What are EU Council conclusions?

European Council conclusions are adopted during each European Council meeting. They are used to identify specific issues of concern for the EU and outline particular actions to take or goals to reach.

What is the main goal of the European Council?

The European Council brings together EU leaders to set the EU’s political agenda. It represents the highest level of political cooperation between EU countries.

How long do the rotating presidencies of the European Council last?

6 months
The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU’s work in the Council.

Are European Council meetings public?

The meeting agendas of the Council and of most its preparatory bodies are public.

Who appoints the president of the European Council?

Appointment. The President of the European Council is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority. He is elected for a 2.5 year term, which is renewable once. In accordance with established practice, the rotating presidency is in charge of the coordination of the election process.

Who does the European Council represent?

The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the European Council President and the President of the European Commission.

What does the European Council President do?

The President chairs European Council meetings and drives forward its work. He also ensures the external representation of the EU at his level on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy.

Does the European Council vote?

The ‘standard’ voting method in the Council Qualified majority is the most widely used voting method in the Council. It’s used when the Council takes decisions during the ordinary legislative procedure, also known as co-decision. About 80% of all EU legislation is adopted with this procedure.

Are Council conclusions binding?

The Council Conclusions are legal documents that the Council negotiates and adopts to express a political position on a topic related to the EU’s areas of activity. Council conclusions express political commitments or positions and are thus not legally binding.

What is EU Parliament resolution?

The European Parliament (EP) represents the citizens of the EU, being the only directly elected institution of the EU. Although not binding for other EU institutions, resolutions may call for action. Moreover, the EP issues an annual report on human rights and democracy in the world.

How does the presidency of the European Council work?

The President of the European Council is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority. He is elected for a 2.5 year term, which is renewable once. In accordance with established practice, the rotating presidency is in charge of the coordination of the election process.

How does the Council of the EU make decisions?

The Council is an essential EU decision-maker. It negotiates and adopts new EU legislation, adapts it when necessary, and coordinates policies. In most cases, the Council decides together with the European Parliament through the ordinary legislative procedure, also known as ‘codecision’.