an institution where ministers from all fifteen EU member states sit. This body legislates for the European Union, sets its political objectives, coordinates national policies and resolves differences between European Union countries and European institutions.
The council directly represents the EU's member governments in a "cabinet of cabinets". Every member state becomes president of the Council for six months on a rotational basis.
The Council is the EU institution in which the Governments of the Member States are represented. Together with the European Parliament, it enacts legislation and is the budgetary authority. The Council meets in different formations, depending on the issues under discussion (e.g. environment) and each Member State is represented at Ministerial level in each formation.
The supreme legislative arm of the European Union. Specialist councils are composed of national ministers from all member states. Social and employment matters are dealt with by the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council. This usually meets on a formal basis 2-3 times a year.
See Council of the European Union. (See Website)
The Council is the only EU institution which directly represents the fifteen Member Governments, each Government holding a seat. The Council is the Communities' principal decision making body, acting on proposals from the European Commission.