The Council of the European Union, also referred to as the Council or EU Council, is an important institution within the framework of the European Union (EU). It constitutes one half of the EU's legislative and decision-making process, alongside the European Parliament.
The Council is an assembly of representatives from the member states of the EU, with each country appointing government ministers to represent their respective interests. These ministers are responsible for legislating and making decisions on various policies and issues that affect the EU as a whole. The composition of the Council changes depending on the policy area being discussed, as different ministers belonging to different national governments attend meetings specific to their areas of expertise.
The primary role of the Council is to coordinate and negotiate the policies and legislation proposed by the European Commission, which is the executive branch of the EU. It shares legislative power with the European Parliament, and the two institutions must often reach a consensus on proposed legislation through a process of dialogue and compromise known as the ordinary legislative procedure.
The Council acts as a crucial forum for member states to collaborate, discuss, and build consensus on a broad range of topics, including economic policies, foreign affairs, justice, agriculture, and more. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the direction and priorities of the EU by developing and approving regulations and directives that member states must abide by.
In summary, the Council of the European Union is an institution composed of government ministers from EU member states, responsible for legislating and making decisions on policies affecting the entire EU. It acts as a body of coordination, negotiation, and consensus-building in collaboration with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
