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The Council of the European Union

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The Council of the European Union THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AN ESSENTIAL EU DECISION-MAKER The Council of the European Union – also known informally as the EU Council or, simply, the Council – is a key EU decision-maker. The institution brings together the ministers of the EU member states. They represent their elected national governments in those areas where the treaties – adopted by the member states – allow the Union to act. The Council mostly adopts laws and coordinates poli- cies in order to reach the objectives set in the European Council by the EU’s heads of state or government. The Council also develops the EU’s common foreign and security policy, concludes international agreements and together with the European Parliament, it adopts the EU budget. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 23 October 2017 Almost all law-making requires a proposal from the European Commission. In most cases, these proposals demand joint adop- tion by the Council and the European Parliament. Together with the Commission and the Parliament, the Council is therefore one of the three interdependent players in the Union’s law-making process. The Council may vote by a simple majority (15 member states vote in favour – used for non-legislative issues), unanimity (all countries vote in favour – in matters which the member states con- sider to be sensitive) or a qualified majority (55 % of member states, representing at least 65 % of the EU population, vote in favour). A qualified majority is the standard voting method, used for about 80 % of EU legislation. This method is used when the Council votes on a proposal by the Commission or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Council meetings take place in Brussels and for three months a year – April, June and October – in Luxembourg. They are organised according to subject. This means that there are Council meetings on finance, environment, energy, justice and so on, bringing together ministers with responsibilities in such areas. Officially there are ten specialised formats, called ‘Council configurations’. Some 70 to 80 Council meetings take place every year and each of these meet- ings is presided by the minister responsible for the subject under discussion from the member state holding the Council Presidency. European Commissioners responsible for the areas concerned also take part in Council meetings, although they cannot vote. THE COUNCIL PRESIDENCY The Council Presidency rotates among the EU member states every six months. The Presidency organises and chairs meetings of the Council and its preparatory bodies, and draws up comprom- ises that facilitate Council decisions. It also represents the Council in relations with the other EU institutions, particularly with the Commission and the European Parliament. The Presidency is sup- ported by the permanent General Secretariat of the Council. Member states holding the Presidency work together closely in teams of three, called ‘trios’. The trio sets long-term goals and pre- pares a common agenda that will be addressed by the Council over an 18 month period. Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council in Brussels on 20 November 2017 The Foreign Affairs Council is the only Council configuration that is not chaired by the rotating Presidency: it is chaired, instead, by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The informal Eurogroup meetings – in which the ministers of the euro area member states discuss matters relating to their shared respon- sibilities with regard to the euro – also have a permanent President, who is elected among its members. EU Council presidencies up to 2020: Bulgaria: January-June 2018 Austria: July-December 2018 Romania: January-June 2019 Finland: July-December 2019 Croatia: January-June 2020 Germany: July-December 2020 General Affairs Council in Brussels on 7 March 2017 FOLLOW THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL The Council’s work is as open as possible. Agendas for Council meetings and many of the papers discussed can be downloaded from the Council’s website. When the Council discusses the adop- tion of a law, the debate is web-streamed and made available on- line. In addition, Council votes on law-making are automatically made public. Similarly, you can follow press conferences and read and subscribe to other press related products published on the website. EUROPEAN COUNCIL COUNCIL OF THE EU sets the EU’s negotiates and political agenda votes on legislation GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE COUNCIL (GSC) supports the work of both institutions EUROPEAN COUNCIL, COUNCIL, COUNCIL OF EUROPE – CONFUSED? Both the European Council and the Council of the EU repre- sent the views of the governments of the EU member states. The European Council determines the EU’s general political direction and priorities, whereas the Council mostly adopts laws and coordinates policies. The European Council – which consists of the heads of state or government of the member states – represents the highest level of political cooperation between the member states. The institution does not negoti- ate or adopt legislation but sets the EU’s policy agenda. The European Council and the Council should not be confused with the Council of Europe, an international organisation based in Strasbourg which protects human rights, democracy and the rule of law and promotes European culture. It is totally separate from the EU. Visit our website to learn more about the European Council and the Council: www.consilium.europa.eu Follow us on social media: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/contact/social-media Social icon Rounded square Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines. Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 1048 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË Tel. +32 (0)2 281 61 11 www.consilium.europa.eu © European Union, 2018 Europa building: © Philippe Samyn, Valle, Happold, architects and engineers; colour compositions: © Georges Meurant, 2016 Print PDF ISBN 978-92-824-6347-5 ISBN 978-92-824-6346-8 doi:10.2860/02376 doi:10.2860/864265 QC-06-17-489-EN-C QC-06-17-489-EN-N.
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