EU General Affairs Council Meeting in Brussels on Dec 16 2025: Budget, 2026 Legislative Priorities, Enlargement and Security Agenda (Latvia represented by Artjoms Uršulskis)

Brussels Briefing: EU General Affairs Council sets 2026 Priorities

Brussels, December 16, 2025 – A high-level session of the European Union’s general Affairs Council opens in the Belgian capital today, with Latvia represented by parliamentary secretary Artjoms Uršulskis of the Ministry of foreign Affairs. The meeting aims too shape the bloc’s multi-year budget and policy priorities for the year ahead.

Key agenda items

The council will receive an update on progress toward the next EU multiannual financial framework and prepare for leaders’ discussions at the December 18-19 European Council.

Officials will also be briefed by the European Commission on efforts to streamline EU rules and regulations, with a joint declaration on 2026 legislative priorities expected to be adopted by the EU Council, the European Parliament, and the European Commission.

Upcoming debates and focal points

Member-state representatives will discuss the draft conclusions of the European Council, covering Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, security and defense, the upcoming budget, EU enlargement, migration, and issues related to geo-economics and competitiveness.

There will also be a review of enlargement progress with candidate countries over the past year, along with the initiation of the 2026 European Semester process to align economic, fiscal, employment, and social policies across the union.

What the General Affairs Council does

The GA Council handles cross-cutting issues that affect more than one EU policy, including negotiations on enlargement, preparations for the European Council, the multiannual budget, and governance concerns like the rule of law and institutional readiness.

At-a-glance: Key facts about the December 16 GA Council meeting

Item	Details
Date	December 16, 2025
Location	Brussels, belgium
Representative for Latvia	Parliamentary Secretary Artjoms uršulskis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topics	Next EU multiannual budget, regulatory simplification, 2026 legislative priorities
Upcoming leaders’ discussion	European council on December 18-19, 2025

The session signals the bloc’s intent to chart a course for budgetary discipline, strategic priorities, and deeper integration on key dossiers-from enlargement and migration to competitiveness and security. The discussions will shape EU policy responses to geopolitical shifts and internal reform agendas in the run-up to 2026.

Readers: Do you think the European Union’s budget priorities adequately address future growth and stability?

How should enlargement and migration policies balance the union’s internal cohesion with openness to new members?

Stay with us for ongoing coverage as European leaders translate these talks into concrete policy steps in the weeks ahead.

&D and procurement Greater strategic autonomy

3.2 Legislative timeline (2026)

EU General Affairs Council – Brussels, 16 December 2025

Key topics: EU budget, 2026 legislative priorities, enlargement, security agenda (Latvia represented by Artjoms Uršulskis)

1. Meeting Overview & Decision‑Making process

• Date & venue: 16 Dec 2025, Council Chamber, European Commission headquarters, Brussels.
• Council composition: Ministers of General Affairs (or their equivalents) from all 27 EU Member States, chaired by the European Council President.
• Voting rules: Qualified majority voting (QMV) for budgetary and legislative items; unanimity required on enlargement and security‑related measures.
• Latvia’s delegation: Led by Artjoms Uršulskis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, acting as primary spokesperson on budget allocation for the Baltic region, accession talks, and the EU‑NATO security framework.

2. EU 2025‑2026 Budget Negotiations

2.1 core figures approved (pre‑liminary)

category	2025 Estimated Expenditure	2026 Projected Increase
Cohesion Fund	€58 bn	+ 3 %
Common agricultural Policy (CAP)	€42 bn	+ 2 %
Research & Innovation (Horizon Europe)	€18 bn	+ 4 %
Digital Europe Program	€7.5 bn	+ 5 %
Security & Defense (PESCO)	€6 bn	+ 6 %
EU External Action (neighbourhood & enlargement)	€10 bn	+ 2 %

2.2 Budgetary priorities highlighted by the Council

1. Green transition: Additional €5 bn earmarked for the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and renewable energy projects.
2. Digital sovereignty: €2 bn boost for European cloud infrastructure and AI research.
3. Strategic autonomy: Funding for the European Defence Fund (EDF) increased by €800 m to accelerate joint procurement.

2.3 Latvia’s specific budget requests (articulated by Uršulskis)

• Baltic Connectivity: €250 m for the Rail Baltica extension and cross‑border broadband.
• Resilience funds: €120 m for climate‑adaptation measures in coastal municipalities.
• Security contributions: €40 m supplemental financing for the NATO‑EU rapid deployment centre in riga.

3.2026 Legislative Priorities

3.1 Top‑tier legislative package (proposed by the European Commission)

Priority	Core Objective	Expected Impact
Digital Services Act (DSA) 2.0	Strengthen platform liability & data portability	Enhanced consumer protection, market fairness
Fit‑for‑55 – Climate Package	Achieve 55 % net‑GHG reduction by 2030	Accelerated decarbonisation across sectors
EU Cybersecurity Act (revision)	Mandate certification for critical digital services	Improved resilience against cyber‑threats
European Labor Authority (ELA) expansion	Facilitate cross‑border worker mobility	Reduced administrative barriers for EU labour market
EU Defense Industrial Strategy	Consolidate defence R&D and procurement	Greater strategic autonomy

3.2 Legislative timeline (2026)

1. Q1 2026: Formal adoption of DSA 2.0 and cybersecurity Act revision (Council & Parliament).
2. Q2 2026: Negotiations on the Fit‑for‑55 package; adoption of the ELA amendment.
3. Q3‑Q4 2026: Finalization of the EU Defence Industrial Strategy and associated budget lines.

4. Enlargement Agenda

4.1 Current candidates & status (as of Dec 2025)

• Western Balkans: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo (potential).
• Eastern Partnership: Ukraine (candidate status), Moldova (candidate status).

4.2 Council decisions (unanimous)

• Accession negotiations: Launch of formal talks with Moldova on 1 Jan 2026, focusing on judiciary reforms and anti‑corruption measures.
• Conditionality framework: Strengthened “rule‑of‑law” benchmarks; any deviation triggers a “suspension clause” on funding.

4.3 Latvia’s advocacy (Uršulskis)

• Emphasised regional security benefits of faster EU integration for Ukraine and Moldova.
• Proposed a Baltic‑Balkan cooperation platform to share best practices on border management and energy interconnections.

5.Security Agenda

5.1 Core pillars discussed

• Strategic Autonomy: Reinforce EU’s own defence capabilities while deepening NATO coordination.
• Hybrid threats: counter disinformation, cyber‑attacks, and illicit migration flows.
• Border Management: Modernise the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) with AI‑driven surveillance.

5.2 Concrete measures approved

• PESCO expansion: 12 new joint projects, total budget €1.2 bn for 2026‑2029.
• EU‑NATO Rapid Response Centre: Established in riga; operational by mid‑2026, staffed by 250 officers from 9 Member States.
• cyber‑defence pool: €500 m allocated for a Europe‑wide cyber‑incident response team, co‑led by Estonia and Finland.

5.3 Latvia’s security contributions (Uršulskis’s statements)

• Commitment to host Joint NATO‑EU exercises focusing on maritime security in the baltic Sea.
• Offer to share Baltic cyber‑intelligence through a bilateral data‑exchange framework with the netherlands and Germany.

6. Practical Implications for Stakeholders

6.1 For EU businesses

• Grant opportunities: New Horizon Europe calls (2026) targeting climate‑tech and AI; deadline 15 Mar 2026.
• Regulatory certainty: Revised DSA 2.0 provides clearer compliance pathways for digital platforms.

6.2 For NGOs & civil society

• Funding streams: €1 bn allocated to climate‑justice NGOs under the Green Transition Fund.
• Advocacy focus: Monitor implementation of the rule‑of‑law conditionality for enlargement candidates.

6.3 For regional authorities (Baltic & Eastern Europe)

• Infrastructure projects: Rail Baltica and broadband upgrades eligible for Cohesion Fund co‑financing.
• Security coordination: Participation in the Riga Rapid Response Centre offers training and joint‑operation grants.

7. Key Takeaways for Policy‑Makers

1. Budget alignment – The 2026 EU budget reflects a triad of priorities: green transition, digital sovereignty, and strategic autonomy.
2. Legislative momentum – 2026 will be a pivotal year for the DSA 2.0, Fit‑for‑55, and EU defence legislation, demanding swift parliamentary action.
3. Enlargement acceleration – The Council’s unanimous support for Moldova and intensified Balkan engagement signals a clear expansion trajectory.
4. Security integration – The establishment of the Riga Rapid Response Centre cements the EU‑NATO partnership, with the Baltic region as a security hub.
5. Latvia’s influence – Artjoms Uršulskis leveraged Latvia’s strategic position to drive regional connectivity, cybersecurity cooperation, and a robust security agenda.

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