The presidency of the Council of the EU
A rotating presidency
The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every six months. During this six-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.
Three presidencies working together
Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed six-month programme.
The current trio is made up of the presidencies of Spain, Belgium and Hungary.
The Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU: 1 January - 30 June 2024
Under the motto ‘Protect. Strengthen. Prepare.’ Belgium will focus on six thematic areas for its work during the presidency:
- defending rule of law, democracy, and unity
- strengthening our competitiveness
- pursuing a green and just transition
- reinforcing our social and health agenda
- protecting people and borders
- promoting a global Europe
Belgium is taking on the role of the president of the Council in a challenging time. It is a real honour, but also a responsibility. The evolution of the European Union has never been a straight line. And it is often in the most difficult moments that the greatest strides forward have been made. Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, presentation of the Belgian presidency's political priorities, 8 December 2023
Belgium will be assuming the rotating presidency of the Council for the 13th time; continuing the work of the previous presidency (Spain) before handing over to the next presidency (Hungary).
Each member state takes its turn
For the Council presidency there is no election: every country takes its turn. This means that every member state – however big or small – holds the presidency of the Council. Their turn comes every 13-and-a half years.
Discover the main priorities and highlights of the most recent presidencies in the timeline of Council of the EU presidencies.
What does holding the presidency of the Council of the EU mean?
The system of rotating presidencies goes back to the very beginning of the European integration. Every six months, a member state becomes the president of the Council of the EU and helps ensure the smooth running of the EU legislative process.
Curious to know more about what does holding the presidency of the Council of the EU mean?
The tasks of the presidency
The presidency is responsible for driving forward the Council's work on EU legislation, ensuring the continuity of the EU agenda, orderly legislative processes and cooperation among member states. To do this, the presidency must act as an honest and neutral broker.
The presidency has two main tasks:
Planning and chairing meetings in the Council and its preparatory bodies
The presidency chairs meetings of the different Council configurations (with the exception of the Foreign Affairs Council) and the Council's preparatory bodies, which include permanent committees such as the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper), and working parties and committees dealing with very specific subjects.
The presidency ensures that discussions are conducted properly and that the Council's rules of procedure and working methods are correctly applied.
It also organises various formal and informal meetings in Brussels and in the country of the rotating presidency.
Representing the Council in relations with the other EU institutions
The presidency represents the Council in relations with the other EU institutions, particularly with the Commission and the European Parliament. Its role is to try and reach agreement on legislative files through trilogues, informal negotiation meetings and Conciliation Committee meetings.
The presidency works in close coordination with:
- the President of the European Council
- the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
It supports their work and may sometimes be requested to perform certain duties for the high representative, such as representing the Foreign Affairs Council before the European Parliament or chairing the Foreign Affairs Council when it discusses common commercial policy issues.
Council presidencies up to 2025
Belgium: January-June 2024
Hungary: July-December 2024
Poland: January-June 2025
Last review: 26 March 2024