The presidency of the Council of the EU

A rotating presidency

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. During this 6-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.

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 6-month programme.

The current trio is made up of the presidencies of France, the Czech Republic and Sweden. 

The Czech presidency of the Council of the EU: 1 July - 31 December 2022

The priorities of the Czech's presidency are reflected in its motto: 'Europe as a task: rethink, rebuild, repower'

This motto is both a testimony and a reminder of the need to work continuously towards a modern and functioning Europe. The motto expresses a commitment to strengthen common freedom, responsibility, security and prosperity.

During this, its second presidency of the Council of the EU, the Czech Republic will focus on five closely linked priority areas:

• managing the refugee crisis and Ukraine’s post-war recovery
• energy security
• strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities and cyberspace security
• strategic resilience of the European economy
• resilience of democratic institutions

Europe is currently facing many problems and challenges, but if we act with unity and determination, we will emerge stronger and more resilient from these crises

Petr Fiala, Presentation of the political priorities of the Czech presidency in the Hrzánský Palace in Prague, 15 June 2022

• Learn all about the Czech presidency on its dedicated website
• Draft agendas for Council meetings, during the second semester of 2022 (the Czech Presidency)

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.

Discover the main priorities and highlights of the most recent presidencies of the Council.

• List of presidencies of the Council of the European Union

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.