The Council, which consists of government representatives at ministerial level, is the main EU forum in which matters are debated and decisions taken. It is part of the decision-making triangle — Commission, Parliament and Council — and its powers encompass the common policy domains covered by the Treaties establishing the European Communities.
In addition, it plays a key role in the two areas of intergovernmental cooperation established by the EU Treaty, the common foreign and security policy CFSP and cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs, in which the European Parliament and the Commission play only a minor part.
By tradition, the Council deliberates behind closed doors, and, in general, it takes decisions by a unanimous vote. It has often been compared with an intergovernmental body, or even a diplomatic conference, at which representatives of the individual Member States defend their national interests and seek to secure a compromise. However, Community provisions and procedures actually govern the organisation and operation of the Council.
While most people in the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and Sweden see positive economic effects from joining the EU, sizable groups in each of these countries — roughly four-in-ten — believe their economy has suffered due to economic integration. Most in Slovakia and the Czech Republic think their country has prospered, but smaller groups in both believe joining the EU has had a negative economic effect or has been neither good nor bad overall.
In France, Greece and Bulgaria, roughly half think European integration has weakened their national economy, and a majority in Italy agree. Those with more education are especially prone to say integration has helped their economy in most countries, as are those with incomes at or above the national median.
In many countries, those who support right-wing populist parties are more likely to think joining the EU has weakened their national economy. Many of the nations surveyed are more positive about the economic benefits of the EU now than they were a decade ago.
This is especially true in several Central and Eastern European countries. The six other countries surveyed in both and — Poland, the UK, Greece, the Czech Republic, Spain and Germany — have all seen significant increases over the same period. German Chancellor Angela Merkel fares the best among the four leaders asked about in the survey when it comes to public confidence. Merkel fares worse in other countries: Fewer than four-in-ten give her positive ratings in Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Greece.
And only about one-in-three Russians have confidence while roughly half do not. The French president also does not fare well in some Central and Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, where about half say they have no confidence in Macron, but roughly one-in-five respondents or more in these nations do not give any opinion of the French leader. Putin receives the highest marks in Russia, where nearly three-quarters have confidence in their leader.
About half or more Bulgarians, Greeks and Slovaks also view the Russian leader positively. Orban fares best in his home nation of Hungary, Poland and neighboring Slovakia. Support for a right-wing populist party and views of European leaders are related. In 10 countries, those with favorable views of a right-wing populist party are also more likely to have confidence in Putin when it comes to world affairs; the same pattern appears for Orban.
At the same time, those who dislike a right-wing group tend to hold positive views of Angela Merkel seven countries and Emmanuel Macron eight countries. Germany, the largest economy in the EU , enjoys favorable reviews from most other European publics surveyed.
While roughly half of those in the Czech Republic and Italy share favorable views of Germany, about four-in-ten voice negative opinions. This frustration is not new. As far back as , Greece most frequently named Germany as the least trustworthy, most arrogant and least compassionate country in the EU. Views of Germany in several former Eastern Bloc nations diverge across age groups.
In seven of eight of these nations, younger people ages 18 to 34 are more positive than those ages 60 and older when it comes to Germany. Older Lithuanians and Russians are also more likely to not provide a response. Education also plays a role in perceptions of Germany: In 13 nations, those with more education are more favorable toward Germany than those with less education. In Hungary, those with less education are also less likely to provide a response.
In the Council each Minister is empowered to commit its government and is politically accountable to its own national parliament. This ensures the democratic legitimacy of the Council's decisions. Relevant European Commissioners also participate in meetings. Two of the meetings are generally devoted exclusively to employment and social policy topics.
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