Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers), the EU’s main decision-making body, is composed of ministers from the national governments and enacts legislation based on Eurpean Commission proposals. Meetings of the Council of Ministers are configured according to the subject under consideration (e.g., foreign ministers would meet to discuss the Middle East, agriculture ministers to discuss farm subsidies).

In most cases, the Council’s adoption of legislation occurs jointly with the European Parliament, in a process known as “co-decision.”