The Council of the European Union

Question 1

What is the main role of the Council of the EU?

Answer 1

It’s the voice of EU member governments, adopting EU laws and coordinating EU polices
-together with the EU Parliament it is the MAIN DECISION-MAKING BODY of the EU

Question 2

Who are the members of The Council?

Answer 2

There are no permanent members. However it is composed by government ministers of each EU MS, according to the policy area to be discussed + NO PRESIDENT BUT PRESIDENCY –> each Member State holds it on a 6-month rotating basis

Question 3

What does The Council do?

Answer 3

• negotiates and adopts EU laws jointly with the EP based on proposals from the EU Commission
• coordinates EU countries’ policy
• develops the EU’s common foreign and security policy based on the EU Council’s guidelines
• adopts the annual EU budget jointly with the EU Parliament
• concludes agreements between the EU and:
  1. other countries
  2. international organizations

Question 4

What is the composition of The Council?

Answer 4

There are 10 different configurations, each one of them dealing with a different functional area (i.e. agriculture, and fisheries) –> so depending on the topic to be discussed, each country sends their own minister responsible for that specific field

Question 5

Who chairs The Council’s meetings?

Answer 5

While all the different councils are chaired by the relevant minister of the country holding the Presidency, only the Foreign Affairs Council has a permanent chairperson: the Eu High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Question 6

How is consistency ensured within the global activity of The Council?

Answer 6

Overall consistency is ensured by the General Affairs Council which is supported by the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) –> these permanent members are ambassadors appointed by every single MS
-they meet regularly once per week in order to discuss all the dossiers of every field

Question 7

How does The Council work?

Answer 7

-EU ministers meet in public when they discuss or vote on draft legislative acts
-to be passed, decisions usually require a QUALIFIED MAJORITY (which means 55% of countries representing at least 65% of the total EU population)
-to block a decision –> at least 4 countries are needed (representing at least 35% of total EU population)
EXCEPTION! sensitive topics like foreign policy and taxation require a UNANIMOUS VOTE (all countries in favour)
-SIMPLE MAJORITY is required for procedural and administrative issues