Foreign Affairs Council

26 July 2010

The Foreign Affairs Council is composed of the EU Member State Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development. The Foreign Affairs Council meets formally once a month and deals with matters including foreign policy and trade, security issues, defence and development policy.

The formation of the Foreign Affairs Council was established by the Treaty of Lisbon. Until 1 December 2009, the Council formed part of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which was chaired by the rotating Presidency of the EU. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the function of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy was significantly modified and extended. Under the Treaty, the High Representative chairs the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, except when it is dealing with commercial policy issues, in which case, the rotating Presidency takes over the chair.

The Briton Catherine Ashton assumed the office of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 1 December 2009.

See the press conference of the Foreign Affairs Council

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Councils: External Relations

Where

Justus Lipsius, Wetstraat 175, 1048 Brüssel

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Useful links

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Decision-making process

Council of the EU:
The Council decides

The Council decides on legislative proposals. This takes place in accordance with normal legislative procedure, in consultation with the European Parliament. The Council meets in various configurations. There have been ten council configurations since the Treaty of Lisbon came into effect. Each council configuration deals with a number of fixed areas and is comprised of the authorised national ministers. Every minister in the Council is authorised to enter into agreements on behalf of their government. Each council configuration – except for the Foreign Affairs Council, which is chaired by the High Representative – is chaired by the member state currently presiding over the rotating six month role.
European Parliament:
The European Parliament decides

The European Parliament has various commissions. They prepare the contents of the recommendations for the legislative proposals. The European Parliament, together with the Council, accepts legislative proposals from the European Commission. Since the Treaty of Lisbon came into effect, the procedure whereby both institutions decide on the vast majority of the areas on an equal footing (normal legislative procedure) has been applicable. In this normal legislative procedure, both institutions must approve the legislative proposal in question. The European Parliament can accept, reject or change the content of legislative proposals.
Council working groups and the COREPER:
The council working groups and the COREPER prepare

The council working groups and the Permanent Representatives Committee prepare the Council activities. They attempt to prepare the ground as much as possible for a compromise. There is therefore a long and intensive preparation before every Council meeting. The member state chairing the Council presides over the Coreper and the bulk of the council working groups.
European Commission:
The European Commission draws up new legislative proposals

The European Commission draws up legislative proposals that it presents to the Parliament and the Council. These proposals must protect the interests of the EU as a whole. The Commission is comprised of 27 members. Each member state therefore nominates one member. The College of Commissioners meets every week on Wednesday mornings in Brussels. In these meetings they discuss each point on the agenda and then make a collective decision. Each member of the Commission can request a vote. The European Commission decides by normal majority.

Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

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