The term PRESIDENCY means that one country chairs the Council of the EU. The Council presidency rotates among the EU Member states every 6 months. The Council presidency is considered one of the most important tools for promoting the interests of specific EU Member states and influencing the activities and operations of the entire EU.
Member states work together closely, in groups of three called “trios”. This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. Each presidency country introduces its programme to the Council and the European Parliament (EP) at the beginning of its term. The presidency is responsible for driving forward the Council’s work on EU legislation and ensuring the continuity of the EU agenda, orderly legislative processes and cooperation among Member states. The presidency has two main tasks: planning and chairing meetings of the Council and its preparatory bodies, and representing the Council in relations with other EU institutions. Council presidencies up to 2028 Poland: January-June 2025 Denmark: July-December 2025 Cyprus: January-June 2026 Ireland: July-December 2026 Lithuania: January-June 2027 Greece: July-December 2027 Italy: January-June 2028 Latvia: July-December 2028
On 1 January 2024, Belgium assumed its thirteenth Presidency of the Council of the European Union as the second country of the Spain-Belgium-Hungary Presidency trio. This came at a time when the... more
Hungary held the rotating presidency of the Council for the second time, continuing the work of the previous presidency (Belgium) before handing over to Poland. more
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