European Council
The Council of the European Union is the main legislative and decision-making institution in the EU. It brings together the Ministers from all 27 Member States with responsibility for the policy area under discussion at a given meeting. It meets in nine 'thematic' configurations :
- General Affairs and External Relations
- Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN)
- Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
- Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs
- Competitiveness
- Transport, Telecommunications and Energy
- Agriculture and Fisheries
- Environment
- Education, Youth and Culture
International development is formally discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meetings, attended by foreign affairs ministers. Informal Development Ministers Council also meets regularly.
The Council is presided over for a period of six months by each Member State in turn. During its Presidency, the Member State has to take a consensual stance in negotiations. It has to organise and chair all meetings and work out compromises capable of resolving difficulties.
In Brussels, each EU member state has a permanent team ('representation') that represents it and defends its national interest at EU level, called CORPER. The head of each delegation is, in effect, his or her country's ambassador to the EU. The COREPER delegations prepare the work of the Council.
