringing the names on the list down to seven.

On 25 May 2018, the Council adopted Joint conclusions of the Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Remarks by President Centeno following the Eurogroup meeting of 24 May, on Greece, Spring economic forecast, spending reviews and reforms of the banking union and the ESM.

The Council Presidency and the European Parliament reached an informal agreement on a draft regulation on the European agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA).

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/655 of 26 April 2018 amending Decision 2013/184/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Myanmar/Burma

On 22 and 23 May 2018, the EU-U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs was hosted by the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in Sofia, Bulgaria.

G7 Leaders adopted a joint statement to reject the electoral process leading to the May 20, 2018 Presidential election in Venezuela.

Plenary - Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The Irish constitution currently bans abortion. Today the Irish will vote on whether this should change. According to the polls, the advocates of liberalisation, which the government and parliament also support, have a slight lead. Commentators describe the mood before the vote and how this once deeply Catholic country is rethinking its values.

A year before the elections to the European Parliament the EU's approval ratings are at record levels: more than two-thirds of EU citizens believe their country benefits from EU membership, according to the new Eurobarometer survey. Europe's media are delighted with the results but also point out that the sun isn't shining everywhere.