Council of Ministers Eu

Ksenija Simovic January 2012

Fact sheet:

COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN UNION

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

INTRODUCTION:

"Acts which are directly relevant to the lives of EU citizens and have a considerable international impact are adopted by the Council, usually in conjunction with the European Parliament."

In this definition provided by the Council itself we can right away understand the important role of the Council within the EU.

The importance of the Council of Ministers lays in the fact that it represents ideas of all Member States, because the institution is made up of the relevant government ministers and representatives from all of these states. There is also a rotating presidency of the Council, which every six months sees another Member State in the presidency chair ,and in that way empowers the states to give their best and contribute to a better decision making and collaboration in the EU. The Council does not however have the power to propose new legislation, as this is the remit of the Commission. But, for any EU law to be passed or for deals on the EU budget to be agreed, the Council of the European Union (along with the European Parliament) must vote in favor of it. (consilium.europa.eu , civitas.org.uk/eufacts)

Councils working obligations are:

* It adopts legislative acts (Regulations, Directives, etc.), in many cases in "co-decision" with the European Parliament;

* It helps coordinate Member States' policies, for example, in the economic field;

* It develops the common foreign and security policy, on the basis of strategic guidelines set by the European Council;

* It concludes international agreements on behalf of the Union;

* It adopts the Union's budget, together with the European Parliament.( consilium.europa.eu)

Council has ten configurations or policy areas within it provides expertise, and these are:

* General Affairs

* Foreign Affairs

* Economic and Financial Affairs

* Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)

* Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs

* Competitiveness (internal market, industry, research and space)

* Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

* Agriculture and Fisheries

* Environment

* Education, youth, culture and sport

HISTORICAL BACKROUND:

In order to study the Council in appropriate matter, I will first present a brief historical background of the most important moments in its developed through the years.

1951 - Treaty of Paris (establishing ECSC) gives birth to a Special Council of Ministers, which uses the work prepared by the Cocor (Commission de coordination du Conseil des ministers)

1957 -Treaties of Rome (establishing EEC and EURATOM) Council of Ministers is officially established , work prepared by Coreoer (Committee of Permanent Representatives)

1958 - Adoption of provisional internal rules of procedure of the Council (CRP's)

1960- Intergovernmental decision - Creation of Special Committee for Agriculture (SCA)

1970-1975 - Budgetary treaties- the Council stats to share budgetary authority with the EP

1973 - With the accession of Denmark, Ireland and UK there is the adoption of QMV (qualified majority voting) system and the adoption of the system of presidency rotation.-unanimity voting is still kept in certain areas.

1985- Single European Act brought to formalization of the European Political cooperation and the extension of QMV to many internal market issues.

1992- Treaty on European Union (Maastricht treaty) - Introduction of pillar structure, European Council spans all three Common foreign and security policy issues- prepared by the Political Committee. Justice and home affairs issues - prepared by K.4 Committee.

1997- Treaty of Amsterdam- Secretary General takes on additional role of High representative of CFSP, Post of Deputy Secretary-General of Secretariat is created.- Adoption of the co-decision procedure.

1997-Decision of Luxemburg European Council- Creation of the Euro Group which discusses matters of common interest to member states having adopted the euro.

1999- Helsinki European Council - Reduction of