Publications
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Working party on public international law (COJUR) report on the EU guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law - July 2022
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict and to protect civilians and others not taking part in hostilities, is a cornerstone of modern international law. The EU Guidelines underline the Union's commitment to promoting compliance with IHL and set out the main tools at its disposal. The Council Working Group on Public International Law (COJUR) has prepared the fifth annual report on the action taken by the European Union to implement the Guidelines. The reference period is from January 2021 to December 2021.
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Welcome to the Council's Visitors' Centre
The Council is open to the public for visits. Individual visitors can explore the Council's Visitors' Centre for free. There are also visits for groups of at least 20 participants. Find out what you can see and learn about in the house of the EU member states in this leaflet.
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European Union drugs strategy 2021–2025
This brochure contains the full text of the EU drugs strategy for 2021–2025. The strategy provides the political framework and priorities for EU drugs policy identified by member states and EU institutions. The strategy's aims include contributing to a reduction in drug demand and supply within the EU, as well as lessening the health and social risks and harms associated with drugs.
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The Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union – also known informally as the EU Council or, simply, the Council – is a key EU decision-maker. The institution brings together the ministers of the EU member states. They represent their elected national governments in those areas where the treaties – adopted by the member states – allow the Union to act. The Council mostly adopts laws and coordinates policies in order to reach the objectives set in the European Council by the EU’s heads of state or government. The Council also develops the EU’s common foreign and security policy, concludes international agreements and together with the European Parliament, it adopts the EU budget.
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The European Council
The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general direction and priorities of the European Union. It consists of the heads of state or government of the EU member states, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. The European Council represents the highest level of political cooperation between the member states and meets at least once every 2-3 months in Brussels.
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The Schengen - Your gateway to free movement in Europe
Schengen, a village in southern Luxembourg on the river Moselle, located where the territories of the initial contracting parties of the Schengen Agreement (France, Germany and the Benelux States) meet, has become a synonym for the abolition of internal border controls and for free movement in Europe.
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The Schengen area
This leaflet in the Schengen series briefly explains the history of the Schengen area and the principles that govern it. It contains a political map of Europe and information about the different statuses of the 26 countries that make up the Schengen area. Available in 24 EU languages.
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Live from Brussels - Council study of the Brussels press corps
The General Secretariat of the Council of the EU (GSC) has carried out a study of the Brussels press corps to better understand its composition, working conditions, dynamics and trends. With the aim of continuing to improve the service it provides to reporters covering EU affairs, the GSC also sought their opinions on some of the key activities and products of the EU institutions’ press services.
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The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy of the GSC 2021-2024
The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy of the General Secretariat of the Council 2021-2024 describes the horizontal and targeted measures to improve diversity in the GSC in the next four years. This document covers recruitment, awareness raising, inclusive communication and anti-harassment and sets out objectives for specific diversity parameters: gender, disabilities, LGBTI, ethnic diversity and age. Diversity and inclusion is about creating more space to accommodate our differences. We all need to thrive personally and professionally, feel involved, be appreciated for who we are and valued for what we contribute. This document explains how this is achieved in the GSC.
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The Schengen area - poster
This poster of the Schengen series is a geo-political map indicating 26 countries covered by the Schengen area and the states that have a different status. It also contains short information on the movement of persons in each of presented countries.
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Working party on public international law (COJUR) report on the EU guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law - June 2021
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict and to protect civilians and others not taking part in hostilities, is a cornerstone of modern international law. The EU Guidelines underline the Union's commitment to promoting compliance with IHL and set out the main tools at its disposal. The Council Working Group on Public International Law (COJUR) has prepared the fourth annual report on the action taken by the European Union to implement the Guidelines. The reference period is from January 2020 to December 2020.
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Environmental statement 2020 - 2019 data (updated: October 2020)
This report sets out the environmental management system in place at the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC). It also explains its performance in relation to environmental issues between 2010 and 2019.
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Openness and Transparency
As European Union policies ultimately shape many aspects of the lives of around 445 million citizens, it is crucial that EU decisions be taken as openly and as closely as possible to citizens. For that reason, people need to be able to access clear information on how and why European legislation is adopted. This publication gives an overview of openness and transparency in the European Council and the Council of the European Union and provides easy access to a variety of information sources.
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Europe and you - EU capitals colouring book
With this colouring book, children will be able to learn the names of EU capitals, colour in the flags and discover some interesting information about each member state. Attractive learning material that can be used both at home and in school.
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The European Union - Facts and figures
How many people live in Italy? What's the political system in Lithuania? And what is the capital of Cyprus called? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the updated version of 'The European Union - Facts and figures'. This booklet comes in a handy small format and gives essential information on the European Union, its institutions, member states and candidate countries. It contains facts on official languages, government websites and other useful data about each country. The publication is available in 24 EU languages.
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Working party on public international law (COJUR) report on the EU guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law - June 2020
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict and to protect civilians and others not taking part in hostilities, is a cornerstone of modern international law. The EU Guidelines underline the Union's commitment to promoting compliance with IHL and set out the main tools at its disposal. The Council Working Group on Public International Law (COJUR) has prepared the third annual report on the action taken by the European Union to implement the Guidelines. The reference period is from January 2019 to December 2019.
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The European Union Map
A useful geo-political map of the 27 member states of the European Union. It also includes a small map of non-continental and overseas territories of the member states and national flags.
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European flags colouring book
How do you explain Europe to young kids? This educational colouring book is a good place to start. Follow the model and colour in the flags, then write the name of the country under the flag. Ideal for 3-8 year olds.
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Environmental statement 2019 - 2018 data
This report sets out the environmental management system in place at the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC). It also explains its performance in relation to environmental issues between 2010 and 2018.
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European Union instruments in the field of criminal law and related texts
This publication contains a selection of 106 texts that are relevant in the field of European criminal law. It includes instruments adopted by the EU Institutions concerning cooperation in criminal matters (including on mutual recognition of judicial decisions), instruments concerning substantive criminal law, extracts from the Treaties, and agreements between the EU and third countries, such as relating to mutual legal assistance. The publication contains an index and bookmarks.