council of ministers

Council of MinistersRui Sasaki

Hikariko Yazaki

Legislation Executive Mediator

Responsibilities and functions

The principal responsibility

Working with the commission and the EP.

Decided by QMV or Unanimity

legislation

The commissi

on

Council The EP

The act is adopted

The ordinary legislative procedure

1. only developing proposal of commission

2. The EP has important power about legislation

Limitation

•Before the Lisbon treaty•After the Lisbon treaty

•15•30

directive

•150•50regulatio

n

•50•5

decision

Commission the principal institution of EU working with committees.

Council foreign and defense policy

executive

In the national representatives meet, council has served the function of developing mutual understanding.

The ability to compromise in negotiation is prerequisite

Mediator

Meeting in many different formations.

The number of formations

composition

December 1999

Over20 June 200216 9

GAERC (the General Affairs and External Relations Council) foreign policy and eternal trade policy initiation and coordination Operation of the EC

composition

General Affairs

Foreign Affairs

General Affairs Foreign Affairs Economic and Financial Affairs Justice and Home Affairs Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer

Affairs Competitiveness Transports, Telecommunication and Energy Agriculture and Fisheries Environment Education, Youth and Culture

composition

formal meeting in an average year 100 (117 in 2008) normally held in Brussels but only April, June, October→Luxembourg Foreign Affairs and General Affairs meet the most

frequently →one meeting per month start at 10:00 a.m., finish at 6:00 p.m. or

7:00p.m. Informal meeting 50

meetings

The Committee of Permanent Representatives Co-ordinator of Council business, fixer and

trouble-shooter COREPER I political agendas COREPER II techinal policy

COREPER

they assists and prepares the work of Council of Ministers and COREEPER.

Council Committees composed of national officials have as task providing advice to the Council working parties carry out detailed analyses of commission proposal for legislation

Committees and working parties

Administratively supports work of the council

3500 staffs

responsibility serve council machinery

works closely with council presidency

General Secretariat

Council Presidency Hierarchical Structure Decision Making Procedures

Operation of the Council

The Rotation System Task of Presidency Advantages & Disadvantages

Operation of the Council-1Council Presidency

Rotation SystemUp to Lisbon Treaty, 6-month rotation system

is used which is called troika Lisbon Treaty supports and strengthens this

system

Operation of the Council-1Council Presidency

Presidency is held for 18 months by groups of 3 member states, with each of the states assuming the lead for 6 months. The groups are assembled and the states assume the lead position with this order.

Task of Presidency1. To Arrange and to chair most council

meetings2. To build a consensus for initiative3. To offer leadership4. To ensure continuity and consistency of

policy development

Operation of the Council-1Council Presidency

1. To Arrange and to chair most council meetings

2. To build a consensus for initiativeIt negotiated with member states, Commission

and EP.Sometimes they use QMV.

3. To offer leadershipIt can also involve attempting to prioritize new issues.4. To ensure continuity and consistency of policy

development The important mechanism used for this purpose is

troika.5. To represent the council dealings with outside

bodiesOutside bodies sometimes mean outside of EU.

Advantages and disadvantagesAdsPrestigePresidency can do more things than othersThere’s leeway for bringing council positions

closer to positions of presidency

Operation of the Council-1Council Presidency

DisadsHeavy administrative burdens that are

attatched to the job.Presidency can bring issues closer to own

positionThe blow to esteem and standing that is

incurred when it is a poor presidency

Ministers •Foreign Affairs•Ecofin Council

COREPER •COREPER1•COREPER2

Working Parties •Committees

Operation of the Council-2Hierarchical Structure

The First stage; working parties and CommitteesInitial examination of the text.70 % of issues are solved The second stage; reference of working party

documents to COREPER15-20% are resolved The third stage; Ministerial level, and formal

adoption5% are resolved

Operation of the Council-2Hierarchical Structure

2 types of items in Ministerial level meeting; A-pointItems that are agreed in working parties or COREPER. B-pointItems that are not agreed in neither of parties.

Operation of the Council-2Hierarchical Structure

Observation of Ministerial meetings Variation Some items are general, while others are

specialized Most items fall thanks to competence of

ministers Some items include administrative matters

Operation of the Council-2Hierarchical Structure

Taking decisionsBy Unanimity (foreign, defense, enlargement,

tax) 90% Qualified Majority Voting 10~15% Simple Majority Voting

Operation of the Council-3Decision Making Procedures

The Conduct of meeting; Working party: 100 people COREPER: 150 people Ministerial level: 150 people, sometimes

Chaotic Presidency has key roles in fixing agenda

Operation of the Council-3Decision Making Procedures

Informal process and relationship Lunch/Dinner (Ministers and translators) Requested breaks Between meetings (Mails, letters, phones)

Operation of the Council-3Decision Making Procedures

Why does EU need Council of ministers in its organization?

Do you think power of the council will increase or decrease in the future?

What do you think of informal meetings?

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage?lang=en

Question