The Council Of The European Union

For anyone without a PhD in European Politics, understanding the dynamics of how things in Brussels work can be a frustrating process.

The three legislative bodies are the Commission, the Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

The Council of the European Union is the second chamber of the EU's legislative branch. It is made up of 27 non-elected national ministers, one for each state.

It works in tandem with the European Parliament on the passing of legislation.

The European Commission will propose legislation and Parliament will review it, make amendments and pass it on to the Council.

If the Council are unhappy with the proposal, they can make amendments of their own before it is passed.

As a general rule, no legislation can be passed without the consent of both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Think of it abit like the Senate and House of Congress, in The United States. Two bodies, independent of one another, sifting through proposed legislation with the aim of producing an optimum result at the end.

Be careful not to confuse the Council of the European Union with the "European Council". The latter is the body of heads of state (Presidents & Prime Ministers) who discuss matters of national security and foriegn policy.


Key Facts At A Glance