The Council of the European Union - Group paragraph

The Council of the European Union - Original Paragraph

As one of the major EU institutions, the Council of the European Union bears responsibility for a variety of different matters intended to create and promote unity between all EU member states. Not only is the Council of the European Union in charge of coordinating the broad economic policies of the EU member countries, it also approves the annual EU budget. In addition to this, the Council of the European Union passes laws proposed by the EU Commission, has the right to sign international agreements, concerning trade, environment etc. on behalf of the EU and is the main forum for a joint foreign and defense policy in Europe. Responsible for these tasks are the national ministers of each EU member state that gather at the Council’s assemblies. As the ministers in each country are appointed every few years, the Council of the European Union does not consist of fixed members, but instead each member country sends out their current minister of the policy field being discussed in the Council’s meetings. Just as there are no permanent members, there is also no fixed head of the Council of the European Union, leading to a system of rotation. Every six months a different country among the 28 member states holds presidency and consequently leads the Council’s meetings. Currently Lithuania is the head of the Council. Though the meetings are chaired by the relevant minister of the country holding the rotating presidency, decisions are made based on vote. Consequently the ministers that constitute the Council are directly responsible for the life of EU citizens, as in coordinating economic policies it influences the development of healthcare, education and welfare systems. Though the name of the Council of the European Union might easily be confused with other EU bodies, its effect on the EU makes it an irreplaceable institution in the European community.

The Council of the European Union - Corrected Version

As one of the major EU institutions, the Council of the European Union bears responsibility

for a variety of different matters intended to create and promote unity between all EU member

states. Not only is the Council of the European Union in charge of coordinating the broad

economic policies of the EU member countries, it also approves the annual EU budget.

In addition to this, the Council of the European Union passes laws proposed by the EU

Commission, has the right to sign international agreements concerning trade, the environment,

etc. on behalf of the EU and is the main forum for a joint foreign and defense policy in

Europe. Responsible for these tasks are the national ministers of each EU member state that

gather at the Council’s assemblies. As the ministers in each country are appointed every few

years, the Council of the European Union does not consist of permanent members, but instead

each member country sends their minister responsible for the policy field being discussed

in the Council’s meetings. Due to the system of rotation, there is no head of the Council of

the European Union just as there are no permanent members. Every six months a different

country among the 28 member states holds the presidency and consequently leads the

Council’s meetings. Though the meetings are chaired by the relevant minister of the country

holding the rotating presidency, decisions are voted on by all ministers. As in coordinating

economic policies, the Council influences the development of healthcare, education and

welfare systems, it is consequently responsible for the living standards of all EU citizens. As

it has great impact on the lives of all EU citizens, the Council of the European Union is an

irreplaceable institution in the European community.