Federal Ministry of Finance and EU Council Presidency

On 1 July 2020, Germany took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months. Europe is currently facing huge challenges. We are adopting ambitious fiscal policies to drive Europe’s recovery – together.

Germany is taking on the EU Council Presidency at a crucial time. Our main priority will be to guide Europe out of the crisis with strength and to boost social cohesion.
Olaf Scholz, German Finance Minister

Together for Europe’s recovery

The European Union is being put to an unprecedented test. The coronavirus pandemic knows no borders and affects all of us. This situation calls for European solidarity and for the strength to take the right actions: right now, for each country, and for all of us together. The crucial task now is to restore the EU’s fitness for the future, and to overcome the crisis in a way that enhances European unity, strength and sovereignty – to the benefit of all member states. During its six-month EU Council Presidency, Germany will do its utmost to ensure that this effort succeeds. 

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Olaf Scholz: Together for Europe’s recovery

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Presidency of the Council of the EU (EU Council Presidency)
Presidency of the Council of the EU (EU Council Presidency)

Under the system of a rotating six-month presidency, the three EU countries holding the EU Council Presidency in a row form groups of three – or “trios” – and set out an 18-month programme with common themes and policy priorities. This ensures greater consistency within the EU and allows for joint projects to be implemented more effectively. Germany is in a trio with Portugal and Slovenia: On 1 January 2021, Germany will be passing the baton to Portugal, which in turn will be followed by Slovenia, which assumes the Presidency on 1 July 2021.

#EU2020DE

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German programme

With our programme, we are working towards a stronger and more innovative Europe; a fair and sustainable Europe.

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Trio programme

Germany is working on an 18-month programme in cooperation with Portugal and Slovenia.

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Logo

The Möbius strip: a symbol of unity and connectedness.

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Motto

Together for Europe’s recovery. We intend to turn these words into action.

#EuropeCounts

6

The Presidency of the Council of the EU rotates among the member states every six months.

2007

In 2020, Germany is holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the 13th time since the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957. Germany last held the Presidency in the first half of 2007.

1500

The Presidency organises and chairs all Council meetings. Over the course of a six-month period, there can be more than 1,500 meetings (or video conferences, as is currently often the case).

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Video conference of ECOFIN ministers

Video conference of Eurogroup ministers

Informal Meeting of Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs in Berlin

Meeting of the Eurogroup in Berlin

Video conference of ECOFIN ministers

Video conference of Eurogroup ministers

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Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union is one of the EU’s central institutions. It is also simply called “the Council” and is comprised of government ministers from each EU member state. There are no fixed members of the Council. Rather, Council meetings are attended by the member state government ministers who are responsible for the specific policy area being discussed. For example, finance ministers meet within the framework of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN). 

ECO­FIN and Eu­ro­group

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ECOFIN

ECOFIN meetings are attended by the finance ministers and economic affairs ministers of the European Union.

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Eurogroup

Eurogroup meetings are attended by finance ministers and economic affairs ministers of the euro area.

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European financial policy from A to Z

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#EuropeCounts

European financial policy in numbers

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