Quick definition: 

Together with Parliament, the Council is the institution that adopts EU legislation through regulations and directives and prepares decisions and non-binding recommendations. In its areas of competence, it takes its decisions by a simple majority, a qualified majority or unanimously, according to the legal basis of the act requiring its approval.

What does the Council do?

• It negotiates and adopts EU laws, together with the European Parliament, based on proposals from the European Commission
• It coordinates EU countries' policies
• It develops the EU's foreign & security policy, based on European Council guidelines
• It concludes agreements between the EU and other countries or international organisations
• It adopts the annual EU budget - jointly with the European Parliament

Composition

There are no fixed members of the EU Council. Instead, the Council meets in 10 different configurations, each corresponding to the policy area being discussed. Depending on the configuration, each country sends their minister responsible for that policy area. For example, when the Council meeting on economic and financial affairs (the "Ecofin Council") is held, it is attended by each country's finance minister.

Who chairs the meetings?

The Foreign Affairs Council has a permanent chairperson - the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. All other Council meetings are chaired by the relevant minister of the country holding the rotating EU presidency.

How does the Council work?

EU ministers meet in public when they discuss or vote on draft legislative acts. To be passed, decisions usually require a qualified majority:

• 55% of countries (with 27 current members, this means 15 countries)
• representing at least 65 % of total EU population

To block a decision, at least 4 countries are needed (representing at least 35% of total EU population)

Exception: sensitive topics like foreign policy and taxation require a unanimous vote (all countries in favour)

Sources: EC Commission Website, 2023; EU Council Website, 2023