The Council of the European Union (informally, the Council of Ministers or just the Council) is one of the two legislative institutions of the European Union, the other being the European Parliament. This Council should be distinguished from the European Council and the Council of Europe.
The Council, together with the Parliament, form the highest legislative body within the Union, but only within the competencies of the European Community. It is composed of 27 national ministers (one per state), the exact minister depending upon the area being addressed; for example agriculture ministers meet to discuss matters regarding agriculture. The ministers are accountable to their national electorates and together serve the second largest democratic electorate in the world (492 million).

History
The Parliament and Council are essentially two chambers in the bicameral legislative branch of the European Union, with legislative power being officially distributed equally between both chambers. However there are some differences from national legislatures; for example, neither the Parliament or Council have the power to initiate community legislation (but they can propose), a power uniquely reserved for the Commission.

ensure coordination of the general economic policies of the Member States,
have power to take decisions,
confer on the Commission, in the acts which the Council adopts, powers for the implementation of the rules which the Council lays down. The Council may impose certain requirements in respect of the exercise of these powers. The Council may also reserve the right, in specific cases, to exercise directly implementing powers itself. The procedures referred to above must be consonant with principles and rules to be laid down in advance by the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after obtaining the opinion of the European Parliament. Powers and functions
There are various legislative procedures used in the Union. The Codecision procedure is the most common (43 areas) which gives the Parliament and Council equal powers, in that legislation can be amended or rejected by both chambers. However older procedures, still used in some cases, give the Council greater power.

Legislative and budgetary authority

Organisation

Main article: Presidency of the Council of the European Union Presidency
Legally speaking, the Council is a single entity, but it is in practice divided into several different councils that meet in Brussels, each dealing with a different functional area. Each council is attended by a different type of minister. Thus, for example, meetings of the Council in its Agriculture and Fisheries formation are attended by the agriculture ministers of each member state. They meet irregularly except for the three major configurations (top three below) which meet once a month. There are currently nine formations
Agriculture and Fisheries: One of the oldest configurations, this brings together once a month the ministers for agriculture and fisheries, and the commissioners responsible for agriculture, fisheries, food safety, veterinary questions and public health matters.
Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA): This configuration brings together Justice ministers and Interior Ministers of the Member States. Includes civil protection.
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO): Composed of employment, social protection, consumer protection, health and equal opportunities ministers.
Competitiveness: Created in June 2002 through the merging of three previous configurations (Internal Market, Industry and Research). Depending on the items on the agenda, this formation is composed of ministers responsible for areas such as European affairs, industry and scientific research. Includes Tourism.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy: Also created in June 2002, through the merging of three policies under one configuration, and with a composition also varying according to the specific items on its agenda. This formation meets approximately once every two months.
Environment: Composed of environment ministers, who meet about four times a year.
Education, Youth and Culture (EYC): Composed of education, culture, youth and communications ministers, who meet around three or four times a year. Includes audiovisual issues. Configurations
The European Council is similar to a configuration of the Council, it operates in the same way and shares the same Presidency system but is composed of the national leaders (heads of government or state). The body's purpose is to define the general "impetus" of the Union.

European Council
The General Secretariat of the Council provides the continuous infrastructure of the council, carrying out preparation for meetings, draft reports, translation, records, documents, agendas and assisting the presidency.

Civil Service
Main article: Voting in the Council of the European Union
The Council is composed of national ministers for the relevant topic of discussion, with the ministers representing their states. Under qualified majority, different states have different voting weights, as follows (of a total of 345 votes);

29 votes: Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
27 votes: Spain and Poland.
14 votes: Romania.
13 votes: Netherlands.
12 votes: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal.
10 votes: Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden.
7 votes: Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland.
4 votes: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia.
3 votes: Malta. Political parties
Within the Council's debates, delegates may speak in any of the 23 official EU languages. Official documents are also translated into Catalan/Valencian, Basque and Galician.

Public access
By a decision of the European Council at Edinburgh in December 1992, the Council has its seat in Brussels but in April, June and October, it holds its meetings in Luxembourg.

Future of the Council

Silence procedure
Location of European Union institutions