Why bother with Brussels? Council

What is the Council of European Union?

The Council of European Union (to add confusion it was formally known as the Council of Ministers) is the main decision making institution of the EU and can accept, change or reject all draft laws of legislation. It is the voice of member countries and made up of representatives, Minsters from governments of member states, who are empowered to represent and their whole government.

The Council meets around nine different themed areas from Justice and Home Affairs to Agriculture and Fisheries. The most relevant Minsters attend depending on the subject that is being discussed at each session. For example meeting to talk about EU laws on pollution Environmental Minsters will attend.

Legislation is approved either unanimously or by Qualified Majority Voting - which gives each country a vote that is weighted roughly by its size.

* There is a distinction from the European Council - where the heads of states or heads of governments from all EU countries and the President of the European Commission attend summit meetings about four times a year to agree the direction for future EU to take. Although closely related and similar in name they are both separate political bodies.

Why influence Council of European Union?

As Ministers from each member state sit on the Council of the European Union, there is a direct link to the national level. Ministers are accountable to their national parliament and the electorate. The Council is supported by a large staff made of national and European civil servants. Therefore it is important to campaign both at EU and UK level, to lobby UK Ministers and civil servants that have an EU remit.

Presidency

The European Union Presidency is held by a member state rather than a person, and rotates between counties every six months. The Presidency has a crucial role in driving work forward and reaching consensus between member states on issues.