The European Commission, the Netherlands and Italy agree on a migration deal with Tunisia. The Commission formally requests Austria to address shortcomings in its implementation of the Habitats Directive in the Hohe Tauern National Park in the province of Salzburg. Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov hopes his country will join the Schengen area in October.
Austrian foreign minister says European airspace defence system Sky Shield is about “pooling and sharing.” In other news: Spain kicks off its EU Council presidency, the EU wants to reduce food waste by 30 percent until 2030 and the EU summit ends without consensus on asylum policy.
EU justice ministers reach an agreement on measures to better protect journalists and human rights activists. The European Commission approves a Slovenian scheme aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy. The Council of Europe welcomes the adoption of changes to the legislation of the Bulgarian justice system.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is worried about the level of migrant landings in Italy. EU and US envoys want Kosovo and Serbia to find a political solution to their conflict. Albania, France and Germany have signed a cooperation agreement to reform the Albanian energy sector. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is lukewarm about the idea of a European Union army.
Interior ministers of the German federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony call for border checks with Poland and the Czech Republic. The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council will prioritise legislation of artificial intelligence during its term. Several EU member states wish to move away from unanimity in the foreign policy decision-making process.