Council Of The European Union

Question 1

Council of the European Union role

Answer 1

Voice of EU member governments, adopting EU laws and coordinating EU policies

Question 2

Council of the European Union members

Answer 2

Government ministers from each EU country, according to the policy area to be discussed

Question 3

President of the council of the European Union

Answer 3

Each EU country holds the presidency on a 6-month rotating basis

Question 4

When was the council of the European Union established

Answer 4

1958

Question 5

What was the council of the European Union originally called

Answer 5

Council of the European economic community

Question 6

Where is the council of the European Union located

Answer 6

Brussels, Belgium

Question 7

In the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to

Answer 7

discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies.

Question 8

The ministers have the authority to

Answer 8

commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings.

Question 9

Together with the European Parliament, the Council is

Answer 9

the main decision-making body of the EU.

Question 10

The European council and the council of Europe

Answer 10

European Council - quarterly summits, where EU leaders meet to set the broad direction of EU policy making
Council of Europe - not an EU body at all.

Question 11

What does the council of the European Union do

Answer 11

Negotiates and adopts EU laws, together with the European Parliament, based on proposals from the European Commission
Coordinates EU countries’ policies
Develops the EU’s foreign & security policy, based on European Council guidelines
Concludes agreements between the EU and other countries or international organisations
Adopts the annual EU budget - jointly with the European Parliament.

Question 12

Composition of the council of the European Union

Answer 12

There are no fixed members of the EU Council. Instead, the Council meets in 10 different configurations, each corresponding to the policy area being discussed. Depending on the configuration, each country sends their minister responsible for that policy area.

Question 13

Who chairs the meetings?

Answer 13

The Foreign Affairs Council has a permanent chairperson.

All other Council meetings are chaired by the relevant minister of the country holding the rotating EU presidency.

Question 14

Eurozone countries

Answer 14

Eurozone countries coordinate their economic policy through the Eurogroup, which consists of their economy and finance ministers. It meets the day before Economic & Financial Affairs Council meetings.

Question 15

How does the council work?

Answer 15

All discussions & votes take place in public.
To be passed, decisions usually require a qualified majority :
55% of countries (with 28 current members, this means 16 countries)
representing at least 65 % of total EU population.
To block a decision, at least 4 countries are needed (representing at least 35% of total EU population)

Question 16

Exceptions

Answer 16

sensitive topics like foreign policy and taxation require a unanimous vote (all countries in favour).
Simple majority is required for procedural & administrative issues