The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union & Brussels

   

The part dedicated to the Belgian Presidency of the EU can be found in the section of the website of the City of Brussels dealing with European and international relations.

The page presents the Presidency and the website of the City of Brussels in the 23 official languages of the European Union: from German to Slovenian, and from Bulgarian to Romanian and Irish (Gaeilge), the last three official languages that were accepted.

The website of the City, including the agenda of events and municipal news, exists in French, Dutch and English.

Council of the European Union

The Council is the main decision-making body of the European Union.

The ministers of the Member States meet within the Council of the European Union. Depending on the issue on the agenda, each country will be represented by the minister responsible for that subject (foreign affairs, finance, social affairs, transport, agriculture,...).

The presidency of the Council is held for six months by each Member State on a rotational basis.

Decision-making and co-ordination

• the Council of the European Union passes laws, usually legislating jointly with the European Parliament
• the Council co-ordinates the broad economic policies of the Member States
• the Council defines and implements the EU's common foreign and security policy, based on guidelines set by the European Council
• the Council concludes, on behalf of the Community and the Union, international agreements between the EU and one or more states or international organisations
• the Council co-ordinates the actions of Member States and adopts measures in the area of police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters
• the Council and the European Parliament constitute the budgetary authority that adopts the Community’s budget

The acts of the Council

The acts of the Council can take the form of regulations, directives, decisions, common actions or common positions, recommendations or opinions.

The Council can also adopt conclusions, declarations or resolutions.

When the Council acts as a legislator, in principle it is the European Commission that makes proposals. These are examined within the Council, which can make modifications before adopting them.

The European Parliament is an active participant in this legislative process. On a broad range of issues, Community legislation is adopted jointly by the Parliament and the Council using a procedure known as 'co-decision'.

European links

• Website of the European Union
• Website of the Council of the European Union

ON THE AGENDA : Flower Carpet 2012

ON THE AGENDA : Nuit Blanche 2012