The Council of the European Union brings together ministerial representatives of the governments of
the EU Member States, meeting in various formations according to the policy area under discussion.
The Council’s legislative and political decisions are prepared by a large number of specialised working parties
and are fed upwards through the Permanent Representatives Committee to the Council itself. Member
State governments in turn chair the Council’s various meetings and represent the Council vis-à-vis the EU’s
other institutions and the European Union vis-à-vis the larger world. These presidencies of the Council of
the European Union traditionally establish a set of broad political priorities and a work programme.
The Republic of Poland holds the presidency for the second half of 2011. Its priorities can be found at
http://pl2011.eu/
This publication sets out some of the major activities of the European Economic and Social Committee
during the period of the Polish presidency from July to December 2011.
