The Council of the EU and the European Council work on a wide range of issues affecting the interests of the EU and its citizens. The press office is the first point of contact for all media requests. A videoconference of the members of the European Economic Area Council was held on 18 November at the initiative of Liechtenstein’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Katrin Eggenberger. Overview. The Council of the EU meets in different configurations depending on the topic discussed. The Council also decided to add Croatia, which was not yet a member state at the time of the original decision, for the period January-June 2020. The Trio has adopted a Declaration outlining the main areas of focus for their … On 1 July 2020, Germany took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). The official website of Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union (July through December 2020) The rotating Council presidency can offer often-forgotten EU countries a rare moment to shine. Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union begins on 1 January and ends on 30 June 2020. The European Union is one of the world’s most strongly export oriented economies. Under the motto “Together for Europe’s recovery”, Germany will hold the Council Presidency until the end of the year. … From here she interprets from six languages into German. This is where European foreign ministers met informally in 1974, After six months, they meet in person again: The defence ministers of the European Union. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at the Videoconference of EU Foreign Ministers, Following the internal exchange between the ministers, a virtual exchange with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki was held. Chancellor Merkel after the special meeting of EU heads of state and government: Agreement not to recognise the results of the disputed presidential election in Belarus, The President of the Council, Charles Michel, will hold a video conference with the members of the European Council to discuss a response to the situation in Belarus, Tour d´Europe: The trail passes through 20 different countries, including 14 EU member states. During the meeting, which will be led by Germany's Federal Minister for the Environment, Svenja Schulze, ministers will discuss European climate law and the European Commission’s chemicals strategy, among other topics. It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President and the President of the Commission. European migration and asylum policy is being reoriented and modernized. www.consilium.europa.eu HANDBOOK OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION RS 012/2018. The Council meets in ten different configurations, depending on the subject being discussed. EU environment ministers discussed European Green Deal and biodiversity More news → The priorities for Finland’s Presidency are to strengthen common values and the rule of law, to make the EU more competitive and socially inclusive, to strengthen the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action and to protect the security of citizens comprehensively. Due to the pandemic-related restrictions of recent months, it was the first time that EU defence ministers had come together in person again for an informal meeting in Berlin. "Migration policy will decide the fate of Europe," said German Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer at the virtual informal meeting of the EU's home affairs ministers. Solution developed by Tilde. German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. For the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the heads of state and government met physically in Brussels. With 27 member states and almost half a billion citizens, we are the second largest economic power in the world and a global player in many fields. Today EU foreign ministers met via videoconference, Claudia Roth, Vice President of the German Bundestag, inaugurates the information mobile on the parliamentary dimension of Germany's Council Presidency, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas visits the destroyed port in Beirut, Mass protests erupted in major cities across Belarus on the evening of 9 August following the nation's contested presidential election, After the devastating explosion at the port of Beirut, French President Emmanuel Macron over the weekend held an international donor conference together with the United Nations. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas "passes on" the baton via video, to his Portuguese counterpart - and then sends the baton on its way to Lisbon, The EU and China have concluded a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, Portugal's Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva in Berlin: This is the fourth time Portugal holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Portugal has been a member of the European Economic Community since 1 January 1986, School children at the 2019 theatre festival in Almada, Foreign Minister Maas: "On 1 January we say 'Hello, Goodbye' to the United Kingdom", On 31 December the German Presidency of the Council of the EU will end, after six months of intensive work for the European Union, EU member states work together to tackle the challenge of the coronavirus, Earth Speakr, Faces of Europe, Disappearing Wall, Europe in Film and much more - our series "Focus on culture" takes a closer look at the cultural programme of Germany´s presidency of the Council of the EU, What do people think about Europe? Press officers speak 'off the record' about the Council's activities. German Foreign Affairs Minister Heiko Maas and High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, in Berlin today for the Gymnich meeting, Danish-Icelandic conceptual artist Olafur Eliasson created an interactive artwork with children all across Europe for Germany's Presidency, Familiy photo of the Gymnich meeting in Berlin, Castle Gymnich in Erftstadt near Bonn. ABSTRACT: As the holder of the 6-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2020, Germany had the responsibility of guiding the Union through a range major political and policy challenges including managing the economic and financial response to Covid and the impact of the end of the UK’s post-Brexit transition period. You can get in contact to arrange a visit, ask questions about the work of both institutions, and request a document, among other services. Its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months. Germany has held the Council Presidency 12 times since becoming a founding member of the European Economic Community in 1957. The videoconference built on the discussions at the Informal Meeting of EU Health Ministers on 16 July 2020, A visit to the Chancellery: German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in Berlin, EU agriculture ministers met for an informal meeting in Koblenz, at the invitation of Minister Julia Klöckner. The presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union, is the co-legislator of the EU legislature alongside the European Parliament. Rotating presidency. For example, representatives from the presidency country chair its meetings. Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU 2021 is committed to transparency in all procurement processes. The most important questions will be answered here. The EU’s relationship with China, for example, will play an important role during the Council Presidency, which Germany has dovetailed closely with its two successors, Portugal and Slovenia, as a Trio Presidency. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations, Michael Roth, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office and Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, at the press conference after the meeting, EU employment and social policy ministers discuss employee participation and gender equality under the German Presidency, Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office, chaired the General Affairs Council, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas travels to Cyprus and Greece, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel: "Crisis management is a herculean task that we can accomplish all the better if we in Europe all pull in the same direction", German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaking to the Committee of the Regions: "We need close European cooperation in order to overcome major challenges", Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office, will chair the meeting, Between 12 and 14 October, the CoR’s 329 members will meet in Brussels and virtually to discuss 26 different opinions. Know the full programme for the Portuguese Presidency. Chancellor Merkel in the European Parliament​​​​​​​, Chancellor Merkel in the European Parliament: Human rights and civil liberties are Europe's most valuable posessions, German Chancellor Angela Merkel upon arriving at the European Parliament in Brussels, Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Franziska Giffey with the joint Trio Presidency Declaration on Gender Equality. The Goethe-Institut’s "Europe’s Kitchen" project showcases Europe’s diversity and fosters exchange throughout the continent. Outcomes of the German EU Council Presidency. The main purpose of the trios lies in ensuring that there is a smoother transition between presidencies and that the  continuity and effectiveness of the Council's work is enhanced over the long term. Partnership with Africa is also to be deepened. It will promote a vision of the EU that is innovative, looks to the future and is based on common values of solidarity, convergence and cohesion. Summit meetings with both China and the African Union are planned. National governments usually try to use the opportunity to play to their home audiences and hype their own importance by hosting grand events that lure international leaders to their countries. the President of the European Council; the high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. On 1 July 2020, Germany took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) from Croatia. Federal Minister Julia Klöckner: "Our agreement on provisional quotas is a guarantee for our European fishers that they will be able to carry on fishing from 1 January", Federal Minister Klöckner: "Today’s decision is a clear commitment to greater animal welfare in Europe and a significant step forward", Federal Minister Julia Klöckner: "We are actively committed to ensuring that the origin of food will be labelled in a more transparent manner", Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Julia Klöckner, From left to right: Constitutional Affairs Committee Member Danuta Hübner, European Parliament Vice-President Katarina Barley, Minister of State Michael Roth and Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and EU High Representative Josep Borrell before the meeting of foreign ministers from the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean, EU Commissioner Ylva Johannson joined EU home affairs ministers at their final videoconference under the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, EU home affairs ministers discussed strengthening Europol's operational mandate, Under the EU-Regulation, Member States are required to sign bilateral solidarity agreements with one another, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier discussing energy efficiency with his European counterparts at the videoconference, Energy system integration is crucial for setting the path towards a climate neutral Europe, A duo participating in the "Europe talks - Europa spricht" project, German Chancellor Angela Merkel in conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, European Council meeting room in the Europa building in Brussels, The new centre will promote cybersecurity research around the EU, Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer at the Videoconference of EU Interior Ministers on 13 November 2020, Federal Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer answered questions on the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, In 2012 the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the causes of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe, Continuous long-distance rail transport should make Europe even more climate and environmentally friendly, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer, exchanged ideas with his counterparts about the Eurovignette and the Single European Sky initiative, Under German Minister of State for Europe, Michael Roth's leadership, the ministers discussed future EU-UK relations, Minister of State for Europe Roth at the last virtual, informal meeting of the General Affairs Council during Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, The promotion and protection of human rights remain a cornerstone and priority of EU external action, A historic scene – 7 December 1970: Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt kneeling before the memorial at the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, which commemorates the heroes of the ghetto uprising of April 1943, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday in Brussels, Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection Christine Lambrecht: "We will strengthen cooperation between Member States and EU institutions, ensuring that consumers are able to assert their rights across European borders", The series "Looking back, looking ahead" explains the major topics of European politics in their historical context, At the Informal Videoconference, ministers will discuss about the nexus of  consumer protection and the digital transformation, The Data Governance Act was a key agenda item at the videoconference of the EU ministers for telecommunications and digital policy, German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth: "The German Council Presidency is fully committed in strengthening transparency by introducing a new Transparency Register at EU level.