The Council of the European Union is a major decision-making body of the European Union. Together with the European Commission and the European Parliament it is one of the three main institutions which take part in the decision-making process of the EU. The main task of the Council is the adoption, along with the European Parliament, of European legislation. The Council represents the Member States of the Union. The Council has no permanent composition, and at Council meetings one minister from each Union country, whose selection depends on the subject under discussion, always takes part. If problems concerning education are discussed, then Ministers of Education participate in the meeting. So the decisions taken by the Council of the EU are most frequently compromises reached after extensive negotiations between all Union members.
The Council of the European Union has its own General Secretariat which is based in Brussels and whose responsibility is to ensure the effective functioning of the Council.
There are nine possible Council configurations:
General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC)
Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN)
Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA)
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO)
Competitiveness Council (COMPET)
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE)
Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFish)
Environment Council (ENVI)
Education, Youth and Culture (EYC)
What is the difference between the Council of the European Union, the European Council and the Council of Europe?
The Council of the European Union, the European Council and the Council of Europe are often confused with each other although they are fundamentally different from each other:
• The Council of the European Union, presided over by a national Presidency during a 6-month period, is the main decision-making body of the European Union. The responsibilities and composition of the Council of the EU have been described above.
• The European Council is the political organ of the European Union. The meetings of prime ministers or presidents of Member States take place approximately four times a year. This is where the most important problems are discussed if they were not discussed at ministerial level. During European Council summits the general agenda for EU development is established and the final texts of union treaties are drawn up and signed.
• The Council of Europe is not a union institution at all, but an international organisation independent of the EU. The Council of Europe is mainly concerned with the protection of human rights and democracy, and the cooperation of member states in the field of culture. The organization issues acts called conventions, which are not binding and serve as guidelines and create legal standards.