Council of the European Union (Council)

The Council works together with the EP as legislator and is also called the "EU Council of Ministers". The seat is in Brussels. The Council meets in the presence of the Ministers of all Member States (or their representatives) and the EC.

The Council of the EU is a single legal entity, but it meets in 10 different configurations, depending on the subject being discussed. Relevant for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy are the  the Competitiveness Council, Foreign affairs (Trade) Council and the Council for Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs. 

Before voting on EC proposals in the above-mentioned Council formations, they go through a negotiation phase at the level of the Council working groups. Corresponding to the thematically coordinated Council formations, council working groups have been set up in correspondence with them. The Council working groups are supervised by the departmental staff of the responsible minister or specialist minister and/or also by employees of the Permanent Representation of Austria in the EU. 

Additional Information

Institution which represents the member states is the Council of the European Union