THE COUNCILS

Council of Ministers The Council of Ministers is the quasi-legislative arm of the EU, is headquartered in Brussels, and is primarily intergovernmental in character. It is headed by a presidency held in rotation by each of the 28 member states, and has five components: The Councils. The Presidency. Permanent Representatives. Working parties and committees. The General Secretariat.

The Councils These consist of the relevant national government ministers of the member states, membership changing according to the policy area under consideration. There are ten Council ‘configurations’ (including agriculture and fisheries, economic and financial affairs, environment, and foreign affairs). Member states holding the presidency take turns, in pre-agreed rotations, in chairing all Council meetings except Foreign Affairs. The councils use a qualified majority vote system, with member states given different numbers of votes in approximate proportion to the size of their populations.

The Councils Most negotiations take place within the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper), made up of representatives from the member states. The Council is supported by a complex network of working parties and committees. Work is supported by a General Secretariat. The Council of Ministers is intergovernmental and confederal in character, but with supranational aspects.

Council Functions Shares powers with the European Parliament for discussing and passing EU laws. Most decisions based on qualified majority voting by which member states have a different number of votes roughly in proportion of size of population. Shares powers with Parliament for approving the EU budget. Forum for the coordination of the economic policies of the member states. Defines and implements the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Concludes international agreements on behalf of the EU.

European Council The ‘board of directors’ of the EU, consisting of the heads of government of the member states. Based in Brussels, where it meets at least four times annually. Chaired by a president appointed by the European Council for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. Responsible for taking strategic decisions. Responsible for making nominations to senior positions, including president of the European Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and president of the European Central Bank.