European Integration

University of New York in Prague

Unit VI. European Institutions: The

Council of the European Union

Oscar Hidalgo-Redondo

6.1 The Figure of the Council of the European Union

The European Commission is the second central institution
among the European institutions
also a very long history
present in the creation of the first European
Communities
some modifications until today
EU cannot be understood without its council
The Council as the main centre of power of the EU
all the important decisions taken with the Council
define the future directions for EU integration
process
the key political discussion held within this
institution

Symbol of state sovereignty

intergovernmental logic
states decide
states lead the process
Role of council should have diminished as the process of
integration deepened
more trust
less need of quota of power for states
however this has not been quite so
council maintains an important position
lost power to parliament in 1990s
but still main decision making agent
reforms do not plan to remove it

6.2 Council or Councils? The Confusion around this

Institution
There is a common confusion around this institution
not just one council but up to three councils
the Council of Europe
the Council of the European Union
the European Council
The Council of Europe is a different institution
created in 1949
sits in Strasbourg (France)
47 member states
cooperation in human rights, cultural aspects, dem.
devlp.
European Court of Human Rights

The Council of the European Union and the European Council

are both part of the EU
in reality it was the same institution
but now divided
in any case, both incarnating the interest of the
memberstates

6.3 The Council of the European Union: Composition

This is not an institution with a formal and permanent composition
delegates to the meetings of the council rotate
usually ministers of national governments
Council of the European Union has different configurations
General Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Economic and Financial Affairs (Ecofin)
Justice and Home Affairs
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs
Competitiveness
Transports, telecommunications and Energy
Agriculture and Fisheries
Environment
Education, Youth and Culture
ministers of national governments

In addition to representatives
there are delegations
5-6 experts
2 or more ministries involved
but just one position
presence of regional representatives
informal bargaining
but vital for EU legislation
the decision made by the representative is binding
for the
country
even if there are differences of opinion between
members of the government
Voting method varies according the issue voted
treaties and legislation establish the voting methods

Three voting methods in the Council

unanimity, everyone must agree (no dissenting opinions)
restricted to the most important aspects
new treaties, new members
Justice cooperation, Foreign and Sec. policy
new areas of cooperation
qualified majority voting
double majority
number of countries, 55% (16/28) (72% if proposal
not come from commission)
positive votes include 65% of EU populations

does

blocking minority: 4 states with 35% or more of EU pop.

most of the decisions done with QMV
simple majority (15/28)
procedural matters, or proposals

6.4 The Functions of the Council of the European

Union
It is a key institution in the EU decision making structure
main decisive organ
Legislative power
negotiate and amend EU legislation
proposals from Commission
Council will amend and approve (together with EP)
Coordination of EU states policies in some key areas
economic and fiscal policies
education, culture, youth and sports
employment
Centre of the EU common foreign and security policy (CFSP)
council defines and implements positions of EU

International agreements
asks the EU Commission to negotiate
decides on signature and ratifies
after EP agrees and member states ratify
Finance control
adoption of the budget (with the EP)
No decision can be done without the consent of the Council

6.5 The Internal Organisation of the Council of the

EU
The Council has a presidency
rotating, every 6 months
Tasks
Planning and chairing meetings (exc. Foreign policy,
high rep.)
Representation of the country
Presidency is relevant for the work of the EU
more or less active countries
goals set
capacity to broker agreements

Below the Council of the European Union are two types of supporting
entities
Working groups and Committees
Committees of Permanent Representatives (COREPER)
Working groups are set up for countries to discuss different aspects of
European Integration initiatives
preliminary meetings that explore potential agreements
discussions about policies and implementations
once the agreements could be possible topic will be taken to
COREPER
COREPER (divided into two, I and II)
COREPER II: Ecofin, Foreign Aff., Gen. Aff. And Justice and Home aff.
Antici group
COREPER I: the rest
Mertens group
meetings of permanent representatives to the EU
preparation of decision in the Council meetings
weekly meetings

The process would be as it follows

Working groups discussion and work
Informal discussion: Antici or Mertens groups
COREPER
Council of the European Union

6.6 The European Council

Is the highest level configuration of the Council of the EU
created informally in the 1970s appears in the ESA
not different from the Council of Ministers until Lisbon
Treaty
Leaders in EU and member states
President of European Council
President of the Commision
Two representatives of the governments of the EU member
states
HR for Foreign Affairs and Sec. Policy
and those other people invited to take part in discussions
It has a president
2 years and a half mandate
elected by the European Council

Currently Donald Tusk

Main functions
chair the meetings and prepare them
representation of the European Council
The functions of the European Council
set the long term goals of the EU
monitor progress European Integration
facilitate integration initiatives
formal nominations: President of EU council,
Commissioners
Meets two times at least every six months
scheduled meetings
ad-hoc meetings

List of Presidencies Council EU until 2020

Ireland: January-June 2013
Lithuania: July-December 2013
Greece: January-June 2014
Italy:July-December 2014
Latvia:January-June 2015
Luxembourg:July-December 2015
Netherlands:January-June 2016
Slovakia:July-December 2016
Malta:January-June 2017
United Kingdom:July-December 2017
Estonia:January-June 2018
Bulgaria:July-December 2018
Austria:January-June 2019
Romania:July-December 2019
Finland:January-June 2020