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The European Union

Role of the European Council and the Council of the EU within the European Institutions Berthold Berger, Director General Secretariat of the Council of the EU Directorate E1: Environment , Climate Change, Education, Youth , Culture, Audiovisual and Sport.

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The European Union

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  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

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