Editing Council of the European Union (section)

== Organisation ==
The council's rules of procedure contain the provisions necessary for its organisation and functioning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=URISERV:o10003 |title=EUR-Lex - o10003 - EN - EUR-Lex |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |access-date=6 October 2015 |archive-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002010647/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:o10003&frontOfficeSuffix=%2F |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Presidency ===
{{Main|Presidency of the Council of the European Union}}
The Presidency of the council is not a single post, but is held by a member state's government. Every six months the presidency rotates among the states, in an order predefined by the council's members, allowing each state to preside over the body. 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. For example, the President for the second half of 2007, Portugal, was the second in a trio of states alongside Germany and [[Slovenia]] with whom Portugal had been co-operating. The Council meets in various configurations (as outlined below) so its membership changes depending upon the issue. The person chairing the council will always be the member from the state holding the Presidency. A delegate from the following Presidency also assists the presiding member and may take over work if requested.<ref name="Pres DE">{{cite web |publisher=2007 German Presidency website |title=What is the Presidency? |url=http://www.eu2007.de/en/The_Council_Presidency/What_is_the_Presidency/index.html |access-date=24 June 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701001206/http://www.eu2007.de/en/The_Council_Presidency/What_is_the_Presidency/index.html |archive-date=1 July 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Pres PT">{{cite web |publisher=2007 Portuguese Presidency website |title=The Presidency |url=http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/vEN/Presidencia_Conselho/A_Presidencia/default_.htm |access-date=14 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020220019/http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/vEN/Presidencia_Conselho/A_Presidencia/default_.htm |archive-date=20 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Const Info"/>

The role of the Presidency is administrative and political. On the administrative side it is responsible for procedures and organising the work of the council during its term. This includes summoning the council for meetings along with directing the work of [[COREPER]] and other committees and [[Council Working Party|working parties]]. The political element is the role of successfully dealing with issues and mediating in the council. 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. The Presidency also plays a major role in representing the Council within the EU and representing the EU internationally, for example at the United Nations.<ref name="Pres PT"/><ref name="Pres FI">{{cite web |publisher=2007 Finnish Presidency website |title=The presidency in general |url=http://www.eu2006.fi/the_presidency/en_GB/the_presidency_in_general/ |access-date=14 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003140815/http://www.eu2006.fi/the_presidency/en_GB/the_presidency_in_general/ |archive-date=3 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |title=Council Decision of 15 September 2006 adopting the Council's Rules of Procedure |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:285:0047:0048:EN:PDF |format=PDF |access-date=26 November 2007 |archive-date=20 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520025248/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:285:0047:0048:EN:PDF |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Configurations ===
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)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/decision-making/ |title=The decision-making process in the Council - Consilium |website=www.consilium.europa.eu |language=en |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=6 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806163947/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/decision-making/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but it is in practice divided into several different council configurations (or '(con)formations'). Article 16(6) of the [[Treaty on European Union]] provides:
{{Blockquote|The Council shall meet in different configurations, the list of which shall be adopted in accordance with Article 236 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The General Affairs Council shall ensure consistency in the work of the different Council configurations. 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.

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.}}

Each council configuration deals with a different functional area, for example agriculture and fisheries. In this formation, the council is composed of ministers from each state government who are responsible for this area: the agriculture and fisheries ministers. The [[Chair (official)|chair]] of this council is held by the member from the state holding the presidency (see section above). Similarly, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council is composed of national finance ministers, and they are still one per state and the chair is held by the member coming from the presiding country. The Councils meet irregularly throughout the year except for the three major configurations (top three below) which meet once a month. {{As of|2020}}, there are ten formations:<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|Council of the European Union]] |title=Council configurations |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/configurations/ |access-date=24 June 2007 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812210419/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/configurations/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Council Booklet">{{cite book |title=Information handbook of the Council of the European Union |publisher=Office of Official Publications of the European Communities |year=2007 |location=Brussels |isbn=978-92-824-2203-8 }}</ref>
;[[General Affairs Council|General Affairs]] (GAC): General affairs co-ordinates the work of the council, prepares for [[European Council]] meetings and deals with issues crossing various council formations.
;[[Foreign Affairs Council|Foreign Affairs]] (FAC): Chaired by the [[High Representative]], rather than the Presidency, it manages the [[Common Foreign and Security Policy|CFSP]], [[Common Security and Defence Policy|CSDP]], trade and development co-operation. It sometimes meets in a '''defence configuration'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eu2008.fr/impression8f11.html?url=%2FPFUE%2Flang%2Fen%2Faccueil%2FPFUE-10_2008%2FPFUE-31.10.2008%2Fpid%2F17038 |title=Report from the conference on crisis management, French presidency, 2008 |publisher=Eu2008.fr |date=31 October 2008 |access-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320233009/http://www.eu2008.fr/impression8f11.html?url=%2FPFUE%2Flang%2Fen%2Faccueil%2FPFUE-10_2008%2FPFUE-31.10.2008%2Fpid%2F17038 |archive-date=20 March 2012 }}</ref>
[[File:Europa building in July 2017.jpg|thumb|Since 2017, the [[Europa building]], seen here, has been the seat of the council.]]
;[[Economic and Financial Affairs Council|Economic and Financial Affairs]] (Ecofin): Composed of economics and finance ministers of the member states. It includes [[EU budget|budgetary]] and [[eurozone]] matters via an informal group composed only of eurozone member ministers.<ref name="CER Treaty">{{cite web |title=The CER guide to the EU's constitutional treaty |publisher=Centre for European Reform |date=July 2004 |url=http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/policybrief_constitution_july04.pdf |access-date=24 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703022118/http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/policybrief_constitution_july04.pdf |archive-date=3 July 2007 }}</ref>
;[[Agriculture and Fisheries Council|Agriculture and Fisheries]] (Agrifish): Composed of the agriculture and fisheries ministers of the member states. It considers matters concerning the [[Common Agricultural Policy]], the [[Common Fisheries Policy]], forestry, organic farming, food and feed safety, seeds, pesticides, and fisheries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Consilium - Agriculture and Fisheries |access-date=18 January 2014 |publisher=Council of the European Union |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/policies/council-configurations/agriculture-and-fisheries?lang=en |archive-date=22 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222012413/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/policies/council-configurations/agriculture-and-fisheries?lang=en |url-status=dead }}</ref>
;[[Justice and Home Affairs Council|Justice and Home Affairs]] (JHA): This configuration brings together Justice ministers and Interior Ministers of the Member States. Includes civil protection.
;[[Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council|Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs]] (EPSCO): Composed of employment, social protection, [[consumer protection]], health and equal opportunities ministers.
;[[Competitiveness Council (COMPET)|Competitiveness]] (COMPET): Created in June 2002 through the merging of three previous configurations (Internal Market, Industry and Research). Depending on the items on the agenda, this formation is composed of ministers responsible for areas such as European affairs, industry, tourism and scientific research. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU acquired competence in space matters,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12016E004 |title=Article 4 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |access-date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=5 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905012140/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12016E004 |url-status=live }}</ref> and space policy has been attributed to the Competitiveness Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/configurations/compet/ |title=Competitiveness Council configuration (COMPET) |publisher=Council of the European Union |access-date=22 March 2012 |archive-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120014102/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/configurations/compet/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
;[[Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council|Transport, Telecommunications and Energy]] (TTE): Created in June 2002, through the merging of three policies under one configuration, and with a composition varying according to the specific items on its agenda. This formation meets approximately once every two months.
;[[Environment Council|Environment]] (ENVI): Composed of environment ministers, who meet about four times a year.
;[[Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council|Education, Youth, Culture and Sport]] (EYCS): Composed of education, culture, youth, communications and sport ministers, who meet around three or four times a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/configurations/eycs/ |title=Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council configuration (EYCS) |publisher=Council of the European Union |access-date=22 March 2012 |archive-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120013540/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/configurations/eycs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Includes audiovisual issues.

Complementing these, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) brings together ambassadors to monitor international situations and define policies within the CSDP, particularly in crises.<ref name="Council Booklet"/> The [[European Council]] is similar to a configuration of the council and operates in a similar way, but is composed of the national leaders ([[head of government|heads of government]] [[head of state|or state]]) and has its own President,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/ |title=European Council – The institution |publisher=Council of the European Union |access-date=22 March 2012 |archive-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116033000/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/ |url-status=live }}</ref> since 2019, [[Charles Michel]]. The body's purpose is to define the general "impetus" of the Union.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|Council of the European Union]] |title=European Council |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/ |access-date=24 June 2007 |archive-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116033000/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="CP app">{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |title=European Commission |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/comm/index_en.htm |access-date=2 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623104055/http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/comm/index_en.htm |archive-date=23 June 2007 }}</ref>

[[Economic and Financial Affairs Council|Ecofin]]'s Eurozone component, the [[Euro group]], is also a formal group with its own President.<ref name="CER Treaty"/> Its European Council counterpart is the [[Euro summit]] formalized in 2011<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/125644.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/125644.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=26 October 2011 Euro summit conclusions }}</ref> and the [[Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union|TSCG]].

Following the entry into force of a framework agreement between the EU and [[European Space Agency|ESA]] there is a '''Space Council''' configuration—a joint and concomitant meeting of the EU Council and of the ESA Council at ministerial level dealing with the implementation of the [[European Space Policy|ESP]] adopted by both organisations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_21_2007_p_EN.html |title=ESA PR: N° 21-2007: Europe's Space Policy becomes a reality today |publisher=Esa.int |date=22 May 2007 |access-date=22 March 2012 |archive-date=25 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125031808/http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_21_2007_p_EN.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/App/accords/Default.aspx?command=details&id=297&lang=EN&aid=2003099&doclang=EN |title=Framework Agreement between the European Community and the European Space Agency |publisher=Council of the European Union |access-date=22 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Administration ===

The [[General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union|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.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|Council of the European Union]] |title=General Secretariat of the Council |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/ |access-date=24 June 2007 |archive-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116012451/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union|Secretary General of the Council]] is head of the Secretariat.<ref name="Secretary-General"/> The Secretariat is divided into eleven directorates-general, each administered by a director-general.<ref name="Directors-General"/>

The [[Committee of Permanent Representatives]] (COREPER) is a body composed of representatives from the states (ambassadors, civil servants etc.) who meet each week to prepare the work and tasks of the council. It monitors and co-ordinates work and deals with the Parliament on co-decision legislation.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]] |title=Glossary |url=http://ec.europa.eu/codecision/stepbystep/glossary_en.htm |access-date=24 June 2007 |archive-date=13 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113090042/https://ec.europa.eu/codecision/stepbystep/glossary_en.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> It is divided into two groups of the representatives (Coreper II) and their deputies (Coreper I). Agriculture is dealt with separately by the [[Special Committee on Agriculture]] (SCA). The numerous [[Council Working Party|working parties]] submit their reports to the Council through Coreper or SCA.<ref name="Council Booklet"/>