Its members are elected every five years. 2. The Council uses qualified majority voting (QMV). The European Council. It may be rejected out right by an absolute majority of MEPs. Over recent years, the members of the European Council have, in a number of landmark declarations such as the Bratislava Declaration, pointed to the need to improve communication with citizens, as part of the process of building greater trust and confidence in the European Union and its institutions. The Council of the European Union is the institution that represents the member states' governments. Council of the European Union Brussels, 19 May 2017 (OR. 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. Since 1957, when the European Economic Community (EEC) was created with the limited purpose of establishing a common economic market in western Europe, the law of the EEC and…. Over recent years, the members of the European Council have, in a number of landmark declarations such as the Bratislava Declaration, pointed to the need to improve communication with citizens, as part of the process of building greater trust and confidence in the European Union … As well as a difference in responsibilities, the Council of the European Union differs from the European Council in terms of the seniority of its members. The Council concludes the European Union’s international agreements, which are negotiated by the Commission and in most cases require Parliament’s assent (Article 218(6) TFEU). The European Council brings together national political leaders and is the highest level at which member states interact in the European Union. The Council, acting by qualified majority (since the Treaty of Nice), appoints the members of the Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Headquarters of the European Court of Human Rights, an institution established by the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg, France. But even outside the Eurozone, EU Member States face the same challenges and are becoming increasingly interdependent. [17], The EU's legislative authority is divided between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission. Following its first reading the Parliament may propose amendments. The Presidency of the Council is shared by the member states on a rotating basis. [5], The Council's rules of procedure contain the provisions necessary for its organisation and functioning. [24] A 'blocking minority' can only be formed by at least 4 member states representing at least 35% of the EU population. The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the European Council President and the President of the European Commission. Our member States; Art and donations; How to distinguish us . (The Council of Europe should not be confused with the European Council, which is a policy-making body of the European Union.). As the relationships and powers of these institutions have developed, various legislative procedures have been created for adopting laws. Also known informally as the EU Council, it is where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies. Since the beginning of the Helsinki process, the European Union (originally the European Communities) has played a vital role in the work of the OSCE (then Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe). Since acquiring the Lex building in 2008, the three aforementioned buildings are no longer in use by the Council services. Art.4 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. 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. These countries are collectively known as the Eurozone.Which countries use the euro? Members: Government ministers from each EU country, according to the policy area to be discussed President: 28 member states take turns, for six months each. [9], 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. though "Council of the European Union" is increasingly used in explanatory documents. The Secretariat, with a staff of about 1,000, serves the other three main organizations within the council. It has been engaged extensively with EU institutions like NATO. Appointments. France in the EU European Parliament. In this formation, the council is composed of ministers from each state government who are responsible for this area: the agriculture and fisheries ministers. If the Council accepts these amendments then the legislation is approved. who meet each week to prepare the work and tasks of the Council. If it does not then it adopts a "common position" and submits that new version to the Parliament. 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). As a general rule, the European Council takes unanimous decisions, which is equivalent to each member having a veto. Council–EMCDDA cooperation. [28][29] 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. The ECSC secretariat moved from Luxembourg City to the merged body Council secretariat in the Ravenstein building of Brussels. European Parliament office in France. Is Democratic. The body's purpose is to define the general "impetus" of the Union. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings. Its secretariat moved on numerous occasions but between 1955 and 1967 it was housed in the Verlorenkost district of the city. 20 July 2015 1 Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading … Instead, the Council meets in 10 different configurations, each corresponding to the policy area being discussed. The Council of the European Union should not be confused with the Council of Europe. Finland. [34] 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. About . 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. [7], In 1965 the Council was hit by the "empty chair crisis". Climate change, energy supply, worker mobility and migration are among the issues that cannot be tackled by individual nations. The Parliamentary Assembly, which meets four times a year, is a deliberative body consisting of representatives from national parliaments. In addition, the principalities of Andorra and Monaco joined in 1994 and 2004, respectively. Representatives' Committee, with a view to its approval by the Council, and which will be made at the moment of signature. Austrians comprise 1.7% of the total EU population. In the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies.   A delegate from the following Presidency also assists the presiding member and may take over work if requested. Coordinates. [34] 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,[41] since 2019, Charles Michel. The Committee of Ministers, which meets twice a year, is composed of the foreign ministers of all council members. Convened by its president, the European Council brings together the heads of state or government of the 27 Member States and the President of the Commission (Article 15(2) of the TEU). [42] 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.[43]. This includes summoning the Council for meetings along with directing the work of COREPER and other committees and working groups. The Council of the European Union. That treaty strengthened the Council, with the addition of more intergovernmental elements in the three pillars system. Under the Council's present rules of procedures the Council can, in extraordinary circumstances, hold one of its meetings outside Brussels and Luxembourg. The European Union (EU) is an international organization made up of 27 European countries. The European district of Strasbourg. 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. After the collapse of communism in eastern and central Europe in 1989–91, the council aided the countries of the region to overhaul their constitutions and legal codes and to democratize their political systems. But if the joint conciliation text is not approved, the Parliament may adopt the budget definitively. 13541/16 MBT/hp 2 DGC 1 LIMITE EN Joint Interpretative Instrument on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union and its Member States 1. As a whole, the Council only scrutinised the High Authority (the executive). [10][11] 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. Decisions made by the council have to be taken by 55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EU's population.[6]. Presidency of the Council of the EU. It represents the Member States and its meetings are attended by one minister from each of the EU’s national governments. The EU’s common currency is the euro. The council is headquartered in Strasbourg, France. Each council configuration deals with a different functional area, for example agriculture and fisheries. [6], 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. [19], Under this procedure, the Commission presents a proposal to Parliament and the Council. The Members : BELGIUM - Conseil Supérieur de la Justice / Hoge Raad voor de Justitie. Professor of Political Science, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. European Union website - EUROPA is the official EU website that provides access to information published by all EU institutions, agencies and bodies. 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. The meetings used to be regularly attended by the national foreign minister as well, and the Commission President likewise accompanied by another member of the commission. How does the Council of the European Union make decisions? Read more about the work of the Council Author of. 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. 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. It monitors and co-ordinates work and deals with the Parliament on co-decision legislation. 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. Each member state is party to the founding treaties of the union and thereby shares in the privileges and obligations of membership. In the Council of the EU, informally also known as the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. 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. Between 1990 and 2007, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine were admitted to the Council of Europe. The Council of the EU is the institution representing the member states' governments. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. European Union vs Council of Europe. Similar to how the U.N. was organized, in order to ensure a peaceful and more harmonious world, the Council of Europe (CoE) and European Union (EU) are two distinct bodies that were created for Europe and its member nations to prosper. Corrections? The Council votes in one of three ways; unanimity, simple majority, or qualified majority. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings.. The Council of Europe is composed of four principal bodies: the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, and the Secretariat. The Council meets in various configurations (as outlined below) so its membership changes depending upon the issue. 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. On the administrative side it is responsible for procedures and organising the work of the Council during its term. 2.Presidency With the exception of the Foreign Affairs Council, the Council is chaired by the representative of the Member State that holds the European Union’s presidency: this changes every six months, in the order decided by the Council acting unanimously (Article 16(9) TEU). Together they serve to amend, approve or disapprove the proposals of the European Commission, which has the sole power to propose laws. The EU was created by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993. This is stated in article 15, section 4 of the Treaty on European Union: Except where the Treaties provide otherwise, decisions of the European Council shall be taken by consensus. Read more about the role of the European Council Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The European Council is the EU’s supreme political authority. Founded in 1949, it has 47 member states, with a population of approximately 820 million, and operates with an annual budget of approximately 500 million euros. What does the Council of the European Union do? The European Union (EU) is the most significant source of supranational European law. the six members of the Executive Board, plus; the governors … 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. Together with the European Parliament , the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU. 3. Despite being within the EU territories, Albania is not part of the European Union. The European Council, formed by the heads of state or government of the Member States, provides the necessary impetus for the development of the European Union and sets out the general political guidelines. It sets the EU’s strategic objectives, manages the EU’s response to crises, and makes appointments to a number of EU institutions. PUBLIC Conseil UE. There are no fixed members of the EU Council. In 1993, the Council adopted the name 'Council of the European Union', following the establishment of the European Union by the Maastricht Treaty. The political element is the role of successfully dealing with issues and mediating in the Council. The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) is a body composed of representatives from the states (ambassadors, civil servants etc.) Among the most important of its agreements are the European Convention on Human Rights (1950), the European Cultural Convention (1954), the European Social Charter (1961), the European Convention on the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (1987), the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1995), and the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (1997). Schengen: Romania is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area. European Commission. European Union - Council of Europe Joint programmes' logos Visual - 70th anniversary of the European Convention of Human Rights Logo associations - 70th anniversary The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in European Council meetings when foreign affairs issues are discussed. Its capital is Vienna and the official language in Austria is German. The EU's budget (which is around 155 billion euro)[26] 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 to the Council. It adopted the Lisbon Strategy in March 2000. The Council of the European Union, referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council is the third of the seven Institutions of the European Union (EU) as listed in the Treaty on European Union. This means that in order to have a decision passed by the Council: At least 55% of the member states must agree and; The member states in agreement must … +33 (0)3 88 41 20 00 You are here: Portal /. Staff continued to increase and the Council rented, in addition to owning Justus Lipsius, the Kortenberg, Froissart, Espace Rolin, and Woluwe Heights buildings. Read more about the role of the European Council The numerous working groups submit their reports to the Council through Coreper or SCA. Council of the European Union EN 11097/15 (OR. [6], Its decisions are made by qualified majority voting in most areas, unanimity in others, or just simple majority for procedural issues. Under the CFSP they consist of "common positions", "joint actions", and "common strategies". The Council has the following functions: Legislative– The Council has the power to pass laws. 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)[32] but it is in practice divided into several different council configurations (or ‘(con)formations’). Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Together with the European Parliament, the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU.. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Union acts as a unified economic and political body, with 19 countries adopting the euro as its official currency. The EU has been running . [7], The Treaty of Lisbon abolished the pillar system and gave further powers to Parliament. EU member country: since 1 January 2007; Currency: Romanian Leu RON. European institutions in Strasbourg. It consists of. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}50°50′33.00″N 4°22′50.99″E / 50.8425000°N 4.3808306°E / 50.8425000; 4.3808306, 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. ... Council of the European Union. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings. Common strategies defined an objective and commits the EUs resources to that task for four years. en) PRESSE 49 PR CO 41 OUTCOME OF THE COUNCIL MEETING 3405th Council meeting Justice and Home Affairs Brussels, 20 July 2015 President Jean Asselborn Minister of Immigration and Asylum of Luxembourg . The Council of the European Union – also known informally as the EU Council or, simply, the Council – is a key EU decision-maker. It decides the council’s budget and its program of activities based on recommendations made to it by the Parliamentary Assembly and various expert committees. Learn more about the EU … Composed of 47 European member countries, the Council of Europe promotes common and democratic principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights. The Council is the EU's main decision-making body. It now has 47 member states, with Montenegro being the latest to join. The Secretariat is divided into seven directorates-general, each administered by a director-general. The Council of Europe addresses issues of common concern to its members, including human rights, crime prevention, drug abuse, environmental protection, bioethical issues, and migration. The Commission President is also a non-voting member. European Union (EU), international organization comprising 27 European countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies. European Union website - EUROPA is the official EU website that provides access to information published by all EU institutions, agencies and bodies. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. The Council of the EU is the institution representing the member states' governments. The European Union (EU) consists of 27 member states. +33 (0)3 88 41 20 00 You are here: Portal /. When the Council is meeting in Luxembourg City, it meets in the Kirchberg Conference Centre,[51] and its offices are based at the European Centre on the plateau du Kirchberg. THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, ACKNOWLEDGING. 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 Union (EU) is the most significant source of supranational European law. Finland is a member country of the EU since January 1, 1995 with its geographic size of 338,440 km², and population number 5,471,753, as per 2015. All members of the Council may participate in its deliberations, but only members of the Council representing the Member States participating in enhanced cooperation shall take part in the vote. 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. 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. Cion doc. 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. 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.[51]. Estonia is a member country of the Schengen Area since December 21, 2007. In 1957, with the creation of two new Communities with their own Councils, discretion on location was given to the current Presidency. The Governing Council is the main decision-making body of the ECB. The European Union (abbreviation: EU) is a confederation of 27 member countries in Europe established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992-1993. Visiting the institutions Map of the European district of Strasbourg Avenue de l'Europe F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex Tel. 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. 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. The Council meets in 10 different configurations of 27 national ministers (one per state). [20], 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. Austria is a member country of the EU since January 1, 1995 with its geographic size of 83,879 km², and population number 8,576,234, as per 2015. If there is a disagreement between them, it is taken to a conciliation committee as it is for legislative proposals. Estonia holds 6 seats in the European Parliament and will hold the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in the first half of 2017. [47] The Secretary General of the Council is head of the Secretariat. Under these treaties, the bloc’s twenty-eight members agree to pool their sovereignty and delegate many decision-making powers to the EU The Secretariat is divided into seven directorates-general, each administered by a director-general. Updates? Find out who these MEPs are. The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on January 31, 2020. The council is made up of the Union’s 27 heads of state, plus a president. 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 Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union. Some of the organization's goals are to promote peace, combat discrimination, and offer freedom, security, and justice without internal borders. If it works in close cooperation with the EU, it is not institutionally linked to it. Omissions? [21] In addition to the budget, the Council coordinates the economic policy of members. To manage these affairs, the council has devised more than 160 international agreements, treaties, and conventions that have replaced literally tens of thousands of bilateral treaties between various European states. 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