General Affairs Council

The General Affairs Council's role is to ensure consistency in the work of all Council configurations. It works on a range of cross-sectoral policies including EU enlargement, the long-term budget (MFF), cohesion policy, the rule of law and simplification of EU rules.

It also coordinates preparations of and follows up on European Council meetings.

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Areas of work of the General Affairs Council

EU enlargement

The Council supervises the process of new countries joining the EU and the accession negotiations, in accordance with the merit-based approach.

Rule of law

The Council upholds the rule of law in the EU and in the member states through several mechanisms, including the annual rule of law dialogue.

Budget

The Council works on the long-term budget (multiannual financial framework, MFF) to provide financing for the EU's strategic priorities.

Democracy and political participation

The Council works to safeguard democratic values and resilience, promote free and fair elections and counter foreign interference.

Relations with the UK

The Council is working to protect citizens' rights and ensure fair competition and continued cooperation in areas of mutual interest with the UK.

Cohesion

The Council is enhancing regional development to create jobs and prosperity across the EU.

The General Affairs Council is also in charge of administrative issues, such as appointments, nominations and annual legislative programming related to the EU's institutional set-up.

In addition, the General Affairs Council is responsible for relations with non-EU countries in Western Europe including, for example, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

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How does the General Affairs Council work?

Depending on the agenda, the General Affairs Council meets in two different compositions.

General Affairs

The General Affairs Council is mainly composed of ministers responsible for EU affairs, and in some cases ministers for foreign affairs. They work on a range of cross-sectoral policies including EU enlargement, the long-term budget (MFF), the rule of law and simplification of EU rules. Meetings generally take place once a month, often shortly before a formal European Council meeting.

Cohesion

The GAC (Cohesion) gathers ministers responsible for policies aimed at reducing economic and social disparities between regions of the EU (also referred as 'cohesion policy'). They monitor the implementation of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund, as well as the Just Transition Fund, and the European Social Fund Plus. They generally meet twice per year.

Relevant European Commissioners also participate in the meetings of the Council.

The work of the General Affairs Council is prepared by several specialised working parties and by Coreper II.

Preparing the European Council

The European Council is the highest political institution in the EU, made up of EU leaders. It defines the overall political direction and priorities of the EU.

The leaders meet at least four times per year for a so-called EU summit, but usually more often than that to handle pressing issues. The General Affairs Council prepares these summits and follows up on them and any dossier entrusted to it by the European Council.

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How the European Council works

Work programme during the Irish presidency

Through the General Affairs Council, the Irish presidency promotes a strategic focus on its key priorities of competitiveness, values and security, while ensuring a coherent approach across the work of all Council configurations. Delivering on the 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap and advancing simplification are central to this work.

The presidency also advances work on the MFF 2028-2034, with a view to enabling EU leaders to take the necessary decisions in 2026.

Other priorities include enlargement, the rule of law, relations with the United Kingdon, the EEA and EFTA, and cohesion policy.

Programme of the Irish presidency