Also known as the Council or the Council of Ministers. The European Union's main decision-making body. The executive organ of the EU which represents the member states, with one representative per country. It has responsibility for a wide range of policy sectors and has no fixed membership. The composition of each Council meeting is determined by a particular policy agenda. At its core are the gatherings of the Foreign Ministers, meeting collectively as the General Affairs and External Relations Council. For further information, see Practice note, The European Union after the Treaty of Lisbon.

Note that this body is separate from the European Council.