Council of the European Union

Expanded name

Council of the European Union

Date of establishment

1979

URL

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ [external]

Objectives

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

Areas of Activity

The Council of the European Union:

• Passes laws (jointly with the European Parliament)
• Co-ordinates economic policies across the European Union
• Defines and Implements common, foreign and security policy
• Concludes international arrangements between the EU and States or international organisations
• Co-ordinates and adopts police and judicial co-operation between Member States
• Act as the budgetary authority and adopt the community budget.

Membership

Each state in the European Union is able to send 1 minister to the Council of the European Union.

Standards Sponsored

Community Framework for Electronic Signatures

Directive 1999/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on a Community Framework for Electronic Signatures.