The Council of the European Union is where government ministers from the 27 member states meet to adopt EU laws and the budget, together with the European Parliament. Most decisions are taken by qualified majority: 55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EU population.
- Seat
- Brussels; meetings in Luxembourg in April, June and October
- Established
- 1952 as the Council of Ministers of the ECSC; single Council for the three Communities since 1967 (Merger Treaty)
- Members
- One minister per member state (27), meeting in 10 configurations depending on the subject
- Legal basis
- Article 16 TEU; Articles 237 to 243 TFEU
The Council of the European Union, often simply called “the Council”, represents the governments of the member states. Each country sends a minister with authority to commit its government. Which minister attends depends on the subject: there are 10 configurations, for example agriculture ministers in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council or finance ministers in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin).
The Council has two main jobs. With the European Parliament, it adopts EU laws (regulations and directives) and the annual budget: under the ordinary legislative procedure, both must agree on the same text. It also coordinates national economic policies, concludes international agreements negotiated by the Commission, and, with the High Representative, shapes the common foreign and security policy.
The presidency of the Council rotates between member states every six months. The country holding it chairs most meetings and steers negotiations. Ireland holds the presidency from 1 July to 31 December 2026, in a trio with Lithuania and Greece. The Foreign Affairs Council is the exception: it is always chaired by the High Representative.
The usual voting rule is the qualified majority. A proposal passes if at least 55% of member states (15 of 27) vote in favour and they represent at least 65% of the EU population. A blocking minority must include at least four member states. When a proposal does not come from the Commission or the High Representative, the threshold rises to 72% of member states. Unanimity is still required in sensitive areas such as taxation, foreign and defence policy, the accession of new members and the long-term budget.
Example
On 9 January 2026, the Council adopted, by qualified majority, the decisions authorising the signature of the EU’s partnership agreement and interim trade agreement with the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). Both agreements were signed in Asunción on 17 January 2026. The final conclusion still requires the consent of the European Parliament.
Debates and limits
The Council is the institution where national interests are negotiated, which makes its work less visible to the public than the Parliament’s. Legislative deliberations and votes are public, but much of the negotiation happens in preparatory committees of national diplomats.
The use of unanimity is also debated. Supporters argue that it protects each country in areas close to national sovereignty, such as tax and foreign policy. Others argue that it allows a single government to block decisions supported by all the others. Moving an area to qualified majority voting generally requires a unanimous decision itself.