PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

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 Italy, Latvia and Luxembourg. Luxembourg presidency will extend from July-December 2015.

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:

1. Planning and chairing meetings in the Council and its preparatory bodies

The presidency chairs meetings of the different Council configurations : Agriculture and Fisheries, Competitiveness, Economic and Financial Affairs, Education, Youth, Culture and Sport, Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs, Environment, General Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs, Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (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.

2. 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.

How much does it cost?

On average Member States spend € 65 million to run the presidency. Poland was a big spender € 120 Million.  It also did sign a contract worth € 1 million with Burson-Marsteller to help it run its EU presidency (including training Polish press spokespeople, setting up the presidency website, carrying out worldwide media monitoring, organising study trips to Poland for foreign journalists, putting on social and cultural events and encouraging MEPs to get behind presidency priorities.

Italy spent € 68 million. Latvia spent € 70 million and the Latvian Presidency Secretariat signed a contract with Dods Training because it wanted to strengthen and hone its  communications skills. Derived from different ministries within the Latvian government, the Secretariat staff had varied prior knowledge and communications experience as well as differing levels of English. Training included Public written communication, Public communication over the Internet and Crisis Communication. Luxembourg has planned a budget of € 93 Million (cost of equipment, meetings and entertainment € 35.5 million, cost of personnel € 20.9 million travelling and food and lodging expenses abroad € 4 million, cost of furniture and computers € 100 000).

Over the course of 18 months, the trio will have spent a combined amount of € 231 million.