Council Decision of 1 December 2009 laying down measures for the implementation of the European Council Decision on the exercise of the Presidency of the Council, and on the chairmanship of preparatory bodies of the Council
In forceLast amended 2024-09-29
Data as of 2026-11-02 · Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
The order in which the Member States shall hold the Presidency of the Council as from 1 July 2017 and until 31 December 2030, as well as the division of this order of Presidencies into groups of three Member States is set out in Annex I to this Decision.
1. Each member of a group as referred to in Article 1, second subparagraph, shall in turn chair for a six-month period all configurations of the Council, with the exception of the Foreign Affairs configuration. The other members of the group shall assist the Chair in all its responsibilities on the basis of the Council's 18-month programme. 2. The members of a group as referred to in Article 1 may decide upon alternative arrangements among themselves. 3. In either of the situations provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Member States within each group shall by common accord determine the practical arrangements for their collaboration.
The Council shall, before 31 December 2029, decide the order in which the Member States will hold the Presidency of the Council as from 1 January 2031.
The preparatory bodies of the Foreign Affairs Council shall be chaired in accordance with the rules set out in Annex II.
The Council preparatory bodies listed in Annex III shall be chaired by fixed chairs as set out in that Annex.
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
ANNEX I Draft Table of Presidencies of the Council ( 1 ) Netherlands ( 2 ) January-June 2016 Slovakia ( 2 ) July-December 2016 Malta ( 2 ) January-June 2017 Estonia July-December 2017 Bulgaria January-June 2018 Austria July-December 2018 Romania January-June 2019 Finland July-December 2019 Croatia January-June 2020 Germany July-December 2020 Portugal January-June 2021 Slovenia July-December 2021 France January-June 2022 Czech Republic July-December 2022 Sweden January-June 2023 Spain July-December 2023 Belgium January-June 2024 Hungary July-December 2024 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 Luxembourg January-June 2029 Netherlands July-December 2029 Slovakia January-June 2030 Malta July-December 2030 ( 1 ) Without prejudice to the United Kingdom's rights and obligations as a Member State. ( 2 ) The current trio is inserted in this Annex for information purposes.
ANNEX II CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE PREPARATORY BODIES OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL ( 1 ) The chairmanship of the preparatory bodies of the Foreign Affairs Council referred to in categories 1 to 4 in the table below shall be organised as follows: 1. Category 1 (preparatory bodies in the area of trade and development): The preparatory bodies shall be chaired by the six-monthly Presidency. 2. Category 2 (geographic preparatory bodies) The preparatory bodies shall be chaired by a representative of the High Representative. 3. Category 3 (horizontal preparatory bodies, mainly CFSP) The preparatory bodies shall be chaired by a representative of the High Representative, except the following preparatory bodies, which shall be chaired by the six-monthly Presidency: — Working Party of Foreign Relations Counsellors (RELEX), — Working Party on Terrorism (International Aspects) (COTER), — Working Party on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism (COCOP), — Working Party on Consular Affairs (COCON), — Working Party on Public International Law (COJUR), and — Working Party on the Law of the Sea (COMAR), and — Working Party on Defence Industry (DIWP). 4. Category 4 (CSDP-related preparatory bodies) The CSDP-related preparatory bodies shall be chaired by a representative of the High Representative ( 2 ). The High Representative and the six-monthly Presidency shall closely cooperate in order to ensure coherence among all the preparatory bodies for the Foreign Affairs Council. For categories 3 and 4, the six-monthly Presidency shall continue to chair the preparatory bodies during a transitional period of up to six months after the adoption of the Council Decision on the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (EEAS). For category 2 this transitional period shall last up to 12 months. Modalities for appointment of chairs Where the European Council Decision or this Decision stipulates that a preparatory body (PSC and relevant working parties) shall be chaired by a representative of the High Representative, the responsibility for appointing the chair shall belong to the High Representative. These appointments shall be made on the basis of competence, while ensuring adequate geographical balance and transparency. The High Representative shall ensure that the person he or she intends to appoint as chairperson will enjoy the confidence of Member States. If that person is not yet a member of the EEAS, he or she shall become one in accordance with the EEAS recruitment procedures, at least for the time of the appointment. An evaluation of the functioning of this arrangement shall be made in the framework of the status report on the EEAS foreseen for 2012. 1. Preparatory bodies in the areas of trade and development Article 207 Committee ACP Working Party Working Party on Development Cooperation (DEVGEN) Working Party on EFTA Working Party on Dual-Use Goods Working Party on Trade Questions Working Party on Commodities Working Party on the Generalised System of Preferences Working Party on Preparation for International Development Conferences/UNCCD Desertification/UNCTAD Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid Export Credits Group 2. Geographic preparatory bodies Mashreq/Maghreb Working Party (COMAG/MaMa) Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) Working Party on the Western Balkans Region (COWEB) Middle East/Gulf Working Party (COMEM/MOG) Asia-Oceania Working Party (COASI) Working Party on Latin America (COLAT) Working Party on Transatlantic Relations (COTRA) Africa Working Party (COAFR) 3. Horizontal preparatory bodies (mostly CFSP) Working Party of Foreign Relations Counsellors (RELEX) Nicolaidis Group Working Party on Global Disarmament and Arms Control (CODUN) Working Party on Non-Proliferation (CONOP) Working Party on Conventional Arms Export (COARM) Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) Working Party on Terrorism (International Aspects) (COTER) ( 1 ) Working Party on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism (COCOP) ( 1 ) Working Party on OSCE and the Council of Europe (COSCE) United Nations Working Party (CONUN) Ad hoc Working Party on the Middle East Peace Process (COMEP) Working Party on Public International Law (COJUR, COJUR-ICC) Working Party on the Law of the Sea (COMAR) Working Party on Consular Affairs (COCON) Working Party on CFSP Administrative Affairs and Protocol (COADM) Working Party on Defence Industry (DIWP) 4. CSDP-related preparatory bodies Military Committee (EUMC) Military Committee Working Group (EUMCWG) Politico-Military Working Party (PMG) Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) Working Party on European Arms Policy ( 1 ) The question of the Working Party on Terrorism (International Aspects) (COTER) and of the Working Party on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism (COCOP) will also be dealt with in the framework of the discussion on the JHA working structures.
ANNEX III CHAIRPERSONS OF COUNCIL PREPARATORY BODIES WITH A FIXED CHAIR Elected chairs Economic and Financial Committee Employment Committee Social Protection Committee Military Committee ( 3 ) Economic Policy Committee Financial Services Committee Military Committee Working Group (3) Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) European Research Area and Innovation Committee Chaired by the General Secretariat of the Council Security Committee Working Party on Information ————— Working Party on Electronic Communications Working Party on Codification of Legislation Working Party of Legal-Linguistic Experts Working Party on New Buildings
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