Presidency of the Council (of the European Union)

Question 1

Council’s decision adoption at 3 different levels

Answer 1

Working parties/committees:
Experts from national governments examine every proposal in preparatory bodies.

Permanent representatives:
Ambassadors from EU countries prepare every Council meeting at Coreper meetings.

Ministers:
National government ministers adopt decisions and EU legislation at Council meetings.

Question 2

Definition and tasks of the Council of the EU

Answer 2

The Council of the EU represents the member states’ governments. It is where national ministers and experts from each EU country meet to:

• negotiate and adopt EU laws
• conclude international agreements on behalf of the EU
• adopt the EU budget
• develop the EU’s foreign and security policy
• coordinate member states’ policies in specific fields

Question 3

Current presidency trio

Answer 3

Spain (July - Dec 2023), Belgium (Jan - June 2024), Hungary (July - Dec 2024)

Question 4

Why presidency trio?

Answer 4

The trio is a system that ensures continuity in the Council’s work and a format that allows common priorities to be implemented over an eighteen-month period, and the EU’s objectives to be less dependent on the rotation of presidencies every six months.

System put in place by the treaty of Lisbon; first ever trio is the same one as right now, they started in 2010.

Question 5

Trio priorities

Answer 5

1. boosting the EU’s global competitiveness by strengthening the industrial base in line with the accelerated twin green and digital transition and harnessing innovation,
2. ensuring that the twin transition is achieved in a fair, equitable and inclusive way by strengthening Europe’s social dimension, including by addressing the demographic challenge facing the EU,
3. strengthening international partnerships, multilateral cooperation and all dimensions of security, and developing an ambitious and balanced trade policy,
4. a stronger defence of EU interests based on our values and a strengthened EU capacity to act in the field of security and defence.

Question 6

Next trio

Answer 6

followed by the trio of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus, which will draw up a new joint trio programme for the period between 1 January 2025 and 31 June 2026.

Question 7

Previos trio

Answer 7

France, Czech Republic and Sweden

Question 8

Hungarian Priorities

Answer 8

1. New European Competitiveness Deal
2. The Reinforcement of European Defence Policy
3. A Consistent and Merit-Based Enlargement Policy
4. Stemming Illegal Migration
5. Shaping the Future of Cohesion Policy
6. A Farmer-Centered EU Agricultural Policy
7. Addressing Demographic Challenges

Question 9

Art 7 TEU

Answer 9

proceeding against Hungary since 2018

The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). In order to ensure that these values are respected, Article 7 TEU provides for an EU mechanism to determine the existence of, and possibly sanction, serious and persistent breaches of EU values by a Member State. It has only been activated in relation to Poland and Hungary so far.