The Council of the European Union
Debates, discussions and negotiations describes the work of the Council of the European Union, which consists of government ministers from all of the EU member states. Their task is to take decisions on the European Commission's proposals for new EU legislation. For a law to start to apply, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament must agree. Before a decision is taken in the Council, the Swedish Government must consult the Riksdag's Committee on EU Affairs on the matter at hand.
The Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union
- adopts EU legislation together with the European Parliament
- consists of ministers from the governments of the EU member states
- the ministers that meet depends on the subject to be negotiated
- usually holds meetings in Brussels, sometimes in Luxembourg
- ahead of meetings, the Government consults the Riksdag regarding matters on the agenda
- is informally referred to as the Council or Council of Ministers, and is officially called the Council of the European Union
How the Council of the European Union works
In the Council, ministers from the 27 member states’ governments attend to negotiate and take decisions on the Commission's proposals for EU legislation. The ministers that meet depends on the subject being discussed. The Swedish Government must always consult the Riksdag regarding the matters on the agenda of Council meetings.
Adopts legislation together with the European Parliament
The Council is formally called the Council of the European Union, but is often referred to as the Council of Ministers or the Council. When the Council meets, government ministers from the EU member states attend. Its task is, together with the European Parliament, to negotiate and take decisions on the European Commission's proposals for new EU legislation. Council meetings are held in Brussels or Luxembourg, but the ministers that meet depends on the subjects on the agenda. If the negotiations concern climate policy, for example, the Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari (Liberal Party) will attend.
The Government consults the Riksdag
It is always the Government that represents Sweden in the Council. Before the ministers go to negotiate with the other member states, however, they are obliged to attend a meeting of the Riksdag's Committee on EU Affairs to consult it on the matters on the agenda. After its consultation, the Government has a mandate from the Riksdag which it is expected to follow in the negotiations in the Council. If the Government fails to observe the Riksdag's position, it risks criticism by the parliamentary Committee on the Constitution.
Ten different configurations
Sweden and the other member states have identified a number of economic and political issues around which they cooperate. In total, the Council can meet in ten different groupings – configurations – depending on the subject being discussed. How often the different Councils meet depends on the weight of the matters in the EU. Certain Councils, such as the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), the General Affairs Council (GAC) and the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meet more frequently than others.
The EU's policy areas – an increasing number of subject areas for the EU
The Council's ten configurations:
- General affairs (general and overall EU matters)
- Foreign affairs
- Economic and financial affairs (ECOFIN Council)
- Justice and home affairs
- Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs
- Competitiveness
- Transport, telecommunications and energy
- Agriculture and fisheries
- Environment
- Education, youth, culture and sport
Officials prepare matters on the agenda
Before a legislative proposal from the Commission lands on the table of the Council for a decision, officials from the member states have both prepared and negotiated the matter. As an institution, the Council not only consists of ministers, but also several levels of working parties and committees made up of officials.
Coreper prepares a basis for decision
The most important body is called Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives). Coreper comprises the highest-level officials in the member states’ Permanent Representations to the EU in Brussels – or the EU Ambassadors as they are also called. Their task is to negotiate with each other and to prepare a basis for the ministers’ decisions in the Council.
Decisions are followed by negotiations with the European Parliament
When the consideration of a legislative proposal is completed in Coreper, it is time for a decision by the ministers in the Council. If necessary, that is. Many matters are determined in Coreper and need only be formally confirmed by the ministers. For EU legislation to come into force, the Council and the European Parliament must agree. If the negotiations concern climate policy, for example, the Minister for Climate and the Environment will attend.
Decisions by qualified majority
The Council normally takes decisions by qualified majority. This means that at least 55 per cent of the EU member states must have voted for the proposal, that is at least 15 of 27 countries. These countries must also together cover at least 65 per cent of the population of the EU. If 24 countries vote in favour of a proposal, there is also a qualified majority, even without the population threshold of 65 per cent being met. At least four countries which together make up 35 per cent of the EU’s population are required in order to form what is termed a “blocking minority” and stop a decision by qualified majority in the Council.
Sometimes there is unanimity or a simple majority
For most matters in the Council, unanimity is required to enable a decision to be taken. This means that no country may vote against the proposal. This is the case for example for decisions on taxes and on contributions to the EU budget. This is also the general rule when it comes to the common foreign and security policy. In a few cases, the Council can decide by simple majority, that is, with a majority of its members. This applies, for example, to decisions on the Council’s own activities.
The Foreign Affairs Council is chaired in a special way
The Foreign Affairs Council is always chaired by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, currently Kaja Kallas from Estonia. She is often referred to as the EU’s Foreign Minister. The High Representative has a dual role in the EU as he is a member of both the Council and the European Commission.
Different EU member states hold the Presidency every six months
Every six months, the Presidency of the Council – or the Council of the European Union as it is formally called – is held by a different member state. The Presidency thus rotates among the member states. Cyprus holds the Presidency during the first half of 2026.
The task of the Presidency country is to organise and chair the meetings of the Council, with the exception of the Foreign Affairs Council, and to maintain contacts with other EU institutions, in particular the Commission and the Parliament. The Presidency should drive the Council's work with adoption of EU legislation forward.
About the EU Presidency on the Council of the European Union website
Sweden held the EU Presidency in the first six months of 2023
Sweden held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union between 1 January–30 June 2023. It is the Government that is responsible for the work of the Council when Sweden holds the Presidency. During the six months that Sweden held the Presidency, the Government and the Government Offices chaired most of the Council's meetings. In total, some 2000 meetings were held in Brussels and Luxembourg and approximately 150 informal meetings and conferences in Sweden.
Sweden forms a Presidency trio together with France and the Czech Republic. The countries’ 18-month programme was presented in December 2021. Sweden's six-month programme and priorities were presented in late 2022.
Sweden previously held the Presidency in the first half of 2001, and the second half of 2009.
The parliament of the country holding the Presidency organises conferences
The national parliaments’ part of the arrangements during the EU Presidency is commonly referred to as the parliamentary dimension.
During the six months that Sweden held the Presidency, the Riksdag organised eight conferences at which members and officials from the member states’ national parliaments and the European Parliament discussed various issues. One purpose was to promote cooperation and discussion between the national parliaments and the European Parliament.
During the six months, the Riksdag organised the five regular conferences that are held as part of interparliamentary cooperation in the EU. One of these conferences was organised together with the European Parliament in Brussels. In addition, the Riksdag held three thematic conferences at which it decided the themes and structure itself.
Interparliamentary cooperation in the EU
Cooperate in a trio
The EU countries that hold the Presidency of the Council after each other cooperate in a group of three member states – a trio. Together, the three countries set long-term objectives and prepare a common programme with the subjects and priority issues that the Council is to deal with over an 18-month period. Based on this general programme, each of the three countries then draws up its more detailed six-month programme.
The Government has staff in Brussels
It is the Government that represents Sweden in the Council of the European Union and the European Council. On location in Brussels, Swedish officials from the government ministries work to prepare and negotiate matters ahead of the meetings of the Council of the European Union and the European Council summits.
The Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU negotiates
The Swedish Government has officials from all of the ministries working in Brussels. This function is known as the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, and is Sweden's largest mission abroad, with approximately 120 employees. The task of the officials is to prepare and negotiate matters with officials from the other member states ahead of meetings of the Council of the European Union and summits in the European Council.
The Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU on the Government Offices website