EU BERR Councils
Following a decision at the Seville European Council, the EU reduced the number of formations of the Council of Ministers meetings. The main Councils where BERR have an interest are the following:
Competitiveness:
The Competitiveness Council was formed in 2002. It has a horizontal role in enhancing competitiveness and growth and therefore provides views on how competitiveness issues can be properly taken into account in all policy initiatives with an impact on enterprises.
For more information on the Competitiveness Council, see the related page on the left hand side.
Employment & Social Policy:
The European Union's employment and social policy is intended to improve the quality of life and standard of living for all, in an active and diversified society. It fights against all forms of discrimination and seeks to promote social integration. Working alongside the social partners, the Union contributes to job creation and to improvements to living and working conditions. Consumer policy is also a core component of the EU's strategy objective of improving the quality of life of all EU citizens. Implementation of this policy involves the development of legislative and other actions to promote the interests, health and safety of consumers in the internal market and to ensure the proper integration of consumer concerns in all EU policies.
Transport, Telecoms & Energy:
A number of previous councils were merged in 2002 to form the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE). The Ministers and Commissioners who attend vary according to which of these topics is the focus of the agenda. It meets approximately every two months. In spite of the "TTE sobriquet", there remain, in effect, 3 separate Councils for transport, telecom's and energy, each of which meets twice a year. Telecoms also covers the postal dossier when necessary.
General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC)
The Council holds separate meetings on General Affairs and on External Relations respectively, and meets once a month. The meetings bring together the Foreign Ministers of Member States. Ministers responsible for European Affairs, Defence, Development or Trade also participate depending on the items on agenda.
Minutes of all Council meetings can be found on the EU Council's on-line Newsroom (see related links to right).
Contact
Response Centre
Tel: 020 7215 5000
or: 020 7215 6740 (Minicom)
Fax: 020 7215 0105
E-mail: berr.enquiries@berr.gsi.gov.uk
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