Council of the European Union

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Council of the European Union

Bulgarian:Съвет на Европейския съюз
Croatian:Vijeće Europske unije
Czech:Rada Evropské unie
Danish:Rådet for Den Europæiske Union
Dutch:Raad van de Europese Unie
Estonian:Euroopa Liidu Nõukogu
Finnish:Euroopan unionin neuvosto
French:Conseil de l'Union européenne
German:Rat der Europäischen Union
Greek:Συμβούλιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης
Hungarian:Az Európai Unió Tanácsa
Irish:Comhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh
Italian:Consiglio dell'Unione europea
Latvian:Eiropas Savienības Padome
Lithuanian:Europos Sąjungos Taryba
Maltese:Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea
Polish:Rada Unii Europejskiej
Portuguese:Conselho da União Europeia
Romanian:Consiliul Uniunii Europene
Slovak:Rada Európskej únie
Slovene:Svet Evropske unije
Spanish:Consejo de la Unión Europea
Swedish:Europeiska unionens råd
Council of the EU and European Council.svg
History
Founded1 July 1967;57 years ago (1967-07-01)
Preceded by
  • Special Council of Ministers of the ECSC
  • Council of the EAEC
  • Council of the EEC
Leadership
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
since 1 July 2024
Flag of France.svg Thérèse Blanchet [1]
since 1 November 2022
Flag of Estonia.svg Kaja Kallas, ALDE
since 1 December 2024
Structure
Seats27
Structure of the Council of the European Union.svg
Committees
10 configurations
  • Agriculture and fisheries
  • Competitiveness
  • Economic and financial affairs
  • Education, youth, culture and sport
  • Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs
  • Environment
  • Foreign affairs
  • General affairs
  • Justice and home affairs
  • Transport, telecommunications and energy
Motto
United in Diversity
Meeting place
European Council (38185339475).jpg
Europa building
Brussels, Belgium
EU2024BE 240412 ECOFIN Council European Convention Center Luxembourg - 135.jpg
European Convention Center
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Website
consilium.europa.eu
Constitution
Treaties of the European Union

The Council of the European Union, often referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council, [a] and informally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven Institutions of the European Union (EU) as listed in the Treaty on European Union. [2] It is one of two legislative bodies and together with the European Parliament serves to amend and approve, or veto, the proposals of the European Commission, which holds the right of initiative. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

The Council of the European Union and the European Council are the only EU institutions that are explicitly intergovernmental, that is, forums whose attendees express and represent the position of their Member State's executive, be they ambassadors, ministers or heads of state/government.

The Council meets in 10 different configurations of 27 national ministers (one per state). The precise membership of these configurations varies according to the topic under consideration; for example, when discussing agricultural policy the Council is formed by the 27 national ministers whose portfolio includes this policy area (with the related European Commissioners contributing but not voting).

Composition

The Presidency of the Council rotates every six months among the governments of EU member states, with the relevant ministers of the respective country holding the Presidency at any given time ensuring the smooth running of the meetings and setting the daily agenda. [6] The continuity between presidencies is provided by an arrangement under which three successive presidencies, known as Presidency trios, share common political programmes. The Foreign Affairs Council (national foreign ministers) is however chaired by the Union's High Representative. [7]

Its decisions are made by qualified majority voting in most areas, unanimity in others, or just simple majority for procedural issues. Usually where it operates unanimously, it only needs to consult the Parliament. However, in most areas the ordinary legislative procedure applies meaning both Council and Parliament share legislative and budgetary powers equally, meaning both have to agree for a proposal to pass. In a few limited areas the Council may initiate new EU law itself. [6]

The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, also known as Council Secretariat, assists the Council of the European Union, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Council and the President of the European Council. [8] The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union. [9] The Secretariat is divided into eleven directorates-general, each administered by a director-general. [10]

History

The Council first appeared in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) as the "Special Council of Ministers", set up to counterbalance the High Authority (the supranational executive, now the Commission). The original Council had limited powers: issues relating only to coal and steel were in the Authority's domain, and the Council's consent was only required on decisions outside coal and steel. As a whole, the Council only scrutinised the High Authority (the executive). In 1957, the Treaties of Rome established two new communities, and with them two new Councils: the Council of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) and the Council of the European Economic Community (EEC). However, due to objections over the supranational power of the Authority, their Councils had more powers; the new executive bodies were known as "Commissions". [11]

In 1965, the Council was hit by the "empty chair crisis". Due to disagreements between French President Charles de Gaulle and the Commission's agriculture proposals, among other things, France boycotted all meetings of the Council. This halted the Council's work until the impasse was resolved the following year by the Luxembourg compromise. Although initiated by a gamble of the President of the Commission, Walter Hallstein, who later on lost the Presidency, the crisis exposed flaws in the Council's workings. [12]

Under the Merger Treaty of 1967, the ECSC's Special Council of Ministers and the Council of the EAEC (together with their other independent institutions) were merged into the Council of the European Communities, which would act as a single Council for all three institutions. [13] In 1993, the Council adopted the name 'Council of the European Union', following the establishment of the European Union by the Maastricht Treaty. That treaty strengthened the Council, with the addition of more intergovernmental elements in the three pillars system. However, at the same time the Parliament and Commission had been strengthened inside the Community pillar, curtailing the ability of the Council to act independently. [11]

The Treaty of Lisbon abolished the pillar system and gave further powers to Parliament. It also merged the Council's High Representative with the Commission's foreign policy head, with this new figure chairing the foreign affairs Council rather than the rotating presidency. The European Council was declared a separate institution from the Council, also chaired by a permanent president, and the different Council configurations were mentioned in the treaties for the first time. [7]

The development of the Council has been characterised by the rise in power of the Parliament, with which the Council has had to share its legislative powers. The Parliament has often provided opposition to the Council's wishes. This has in some cases led to clashes between both bodies with the Council's system of intergovernmentalism contradicting the developing parliamentary system and supranational principles. [14]

Powers and functions

The primary purpose of the Council is to act as one of two vetoing bodies of the EU's legislative branch, the other being the European Parliament. Together they serve to amend, approve or disapprove the proposals of the European Commission, which has the sole power to propose laws. [3] [5] Jointly with the Parliament, the Council holds the budgetary power of the Union and has greater control than the Parliament over the more intergovernmental areas of the EU, such as foreign policy and macroeconomic co-ordination. Finally, before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, it formally held the executive power of the EU which it conferred upon the European Commission. [15] [16] It is considered by some to be equivalent to an upper house of the EU legislature, although it is not described as such in the treaties. [17] [18] [19] The Council represents the executive governments of the EU's member states [2] [15] and is based in the Europa building in Brussels. [20]

The Council also has an important role in the formation of the European Commission. The Council sitting in the General Affairs Council configuration, in agreement with the President-elect of the Commissission, adopts a list of candidates for the Commission proposed by the member states. [21]

Legislative procedure

Simplified illustration of the voting rules that apply within the ordinary legislative procedure. The actual procedure involves various stages of consultations aimed at achieving compromise between the positions of the two legislative chambers. Ordinary legislative procedure majorityrules.svg
Simplified illustration of the voting rules that apply within the ordinary legislative procedure. The actual procedure involves various stages of consultations aimed at achieving compromise between the positions of the two legislative chambers.

The EU's legislative authority is divided between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission. As the relationships and powers of these institutions have developed, various legislative procedures have been created for adopting laws. [15] In early times, the avis facultatif maxim was: "The Commission proposes, and the Council disposes"; [22] but now the vast majority of laws are subject to the ordinary legislative procedure, which works on the principle that consent from both the Council and Parliament are required before a law may be adopted. [23]

Under this procedure, the Commission presents a proposal to Parliament and the Council. Following its first reading the Parliament may propose amendments. If the Council accepts these amendments then the legislation is approved. If it does not then it adopts a "common position" and submits that new version to the Parliament. At its second reading, if the Parliament approves the text or does not act, the text is adopted, otherwise the Parliament may propose further amendments to the Council's proposal. It may be rejected out right by an absolute majority of MEPs. If the Council still does not approve the Parliament's position, then the text is taken to a "Conciliation Committee" composed of the Council members plus an equal number of MEPs. If a Committee manages to adopt a joint text, it then has to be approved in a third reading by both the Council and Parliament or the proposal is abandoned. [24]

The few other areas that operate the special legislative procedures are justice & home affairs, budget and taxation and certain aspects of other policy areas: such as the fiscal aspects of environmental policy. In these areas, the Council or Parliament decide law alone. [25] [26] The procedure used also depends upon which type of institutional act is being used. The strongest act is a regulation, an act or law which is directly applicable in its entirety. Then there are directives which bind members to certain goals which they must achieve, but they do this through their own laws and hence have room to manoeuvre in deciding upon them. A decision is an instrument which is focused at a particular person or group and is directly applicable. Institutions may also issue recommendations and opinions which are merely non-binding declarations. [27]

The Council votes in one of three ways; unanimity, simple majority, or qualified majority. In most cases, the Council votes on issues by qualified majority voting, meaning that there must be a minimum of 55% of member states agreeing (at least 15) who together represent at least 65% of the EU population. [28] A 'blocking minority' can only be formed by at least 4 member states, even if the objecting states constitute more than 35% of the population. [29]

Resolutions

Council resolutions have no legal effect. Usually the Council's intention is to set out future work foreseen in a specific policy area or to invite action by the Commission. If a resolution covers a policy area which is not entirely within an area of EU competency, the resolution will be issued as a "resolution of the Council and the representatives of the governments of the member states". [30] Examples are the Council Resolution of 26 September 1989 on the development of subcontracting in the Community [31] and the Council Resolution of 26 November 2001 on consumer credit and indebtedness. [32]

Foreign affairs

The legal instruments used by the Council for the Common Foreign and Security Policy are different from the legislative acts. Under the CFSP they consist of "common positions", "joint actions", and "common strategies". Common positions relate to defining a European foreign policy towards a particular third-country such as the promotion of human rights and democracy in Myanmar, a region such as the stabilisation efforts in the African Great Lakes, or a certain issue such as support for the International Criminal Court. A common position, once agreed, is binding on all EU states who must follow and defend the policy, which is regularly revised. A joint action refers to a co-ordinated action of the states to deploy resources to achieve an objective, for example for mine clearing or to combat the spread of small arms. Common strategies defined an objective and commits the EUs resources to that task for four years. [33]

The Council must practice unanimity when voting on foreign affairs issues because Common Foreign and Security Policy is a "sensitive" issue (according to EUR-Lex). [34] An exception to this rule exists via Article 31 of the Treaty on European Union, which stipulates circumstances in which qualified majority voting is permissible for the Council in discussing Common Foreign and Security Policy. [34] [35] [36] Article 31 lays out provisions regarding a passerelle clause as well as the possibilities for Member State abstentions. [35] [37] Additionally, Article 31 stipulates derogation for "a decision defining a Union action or position". [35] [37] In late 2023 and early 2024, unanimity voting on foreign affairs issues by the Council made headlines due to the resistance of Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, to passing European Union aid to Ukraine. [38] [39] [40] In this recent example, the Council came to a unified conclusion after discussions with the Hungarian leader; [40] previously at the end of 2023, Orbán had left the room during the Council vote on Ukraine-EU accession talks, this ensuring that the Council passed that issue without veto. [39]

Budgetary authority

The legislative branch officially holds the Union's budgetary authority. The EU's budget (which is around 155 billion euro) [41] is subject to a form of the ordinary legislative procedure with a single reading giving Parliament power over the entire budget (prior to 2009, its influence was limited to certain areas) on an equal footing with the Council. If there is a disagreement between them, it is taken to a conciliation committee as it is for legislative proposals. But if the joint conciliation text is not approved, the Parliament may adopt the budget definitively. [25] In addition to the budget, the Council coordinates the economic policy of members. [6]

Organisation

The Council's rules of procedure contain the provisions necessary for its organisation and functioning. [42]

Presidency

The Presidency of the Council is not a single post, but is held by a member state's government. Every six months the presidency rotates among the states, in an order predefined by the Council's members, allowing each state to preside over the body. From 2007, every three member states co-operate for their combined eighteen months on a common agenda, although only one formally holds the presidency for the normal six-month period. For example, the President for the second half of 2007, Portugal, was the second in a trio of states alongside Germany and Slovenia with whom Portugal had been co-operating. The Council meets in various configurations (as outlined below) so its membership changes depending upon the issue. The person chairing the Council will always be the member from the state holding the Presidency. A delegate from the following Presidency also assists the presiding member and may take over work if requested. [43] [44] The exception however is the foreign affairs council, which has been chaired by the High Representative since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. [7]

The role of the Presidency is administrative and political. On the administrative side it is responsible for procedures and organising the work of the Council during its term. This includes summoning the Council for meetings along with directing the work of COREPER and other committees and working parties. The political element is the role of successfully dealing with issues and mediating in the Council. In particular this includes setting the agenda of the council, hence giving the Presidency substantial influence in the work of the Council during its term. The Presidency also plays a major role in representing the Council within the EU and representing the EU internationally, for example at the United Nations. [44] [45] [46]

Configurations

Legally speaking, the Council is a single entity (this means that technically any Council configuration can adopt decisions that fall within the remit of any other Council configuration) [47] but it is in practice divided into several different council configurations (or '(con)formations'). Article 16(6) of the Treaty on European Union provides:

The Council shall meet in different configurations, the list of which shall be adopted in accordance with Article 236 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The General Affairs Council shall ensure consistency in the work of the different Council configurations. It shall prepare and ensure the follow-up to meetings of the European Council, in liaison with the President of the European Council and the Commission.

The Foreign Affairs Council shall elaborate the Union's external action on the basis of strategic guidelines laid down by the European Council and ensure that the Union's action is consistent.

Each council configuration deals with a different functional area, for example agriculture and fisheries. In this formation, the council is composed of ministers from each state government who are responsible for this area: the agriculture and fisheries ministers. The chair of this council is held by the member from the state holding the presidency (see section above). Similarly, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council is composed of national finance ministers, and they are still one per state and the chair is held by the member coming from the presiding country. The Councils meet irregularly throughout the year except for the three major configurations (top three below) which meet once a month. As of 2020, there are ten formations: [48] [49]

General Affairs (GAC)
General affairs co-ordinates the work of the Council, prepares for European Council meetings and deals with issues crossing various council formations.
Foreign Affairs (FAC)
Chaired by the High Representative, rather than the Presidency, it manages the CFSP, CSDP, trade and development co-operation. It sometimes meets in a defence configuration. [50]
Since 2017, the Europa building, seen here, has been the seat of the Council. Europa building in July 2017.jpg
Since 2017, the Europa building, seen here, has been the seat of the Council.
Economic and Financial Affairs (Ecofin)
Composed of economics and finance ministers of the member states. It includes budgetary and eurozone matters via an informal group composed only of eurozone member ministers. [51]
Agriculture and Fisheries (Agrifish)
Composed of the agriculture and fisheries ministers of the member states. It considers matters concerning the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy, forestry, organic farming, food and feed safety, seeds, pesticides, and fisheries. [52]
Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
This configuration brings together Justice ministers and Interior Ministers of the Member States. Includes civil protection.
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO)
Composed of employment, social protection, consumer protection, health and equal opportunities ministers.
Competitiveness (COMPET)
Created in June 2002 through the merging of three previous configurations (Internal Market, Industry and Research). Depending on the items on the agenda, this formation is composed of ministers responsible for areas such as European affairs, industry, tourism and scientific research. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU acquired competence in space matters, [53] and space policy has been attributed to the Competitiveness Council. [54]
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE)
Created in June 2002, through the merging of three policies under one configuration, and with a composition varying according to the specific items on its agenda. This formation meets approximately once every two months.
Environment (ENV)
Composed of environment ministers, who meet about four times a year.
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYC)
Composed of education, culture, youth, communications and sport ministers, who meet around three or four times a year. [55] Includes audiovisual issues.

Complementing these, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) brings together ambassadors to monitor international situations and define policies within the CSDP, particularly in crises. [49] The European Council is similar to a configuration of the Council and operates in a similar way, but is composed of the national leaders (heads of government or state) and has its own President, [56] since 2019, Charles Michel. The body's purpose is to define the general "impetus" of the Union. [57] The European Council deals with the major issues such as the appointment of the President of the European Commission who takes part in the body's meetings. [58]

Ecofin's Eurozone component, the Euro group, is also a formal group with its own President. [51] Its European Council counterpart is the Euro summit formalized in 2011 [59] and the TSCG.

Following the entry into force of a framework agreement between the EU and ESA there is a Space Council configuration—a joint and concomitant meeting of the EU Council and of the ESA Council at ministerial level dealing with the implementation of the ESP adopted by both organisations. [60] [61]

Administration

The General Secretariat of the Council provides the continuous infrastructure of the Council, carrying out preparation for meetings, draft reports, translation, records, documents, agendas and assisting the presidency. [62] The Secretary General of the Council is head of the Secretariat. [63] The Secretariat is divided into eleven directorates-general, each administered by a director-general. [64]

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) is a body composed of representatives from the states (ambassadors, civil servants etc.) who meet each week to prepare the work and tasks of the Council. It monitors and co-ordinates work and deals with the Parliament on co-decision legislation. [65] It is divided into two groups of the representatives (Coreper II) and their deputies (Coreper I). Agriculture is dealt with separately by the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA). The numerous working parties submit their reports to the Council through Coreper or SCA. [49]

Governments represented in the Council

The Treaty of Lisbon mandated a change in voting system from 1 November 2014 for most cases to double majority Qualified Majority Voting, replacing the voting weights system. Decisions made by the council have to be taken by 55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EU's population. [7]

Almost all members of the Council are members of a political party at national level, and most of these are members of a European-level political party. However the Council is composed to represent the Member States rather than political parties [6] and the nature of coalition governments in a number of states means that party breakdown at different configuration of the Council vary depending on which domestic party was assigned the portfolio. However, the broad ideological alignment of the government in each state does influence the nature of the law the Council produces and the extent to which the link between domestic parties puts pressure on the members in the European Parliament to vote a certain way.

StateGoverning partiesEU partyEU groupPopulationCabinet
Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany PES S&D 84,311,244 Scholz
Alliance 90/The Greens EGP G/EFA
France TBA TBATBA68,070,697 Bayrou
Italy Brothers of Italy ECR ECR 59,691,110 Meloni
League for Salvini Premier P.eu PfE
Forza Italia EPP EPP
Us Moderates None EPP
Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party PES S&D 48,063,694 Sánchez III
Socialists' Party of Catalonia None S&D
Unite Movement None Left
United Left PEL Left
Catalonia in Common EGP G/EFA
More Madrid None G/EFA
Poland Civic Platform EPP EPP 37,723,532 Tusk III
Polish People's Party EPP EPP
New Left PES S&D
Szymon Hołownia's Poland 2050 None RE
Modern ALDE RE
Polish Initiative None EPP
Romania Social Democratic Party PES S&D 19,051,562 Ciolacu
National Liberal Party EPP EPP
Netherlands Party for Freedom P.eu PfE 17,956,453 Schoof
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ALDE RE
New Social Contract EPP EPP
Farmer–Citizen Movement None EPP
Belgium Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats ALDE RE 11,754,004 De Croo
Socialist Party PES S&D
Reformist Movement ALDE RE
Ecolo EGP G/EFA
Christian Democratic and Flemish EPP EPP
Vooruit PES S&D
Green EGP G/EFA
Czech Republic Civic Democratic Party ECR ECR 10,833,385 Fiala
Mayors and Independents None EPP
KDU-ČSL EPP EPP
TOP 09 EPP EPP
Portugal Social Democratic Party EPP EPP 10,639,726 Montenegro
CDS – People's Party EPP EPP
Sweden Moderate Party EPP EPP 10,541,000 Kristersson
Christian Democrats EPP EPP
Liberals ALDE RE
Greece New Democracy EPP EPP 10,415,585 Mitsotakis II
Hungary Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance P.eu PfE 9,599,744 Orbán V
Christian Democratic People's Party None PfE
Austria Austrian People's Party EPP EPP 9,087,000 Nehammer
The Greens (Austria) EGP G/EFA
Bulgaria NoneNoneNone6,498,567 Glavchev II
Denmark Social Democrats PES S&D 5,921,952 Frederiksen II
Venstre, Denmark's Liberal Party ALDE RE
Moderates None RE
Finland National Coalition Party EPP EPP 5,593,070 Orpo
Finns Party None ECR
Swedish People's Party of Finland ALDE RE
Christian Democrats EPP EPP
Slovakia Direction – Social Democracy PES NI 5,454,629 Fico IV
Voice – Social Democracy PES NI
Slovak National Party NoneNone
Ireland Fine Gael EPP EPP 5,194,336 Harris
Fianna Fáil ALDE RE
Green Party EGP G/EFA
Croatia Croatian Democratic Union EPP EPP 3,850,894 Plenković III
Homeland Movement None ECR
Lithuania Social Democratic Party of Lithuania PES S&D 2,857,279 Paluckas
Dawn of Nemunas NoneNone
Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" EGP G/EFA
Slovenia Freedom Movement None RE 2,116,972 Golob
Social Democrats PES S&D
The Left PEL Left
Latvia Unity EPP EPP 1,883,008 Siliņa
Latvian Farmers' Union None RE
The Progressives EGP G/EFA
Estonia Estonian Reform Party ALDE RE 1,365,884 Michal
Estonia 200 None EPP
Social Democratic Party PES S&D
Cyprus Democratic Rally dissidents EPP EPP 920,701 Christodoulides
Democratic Party None S&D
EDEK Socialist Party PES S&D
Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation EGP G/EFA
Luxembourg Christian Social People's Party EPP EPP 658,278 Frieden
Democratic Party ALDE RE
Malta Labour Party PES S&D 542,051 Abela II

Location

By a decision of the European Council at Edinburgh in December 1992, the Council has its seat in Brussels but in April, June, and October, it holds its meetings in Luxembourg City. [66] Between 1952 and 1967, the ECSC Council held its Luxembourg City meetings in the Cercle Municipal on Place d'Armes. Its secretariat moved on numerous occasions but between 1955 and 1967 it was housed in the Verlorenkost district of the city. In 1957, with the creation of two new Communities with their own Councils, discretion on location was given to the current Presidency. In practice this was to be in the Château of Val-Duchesse until the autumn of 1958, at which point it moved to 2 Rue Ravensteinstraat in Brussels. [67]

The 1965 agreement (finalised by the Edinburgh agreement and annexed to the treaties) on the location of the newly merged institutions, the Council was to be in Brussels but would meet in Luxembourg City during April, June, and October. The ECSC secretariat moved from Luxembourg City to the merged body Council secretariat in the Ravenstein building of Brussels. In 1971 the Council and its secretariat moved into the Charlemagne building, next to the Commission's Berlaymont, but the Council rapidly ran out of space and administrative branch of the Secretariat moved to a building at 76 Rue Joseph II/Jozef II-straat and during the 1980s the language divisions moved out into the Nerviens, Frère Orban, and Guimard buildings. [67]

In 1995, the Council moved into the Justus Lipsius building, across the road from Charlemagne.[ clarification needed ] However, its staff was still increasing, so it continued to rent the Frère Orban building to house the Finnish and Swedish language divisions. Staff continued to increase and the Council rented, in addition to owning Justus Lipsius, the Kortenberg, Froissart, Espace Rolin, and Woluwe Heights buildings. Since acquiring the Lex building in 2008, the three aforementioned buildings are no longer in use by the Council services.[ citation needed ]

When the Council is meeting in Luxembourg City, it meets in the Kirchberg Conference Centre, [67] and its offices are based at the European Centre on the plateau du Kirchberg. [49] The Council has also met occasionally in Strasbourg, in various other cities, and also outside the Union: for example in 1974 when it met in Tokyo and Washington, D. C. while trade and energy talks were taking place. Under the Council's present rules of procedures the Council can, in extraordinary circumstances, hold one of its meetings outside Brussels and Luxembourg. [67]

From 2017, both the Council of the European Union and the European Council adopted the purpose-built Europa building as their official headquarters, although they continue to utilise the facilities afforded by the adjacent Justus Lipsius building. The focal point of the new building, the distinctive multi-storey "lantern" shaped structure in which the main meeting room is located, is utilised in both EU institutions' new official logos. [20] [68]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In the treaties and legislative documents, the institution is referred to simply as "the Council". The Latin word consilium is also found as a "language-neutral" name in signage, website names, etc.

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The presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union, which is the co-legislator of the EU legislature alongside the European Parliament. It rotates among the member states of the EU every six months. The presidency is not an individual, but rather the position is held by a national government. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "president of the European Union". The presidency's function is to chair meetings of the council, determine its agendas, set a work program and facilitate dialogue both at Council meetings and with other EU institutions. The presidency is currently, as of July 2024, held by Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of the European Council</span> Head of the European Council

The president of the European Council is the person presiding over and driving forward the work of the European Council on the world stage. This institution comprises the college of heads of state or government of EU member states as well as the president of the European Commission, and provides political direction to the European Union (EU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Committee of Permanent Representatives</span> European Union committee

COREPER, from French Comité des représentants permanents, is the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union, made up of the head or deputy head of mission from the EU member states in Brussels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy</span> Official of the European Union

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) is the chief co-ordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) within the European Union (EU). The position is currently held by Kaja Kallas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institutions of the European Union</span> Decision-making bodies of the European Union

The institutions of the European Union are the seven principal decision-making bodies of the European Union and Euratom governed under the Treaties of the European Union and European Union law. They are, as listed in Article 13 of the Treaty on European Union:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of the European Union</span>

The political structure of the European Union (EU) is similar to a confederation, where many policy areas are federalised into common institutions capable of making law; the competences to control foreign policy, defence policy, or the majority of direct taxation policies are mostly reserved for the twenty-seven state governments. These areas are primarily under the control of the EU's member states although a certain amount of structured co-operation and coordination takes place in these areas. For the EU to take substantial actions in these areas, all Member States must give their consent. Union laws that override State laws are more numerous than in historical confederations; however, the EU is legally restricted from making law outside its remit or where it is no more appropriate to do so at a state or local level (subsidiarity) when acting outside its exclusive competences. The principle of subsidiarity does not apply to areas of exclusive competence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of the European Union</span> Nonexistent title

The official title President of the European Union does not exist, but there are a number of presidents of European Union institutions, including:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union</span> EU service organization

The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (GSC), also known as Council Secretariat, assists the Council of the European Union, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Council and the President of the European Council. The General Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union. The Secretariat is divided into seven directorates-general, each administered by a director-general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treaty of Lisbon</span> 2007 treaty amending the constitutional basis of the European Union

The Treaty of Lisbon is a European agreement that amends the two treaties which form the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU). The Treaty of Lisbon, which was signed by all EU member states on 13 December 2007, entered into force on 1 December 2009. It amends the Maastricht Treaty (1992), known in updated form as the Treaty on European Union (2007) or TEU, as well as the Treaty of Rome (1957), known in updated form as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2007) or TFEU. It also amends the attached treaty protocols as well as the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Citizens' Initiative</span> European Union mechanism aimed at increasing direct democracy

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) is a European Union (EU) mechanism aimed at increasing direct democracy by enabling "EU citizens to participate directly in the development of EU policies", introduced with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007. This popular initiative enables one million citizens of the European Union, with a minimum number of nationals from at least seven member states, to call directly on the European Commission to propose a legal act in an area where the member states have conferred powers onto the EU level. This right to request the commission to initiate a legislative proposal puts citizens on the same footing as the European Parliament and the European Council, who enjoy this right according to Articles 225 and 241 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TEFU). The commission holds the right of initiative in the EU. The first registered ECI, Fraternité 2020, was initiated on 9 May 2012, although the first submitted ECI was One Single Tariff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area of freedom, security and justice</span> EUs home affairs and justice policies

The area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) of the European Union (EU) is a policy domain concerning home affairs and migration, justice as well as fundamental rights, developed to address the challenges posed to internal security by collateral effects of the free movement of people and goods in the absence of border controls or customs inspection throughout the Schengen Area, as well as to safeguard adherence to the common European values through ensuring that the fundamental rights of people are respected across the EU.

The European Union's (EU) Common Commercial Policy, or EU Trade Policy, is the policy whereby EU Member States delegate authority to the European Commission to negotiate their external trade relations, with the aim of increasing trade amongst themselves and their bargaining power vis-à-vis the rest of the world. The Common Commercial Policy is logically necessitated by the existence of the Customs Union, which in turn is also the foundation upon which the Single Market and Monetary Union were later established.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ninth European Parliament</span> Session of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024

The ninth European Parliament was elected during the 2019 elections and sat until the tenth European Parliament was sworn in on 16 July 2024.

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