The European Union

1. Role of the European Council and the Council of the EU within the European InstitutionsBerthold Berger, DirectorGeneral Secretariat of the Council of the EUDirectorate E1: Environment, Climate Change, Education, Youth, Culture, Audiovisual and Sport

2. The European Union

3. The Union’s Institutions • The European Parliament • The European Council • The Council • The European Commission • The Court of Justice of the European Union • The European Central Bank • The Court of Auditors

4. Other EU bodies • The Euro Group • Meeting of the 19 Finance Ministers of the Eurozone • Chaired by a Permanent President • President Jeroen Dijsselbloem, as from Jan. 2013 • The Eurozone Summit • Chaired by the President of the European Council • The High Representative • Chairs the Foreign Affairs Council • Head of the European External Action Service • Vice President of the European Commission

5. The European Council

6. The European Council • Identifies strategic interests and objectives of the Union • Defines general political direction by consensus • Acts also by a Qualified Majority i.e. in: • Electing its President • Appointing the High Representative • Establishing the list of Council configurations • Exercises no legislative functions • Meets at least 4 times a year in Brussels and whenever necessary

7. Donald TUSK, President of the European Council • Elected for 5 years (in office since December 2014), re-elected at the March 2017 European Council • Chairs the European Council’s meetings and Eurozone summits • Facilitates cohesion and consensus within the European Council • Reports to the EP after each meeting • Informs the non-Eurozone Member States after Eurozone summits • Ensures external representation of the Union at his level for CSFP issues

8. The Council of the EU

9. The Council of the EU • Exercises legislative and budgetary functions, jointly with the European Parliament and on the basis of a proposal from the Commission • May also exercise executive functions for implementing acts • Acts by a Qualified Majority unless provided otherwise by the Treaty of the EU • Meets in 10 different configurations: the General Affairs Council ensures the consistency of their work • Foreign Affairs Council: • Elaborates Union’s external action based on orientations given by the European Council • Ensures the consistency of the Union’s external action

10. Structure of the Council • Ministers • Permanent Representatives • Working Parties /Committees Council (10 formations) Coreper 1 Coreper 2

11. Ten Council formations • General Affairs (GSC support from DQPG – DG G regional) • Foreign Affairs (support from DG C and EEAS) • Economic and Financial Affairs (support from DG G) • Justice and Home Affairs (support from DG D) • Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space, support from DG G) •   Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs(support from DG B) • Agriculture and Fisheries (support from DG B) •  Environment (support from DG E) • Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (support from DG E) • Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (support from DG E) 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

12. Rotating Presidency of the Council • Each Member State in turn every 6 months • 18-Months rolling programme of three successive presidencies (current trio: Estonia, Bulgaria, Austria) • Chairs: • Council formations except Foreign Affairs, • COREPER I and II • Committees and working groups except those related to CFSP and CSDP

13. Figures for Previous Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) System • Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom 29 • Spain, Poland 27 • Romania 14 • Netherlands 13 • Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal 12 • Bulgaria, Austria, Sweden 10 • Denmark, Croatia, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Finland 7 • Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovenia 4 • Malta 3 TOTAL 352 • QMV until November 2014 = 260 votes (and at least 62% of total population) • As from November 2014 -> 55% Member States and 65 % total population

14. Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) • Current system results from Lisbon Treaty • On 1 November 2014, a system of double majority of members and of population replaced the rules based on a system of weighted votes attributed to each Member State, since 1957. • The new QMV is requiring 55% of the Member States (16 MS) representing at least 65% of total population (in 2014 around 328.6 million). • A blocking minority will have to include at least four members • Transitional provisions has allowed any Member State to request, until 31 March 2017, that the rules on majority voting in force before 1 November 2014 apply to a specific act.

15. Voting by Unanimity Still required inter alia in the following areas: • Enlargement of the EU • Taxation • Multiannual Financial Framework • Harmonisation in the field of social security and social protection • Family law, passports and identity cards, operational police cooperation • Common Foreign and Security Policy • Common Security and Defence Policy

16. General Secretariat of the Council • Assists the members of the European Council and its President • Supports the members of the Council of the EU (including ‘Foreign Affairs’) and its Presidency • Gives policy, procedural advice and logistical support • Drafts records of proceedings and supports the Presidency in updating working documents • Ensures continuity beyond the 6-month term • Provideslegaladvice to the Presidency and Member States • Issues communications and press releases • Is responsible for publication of legislative acts in the Official Journal • Provides institutional memory