General Affairs Council
The General Affairs Council performs fundamental functions in the EU system of internal and external relations. It deals with the general coordination of the EU sectoral policies, institutional and administrative matters, as well as matters concerning various Union’s policies, such as the multiannual financial framework and enlargement. Moreover, given its cross-cutting competence, it ensures the consistency of the work carried out by the different Council configurations, prepares European Council’s meetings and ensures their follow-up, in liaison with the President of the European Council and with the Commission.
In the General Affairs configuration, the Council is composed of the Member States’ Foreign Ministers, and possibly also of the Ministers of European Affairs. The European Union Directorate General of the Italian Foreign Ministry collaborates with the European Policy Department of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in preparing General Affairs Council meetings.
Foreign Affairs Council
The Foreign Affairs Council deals with the EU’s relations with the rest of the world. According to the Treaty on European Union, it is in fact responsible for developing the Union’s external policies, in accordance with the strategic guidelines laid down by the European Council and for the consistency of the Union’s action. This includes the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the Common Security and Defence Policy, trade issues, development aid and humanitarian interventions.
To ensure the consistency of all aspects of the Union’s external action, Foreign Affairs Council meetings are chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, appointed by the European Council (by qualified majority) with the agreement of the President of the Commission. Besides this task, the High Representative – who also serves as Vice-President of the Commission – is entrusted with the task of contributing by his/her proposals to the development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, ensuring the implementation of the decisions taken by the European Council and the Council of the European Union and representing the Union for matters falling under the Common Foreign and Security Policy. While carrying out its tasks, it relies on a European External Action Service, composed of officials from the General Secretariat of the Council and the Commission, as well as staff seconded from the Member States’ diplomatic services.
European Council
The European Council is the institution that sets the EU’s overall policy priorities and orientations. It does not negotiate or adopt legislation, but sets the Union’s political agenda at the highest level, through “conclusions” that identify problematic issues and measures to be undertaken or objectives to be achieved.
The European Council meets in Brussels at least twice every six months, chaired and coordinated by the President of the European Council. The current President of the Council is Belgian Charles Michel. He will hand over the post to Portuguese Antonio Costa as of 1 December 2024. The European Council is composed of the Member States’ Heads of State or Government.
The choice of the Head of State or Government as the representative of the Member State in the meetings of the European Council is defined by the individual State’s legislation: in the case of Italy, the Prime Minister takes part in the meetings. The Directorate General for Europe and International Trade Policy of the Italian Foreign Ministry collaborates with the Prime Minister’s Office in preparing the European Council’s meetings.
Other Council’s configurations
The Council of the European Union is a single legal entity, but it meets in ten different configurations depending on the subject matter being discussed.
There is no hierarchy among the Council configurations, although the General Affairs Council has a special coordinating role and is responsible for institutional, administrative and horizontal matters.
Any of the ten Council’s configurations can adopt an act that falls under the remit of another configuration. Therefore, in any legislative act the Council adopts no mention is made of the configuration.
“Agriculture and Fisheries” Council configuration
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council adopts legislation – in most cases jointly with the European Parliament – on a range of issues concerning food production, rural development and fisheries management.
Most Member States are represented by a single Minister for both sectors, while others are represented by a Minister for Agriculture and another for Fisheries. Italy is represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
Meetings are generally held once a month.
“Environment” Council configuration
The Environment Council is responsible for EU’s environmental policy, including protection of the environment, prudent use of resources and protection of human health. It also deals with international environmental issues, particularly in the area of climate change.
It is composed of the Ministers responsible for environmental issues; in the case of Italy, the Minister of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea participates in the meetings.
It generally meets four times a year.
“Competitiveness” Council Configuration”
The Competitiveness Council works to strengthen competitiveness and enhance growth in the EU. It deals with four important areas: internal market; industry; research and innovation; space.
Depending on the agenda, Italy is represented in the Competitiveness Council by the Under-Secretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with responsibility for European Affairs, by the Minister for Economic Development or by the Minister for Education, Universities and Research.
Meetings are held at least four times a year.
“Economic and Financial Affairs” Council configuration
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council, better known as the ECOFIN Council, is responsible for EU policy in three main areas: economic policy, taxation and regulation of financial services.
It is composed of all Member States’ Economy and Finance Ministers. The relevant European Commissioners also attend its sessions.
It generally meets once a month.
“Justice and Home Affairs” Council configuration
The Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) develops common policies and cooperation on various cross-border issues in order to achieve an EU-wide area of freedom, security and justice.
It is composed of all Member States’ Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. In general, Justice Ministers deal with judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters and fundamental rights, while Home Affairs Ministers are responsible – inter alia – for immigration, border management and police cooperation. Therefore, in the case of Italy, the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Internal Affairs participates in the meetings.
The JHA Council is also responsible for civil protection.
It normally meets every three months.
“Education, Youth, Culture and Sport” Council configuration
The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council is the framework within which cooperation and the exchange of information between Member States in these areas is developed.
The Council’s composition depends on the topics discussed at a given meeting and Italy is therefore represented by the Minister for Education, Universities and Research or by the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Tourism.
It meets three or four times a year, two of which in full configuration.
“Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs” Council configuration
The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) brings together the Ministers responsible for employment, social affairs, health and consumer policy from all EU Member States. The relevant European Commissioners also participate in its sessions. Italy is represented by the Minister of Labour and Social Policy and by the Minister of Health.
Four EPSCO Council meetings per year are generally organised, two of which are usually devoted exclusively to employment and social policy.
“Transport, Telecommunications and Energy” Council configuration
The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council works to achieve the EU’s transport, telecommunications and energy objectives, i.e. to create modern, competitive and efficient markets and infrastructure and to establish trans-European networks in the transport, communications and energy sectors.
The composition and number of TTE Council meetings vary according to the topics on the agenda:
Transport Ministers normally meet four times a year;
Energy Ministers meet three or four times a year;
Telecommunications Ministers meet twice a year.
Italy is represented by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport when transport matters are discussed, and by the Minister of Energy and Telecommunications when energy and telecommunications matters are discussed.
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