Editing Council of the European Union (section)

== Powers and functions ==
The primary purpose of the council is to act as one of two vetoing bodies of the [[Legislature of the European Union|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.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/> 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]].<ref name="Legislative power">{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|European Parliament]] |title=Legislative power |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=46&pageRank=2&language=EN |access-date=11 July 2007 |archive-date=27 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227150009/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=46&pageRank=2&language=EN |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Treaty">{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |title=Treaty on the European Union (Nice consolidated version) |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf |access-date=24 June 2007 |archive-date=1 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201005900/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=A. Börzel |first1=Tanja |last2=A. Cichowski |first2=Rachel |title=The State of the European Union, 6:Law, politics, and society |date=4 September 2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0199257409 |page=147 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Bicameralism |date=13 June 1997 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521589727 |page=58 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Taub |first1=Amanda |title=The E.U. Is Democratic. It Just Doesn't Feel That Way. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/30/world/europe/the-eu-is-democratic-it-just-doesnt-feel-that-way.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/30/world/europe/the-eu-is-democratic-it-just-doesnt-feel-that-way.html |archive-date=1 January 2022 |url-access=limited |website=The New York Times |access-date=30 January 2020 |date=29 June 2016}}{{cbignore }}</ref> The Council represents the [[executive (government)|executive governments]] of the [[Member state of the European Union|EU's member states]]<ref name="eur-lex.europa.eu" /><ref name="Legislative power"/> and is based in the [[Europa building]] in Brussels.<ref name="www.consilium.europa.eu">{{Cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/12/07-europa-building/ |title=EUROPA : Home of the European Council and the Council of the EU - Consilium |website=www.consilium.europa.eu |language=en |access-date=7 May 2017 |archive-date=27 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427153834/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/12/07-europa-building/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Commission">{{cite web |title=How the Commission is appointed |url=https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/organisation-european-commission/how-commission-appointed_en#:~:text=The%20Council%20of%20the%20European%20Union%2C%20in%20agreement,with%20responsibility%20for%20his%20or%20her%20proposed%20portfolio. |website=European Commission |publisher=Directorate-General for Communication |access-date=25 August 2024 }}</ref>

=== Legislative procedure ===
{{Main|European Union legislative procedure}}
[[File:Ordinary legislative procedure majorityrules.svg|thumb|300px|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.<ref name="Legislative power"/> In early times, the ''avis facultatif'' maxim was: "The Commission proposes, and the Council disposes";<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/highlights/en/103.html |title=News - Archives - Highlights - Codecision and other procedures |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |access-date=17 December 2014 |archive-date=28 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628100536/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/highlights/en/103.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |title=The Codecision Procedure |url=http://ec.europa.eu/codecision/procedure/index_en.htm |access-date=11 July 2007 |archive-date=7 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107111216/https://ec.europa.eu/codecision/procedure/index_en.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Under this procedure, the Commission presents a proposal to Parliament and the council. Following its first [[Reading (legislature)|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 [[Majority|absolute majority]] of MEPs. If the Council still does not approve the Parliament's position, then the text is taken to a "[[Trilogue meeting|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.<ref name="Parliament's powers">{{cite web |title=Codecision procedure |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|European Parliament]] |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=46&pageRank=4&language=EN |access-date=12 June 2007 |archive-date=16 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216163932/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=46&pageRank=4&language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref name="lisbon explain"/><ref name="decision making">{{cite web |title=Decision-making in the European Union |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |url=http://www.europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm |access-date=18 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011040316/http://europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm |archive-date=11 October 2007 }}</ref> The procedure used also depends upon which type of [[European Union law#Legislation|institutional act]] is being used. The strongest act is a [[Regulation (European Union)|regulation]], an [[Act of Parliament|act]] or [[Statutory law|law]] which is directly applicable in its entirety. Then there are [[Directive (European Union)|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 [[European Union decision|decision]] is an instrument which is focused at a particular person or group and is directly applicable. Institutions may also issue [[European Union recommendation|recommendations and opinions]] which are merely non-binding declarations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Community legal instruments |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/community_legal_instruments_en.htm |access-date=18 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708114002/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/community_legal_instruments_en.htm |archive-date=8 July 2007 }}</ref>

The Council votes in one of three ways; [[unanimity]], [[Majority|simple majority]], or [[qualified majority]]. In most cases, the Council votes on issues by [[Voting in the Council of the European Union|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voting system |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/voting-system/ |access-date=27 July 2017 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qualified Majority |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/voting-system/qualified-majority/ |access-date=26 September 2024 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319073922/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/voting-system/qualified-majority/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===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".<ref>General Secretariat of the Council, [https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/conclusions-resolutions/ Council conclusions and resolutions], updated 3 December 2020, accessed 29 January 2021</ref> Examples are the Council Resolution of 26 September 1989 on the development of [[subcontracting]] in the Community<ref>EUR-Lex, [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31989Y1007%2801%29&qid=1611899591264 Council Resolution of 26 September 1989 on the development of subcontracting in the Community], 89/C 254/01, accessed 29 January 2021</ref> and the Council Resolution of 26 November 2001 on [[consumer credit]] and indebtedness.<ref>EUR-Lex, [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32001G1220%2801%29&qid=1611898704353 Council Resolution of 26 November 2001 on consumer credit and indebtedness], 2001/C 364/01, accessed 29 January 2021</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="FR instru">{{cite web |publisher=[[French Foreign Ministry]] |title=Joint actions, common positions and common strategies |url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/european-union_157/eu-in-the-world_1491/common-foreign-and-security-policy_5463/operation-of-the-cfsp_5467/cfsp-decision-making-processes-and-instruments_5473/joint-actions-common-positions-and-common-strategies_8752.html |access-date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018111907/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/european-union_157/eu-in-the-world_1491/common-foreign-and-security-policy_5463/operation-of-the-cfsp_5467/cfsp-decision-making-processes-and-instruments_5473/joint-actions-common-positions-and-common-strategies_8752.html |archive-date=18 October 2007 }}</ref>

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]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Unanimity - EUR-Lex |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/unanimity.html |access-date=13 May 2024 |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |language=en |archive-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002010644/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/unanimity.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union TITLE V - GENERAL PROVISIONS ON THE UNION'S EXTERNAL ACTION AND SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON THE COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY CHAPTER 2 - SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON THE COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY SECTION 1 - COMMON PROVISIONS Article 31 (ex Article 23 TEU) |date=7 June 2016 |url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/teu_2016/art_31/oj/eng |access-date=13 May 2024 |language=en |archive-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002010649/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/teu_2016/art_31/oj/eng |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramopoulos |first=Thomas |title=The EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights: A Commentary |date=May 2019 |publisher=Oxford Academic |editor-last=Kellerbauer |editor-first=Manuel |edition=online |location=New York |pages=242–247 |chapter=Article 31 TEU |doi=10.1093/oso/9780198759393.003.41 |isbn=978-0-19-879456-1 |editor-last2=Klamert |editor-first2=Marcus |editor-last3=Tomkin |editor-first3=Jonathan }}</ref> Article 31 lays out provisions regarding a [[Passerelle clause|''passerelle'' clause]] as well as the possibilities for Member State abstentions.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=13 June 2023 |title=For the EU, moving from unanimity to qualified majority is a Catch-22 |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/13/the-eu-has-the-tools-to-move-from-unanimity-to-qualified-majority-but-its-a-classic-catch- |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=euronews |language=en |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514170853/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/13/the-eu-has-the-tools-to-move-from-unanimity-to-qualified-majority-but-its-a-classic-catch- |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, Article 31 stipulates derogation for "a decision defining a Union action or position".<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stevis-Gridneff |first=Matina |last2=Erlanger |first2=Steven |date=14 December 2023 |title=Hungary Blocks Ukraine Aid After E.U. Opens Door to Membership |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/14/world/europe/eu-ukraine-hungary-aid.html |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002010644/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/14/world/europe/eu-ukraine-hungary-aid.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1 February 2024 |title=Toilet diplomacy: How many bathroom breaks can the EU force Viktor Orbán to take? |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/toilet-diplomacy-bathroom-breaks-force-viktor-orban-hungary-council-eu-budget/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=1 February 2024 |title=EU approves €50B Ukraine aid as Viktor Orbán folds |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-gets-eu-aid-as-orban-folds/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002010653/https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-gets-eu-aid-as-orban-folds/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In this recent example, the Council came to a unified conclusion after discussions with the Hungarian leader;<ref name=":4" /> 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.<ref name=":3" />

=== Budgetary authority ===
The legislative branch officially holds the Union's budgetary authority. The [[Budget of the European Union|EU's budget]] (which is around 155 billion [[euro]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/budget/mff/figures/index_en.cfm |title=Multiannual Financial Framework-European Commission |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=14 May 2016 |archive-date=6 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906235259/https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/eu-budget/documents/multiannual-financial-framework_en |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="lisbon explain">{{cite web |title=Explaining the Treaty of Lisbon |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|Europa website]] |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/531 |access-date=4 December 2009 |archive-date=12 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812032347/http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/531 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to the budget, the Council coordinates the economic policy of members.<ref name="Consilium - Council"/>