Council of the EU. When the council was established, its work was minimal and the presidency rotated between each of the then six members every six months. On 1 July 2020, Germany took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) from Croatia. The Trio Presidency has agreed an 18-month joint programme setting broad policy objectives. Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier therefore engaged in close dialogue with many of his colleagues from EU Member States and with representatives of the European institutions throughout Germany’s Presidency, as he did in the run-up to it. The European Council is now the summit conference of heads of state or government of the EU Member States. The presidency's function is to chair meetings of the council, determine its agendas, set a work programme and facilitate dialogue both at Council meetings and with other EU institutions. Germany takes over the rotating presidency of the EU, for the last time under Chancellor Merkel. Contact. Article 16(9) of the Treaty on European Union provides: The Presidency of Council configurations, other than that of Foreign Affairs, shall be held by Member State representatives in the Council on the basis of equal rotation, in accordance with the conditions established in accordance with Article 236 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at all levels in the Council, ensuring the continuity of the EU's work in the Council. Presidency topics in the field of justice and consumer protection “In these times of crisis, it is more important than ever to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.” Christine Lambrecht, Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection. Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer: We have to make mobility in Europe more modern and more innovative. The Council of the EU is the institution representing the member states' governments. Source: Thomas Köhler / photothek. The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. After the United Kingdom's Brexit vote in 2016 and its subsequent relinquishment of its scheduled presidency in the Council of the European Union which was due to take place from July to December 2017, the rotation of presidencies was brought six months forward. The presidency of each Member State lasts six months. Slovenia held the presidency for the first time in the first half of 2008; its next turn will be in the second half of 2021. The country holding the Presidency leads the Council and acts as the driving force behind the EU’s legislative and political work. Member states holding the presidency work together in groups of three, called 'trios'. On July 1 2020, Germany assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the 13th time. The presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates among the EU member states every six months. The European Union is set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. This role includes working out compromises capable of resolving difficulties. The role of the rotating Council Presidency includes: Holding the rotating Council Presidency includes both advantages and disadvantages for member states; EU Member States hold the presidency of the Council of the EU (one of the main EU institutions, in addition to the European Commission and the European Parliament) according to a rotation system determined in advance. The EU remains committed to the relaunch of the Cyprus settlement talks and as an active observer, the EU fully supports the UN-led process and we look forward to the informal meeting that will be held in a few weeks time, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Some Presidents of the Council of Ministers are the heads of government. The ‘Trio Presidency’ To ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council, successive presidencies work together in groups of three, called ‘trios’ or the ‘Trio Presidency’. The six founding countries are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Negotiates and adopts EU laws, together with the European Parliament, based on proposals from the European This ensures more consistency in comparison to a usual single six-month presidency and each three includes a new member state. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. European Commission president – Ursula von der Leyen. Here are some interesting figures that reflect Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will come to a close on 31 December. Appointed by: national leaders (heads of state or government of EU countries), with the approval of the European Parliament. The presidency is currently, as of January 2021, held by Portugal. Logos of the presidency of the Council of the European Union‎ (2 C, … High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union, Article 16(9) of the Treaty on European Union, Article 236 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, List of presidents of the institutions of the European Union, a referendum in June 2016 to leave the EU, "UK will no longer get EU council presidency next year because of Brexit, Theresa May says", "The presidency of the Council of the EU", "Council rotating presidencies: decision on revised order", "Council of the European Union configurations", Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Council Decision of 1 January 2007 determining the order in which the office of President of the Council shall be held (2007/5/EC, Euratom), Implications of the Polish Presidency of the EU for Europe and Transatlantic Affairs, Cyprus takes over EU presidency amid doubts, Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Presidency_of_the_Council_of_the_European_Union&oldid=1006930266, Pages using infobox official post with footnotes title, Articles needing additional references from March 2011, All articles needing additional references, Articles with dead external links from September 2019, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Source: BMVI. The press office holds press events, offers audiovisual coverage of major events and provides facilities for journalists. Charles Michel has been the President of the European Council since 1 December 2019. Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union begins on 1 January and ends on 30 June 2020. The European Council. This allows new member states to hold the presidency sooner and helps old member states pass their experience to the new members. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. The priorities of Croatia's presidency are driven by its motto: "A strong Europe in a world of challenges". Prior to that, he was Prime Minister of Belgium for 5 years. The priorities for Finland’s Presidency are to strengthen common values and the rule of law, to make the EU more competitive and socially inclusive, to strengthen the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action and to protect the security of citizens comprehensively. Programme of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the Fields of Education, Research and Innovation July–December 2020 I. #eu2020hr Also known informally as the EU Council, it is where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies. Term: December 2019 - October 2024. video | 2:13 The headquarters of the Council of the EU and the European Council are located in Brussels (Belgium). The General Secretariat of the Council is a body of staff responsible for assisting the European Council and the Council of the EU. For example, the Agriculture Council is composed of the national ministers responsible for Agriculture.[4]. Reasonator; PetScan; Scholia; Statistics; OpenStreetMap; Locator tool; Search depicted; Subcategories. Biography of Charles Michel, President of … Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union January 2018 | EN | HANDBOOK OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 7 President of the European Council; official website: Authority control Q308905 VIAF ID: 135123039 Library of Congress authority ID: nb2005019575. The European Council brings together EU leaders at least four times a year. The press office is the first point of contact for all media requests. The presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for the functioning … The corona pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of cooperation and coordination within the EU – also, and especially, in the area of health policy. It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President and the President of the Commission. It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President and the President of the Commission. The Programme is the document that details the main priorities and lines of action of Portugal's Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) (1 January – 30 June 2021). Council configurations. The Council of the European Union is where the governments of the EU member states are represented by government ministers of the member states. Our President is a member of the European Council in her own right and generally, normally, when she goes to foreign countries, she is treated in exactly the same way as the President … The presidency works in close coordination with the President of the European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. STATE OF THE UNION 2020 LETTER OF INTENT 2 Brussels, 16 September 2020 Dear President Sassoli, Dear Chancellor Merkel, Almost 500 days ago, the people of Europe made their voice heard loud and clear. Charles Michel has been the President of the European Council since 1 December 2019. In the Paris European summit of February 1974, it was decided that these meetings of Heads of State or Government should henceforth be held on a regular basis under the name of ‘European Council’, which would be able to adopt a general approach to the problems of European inte… STATE OF THE UNION 2020 Letter of Intent to President David Maria Sassoli and to Chancellor Angela Merkel . Estonia was scheduled to take over the UK's six-month slot instead. The President of the Council of Ministers or sometimes Chairman (in English, sometimes called informally Prime Minister) is the most senior member of the cabinet in the executive branch of government in some countries. It helps organise and ensure the coherence of the Council's work and the implementation of its 18-month programme. It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President and the President of the Commission. Germany Angela Merkel's last Council of the European Union presidency — what to expect. Germany was due to succeed Austria in 2006 but stepped aside as general elections were scheduled for that period. latest news. Climate change is transforming our world, and we have to tackle the enormous challenge it poses and rethink mobility. Committees and working parties handle the preparatory work on files before they are discussed at Council meetings. Read more about the role of the European Council In order to rectify the lack of coordination, the idea of trio presidencies was put forward where groups of three successive presidencies cooperated on a common political program. This is the case for Cyprus. He also ensures the external representation of the EU at his level on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy. You can get in contact to arrange a visit, ask questions about the work of both institutions, and request a document, among other services. The current trio (2020-2021) is made up of Germany (July–December 2020), Portugal (January–June 2021) and Slovenia (July–December 2021). The President chairs European Council meetings and drives forward its work. As of 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community begins to unite European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace. A Council Presidency can only be successful if it is based on close cooperation with all European partners. Meeting with President of the Presidential Council Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi, Meeting with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Al-Dabaiba and with Minister for Foreign Affairs Najla Mangoush, Working lunch hosted by President Kais Saied, Roundtable with representatives from IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Women, Meeting with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Joint press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, About the President of the European Council, Read more about the role of the European Council, President Michel in Turkey: "Our engagement will be progressive, proportional and reversible", "Tunisia has chosen democracy, pluralism and respect for individual freedom," says President Michel, "The EU stands by the Libyan people and their new leadership," says President Michel in Tripoli, Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting in Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting in Tripoli with Prime Minister Al-Dabaiba and Foreign Minister Mangoush, Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel, Informal meeting of heads of state or government, Porto, Video conference of the members of the European Council, Video conference of the members of the Euro Summit, Tripartite Social Summit video conference, The role of the President of the European Council, Biography of Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Cabinet of the President of the European Council. With your permission, we will use AT internet cookies to produce aggregated, anonymous data about our visitors' browsing and behaviour on our website. Until 30 June 2021, Portugal will be presiding over the Council of the European Union for the fourth time. The Council meets in ten different configurations, depending on the subject being discussed. The 2018 Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a glance. This was implemented in 2007 and formally laid down in the EU treaties in 2009 by the Treaty of Lisbon. The Brandenburg Gate is illuminated on the occasion of the start of Germany's EU Council Presidency in 2020. High Level Forum Africa-Europe 2018: “Taking cooperation to the digital age”, Vienna, 17.12./18.12.2018. The presidency of the Council of the European Union[1] is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union, is the co-legislator of the EU legislature alongside the European Parliament. Press conference: Informal Meeting of EU Health Ministers President Michel reiterated the EU's interest in developing a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship; he also shared his deep worries about the latest developments in Turkey regarding the rule of law and respect of fundamental rights. You can also take a look at Council publications, access the archives and search for legislation that the Council negotiates together with the European Parliament. The first of these ‘European summits’ took place in Paris in 1961 and they have become more frequent since 1969. The Council of the EU and the European Council work on a wide range of issues affecting the interests of the EU and its citizens. Finland, as next in line, took Germany's place. The primary responsibility of the Presidency is to organise and chair all meetings of the council, apart from the Foreign Affairs Council which is chaired by the High Representative. It rotates among the member states of the EU every six months. Press officers speak 'off the record' about the Council's activities. … However, as the work load of the Council grew and the membership increased, the lack of coordination between each successive six-month presidency hindered the development of long-term priorities for the EU. Prime Minister Sanna Marin: The European Union on the eve of a new era. Rotating presidency. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "president of the European Union". The Programme was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 17 December 2020. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. Countries currently using the title. Council and European Council documents are made available through the public register, in accordance with EU rules on transparency. Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government, Salzburg, 19.09./20.09.2018. Certain cookies are used to obtain aggregated statistics about website visits to help us constantly improve the site and better serve your needs. This category has the following 21 subcategories, out of 21 total. Read more about the role of the European Council Follow the latest developments on policy-making and on legislation under negotiation. We will use this data to improve your experience on our website. The leaders of the EU and China met on 14 September, chaired by European Council President Michel and Chinese President Xi - together with Chancellor Merkel, representing Germany's Presidency of … The presidency is not an individual, but rather the position is held by a national government. On 6 April, President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara to discuss EU-Turkey relations. Council of the European Union 2020. To get more information about these cookies, how and why we use them and how you can change your settings, check our cookies policy page. Germany held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union between 1 July - 31 December 2020 and launched several initiatives for excellent education, research and innovation, thus contributing to a resilient, sovereign and sustainable Europe. Three successive presidencies are known as presidency trios. The German presidency began the second cycle of presidencies, after the system was introduced in 2007.[2]. of the Council of the European Union in the Fields of Education, Research and Innovation Together for Europe’s recovery July – December 2020. President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba; … Until 2009, the Presidency had assumed political responsibility in all areas of European integration and it played a vital role in brokering high-level political decisions. Eventually the German elections took place in 2005 due to a loss of confidence vote, but the re-arrangement remained. Prior to that, he was Prime Minister of Belgium for 5 years. On 1 July 2020, the Federal Republic of Germany assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). brokering inter-institutional compromise: coordinating national policies and brokering compromise between member states in the council ("confessional system"), management and administration of the council, external and internal representation, member states have the possibility to show their negotiating skills, as "honest brokers", thus gaining influence and prestige, member states gain a privileged access to information: at the end of their term, they know member states' preferences better than anyone else, the Council programme may enable member states to focus Council discussion on issues of particular national/regional interest (for example Finland and the, lack of administrative capacities and experience, especially for small and new member states; the concept of, expenses in time and money, needed to support the administrative machine, not being able to push through their own interests, as the role of Council Presidency is seen as an impartial instance; member states trying to push for initiatives of their own national interest are likely to see them failing in the medium run (for example the French 2008 Presidency and the, This page was last edited on 15 February 2021, at 16:15. Sweden took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the second half of 2009. We use cookies in order to ensure that you can get the best browsing experience possible on the Council website. Through the European Parliament elections, they gave the EU institutions an … essential role for the European Union – the General Secretariat is always here to assist and support you. The Council of the EU meets in different configurations depending on the topic discussed. Schließen. 1. Each three successive presidencies cooperate on a "triple-shared presidency" work together over an 18-month period to accomplish a common agenda by the current president simply continuing the work of the previous "lead-president" after the end of his/her term. The Portuguese début in these rotating presidencies took place in 1992, between January and June, under the motto “Towards the European Union”. So, for instance, the Minister of Agriculture for the state holding the presidency chairs the Agriculture council. Find out more about documents and publications. Simultaneously it split the foreign affairs Council configuration from the General Affairs configuration and created the position of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. This institution comprises the college of heads of state or government of EU member states as well as the president of the European Commission, and provides political direction to the European Union (EU). Charles Michel, President of the European Council, has his own private office, the Cabinet, which supports his activities. The Treaty of Lisbon reduced the importance of the Presidency significantly by officially separating the European Council from the Council of the European Union. Other cookies are used to boost performance and guarantee security of the website. © Bundesregierung/Plambeck. It will preside over the first 6 months of the new 18-month Trio Presidency together with Portugal and Slovenia. The Council meets in various formations where its composition depends on the topic discussed. The European Council. The president of the European Council is the person presiding over and driving forward the work of the European Council, as well as a principal representative of the European Union (EU) on the world stage. The opportunities include: Asterisk: Head of government is also head of state. [3] The presidency is currently (as of January 2021) held by Portugal.