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Publications

Publications

  • Environmental statement 2025

    On 25 January 2016, the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (GSC) obtained EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) registration, validating the quality of the environmental management system in place since 2010.

    This statement contains updates on the GSC’s environmental performance up to 2024. Continuous and effective environmental management has, in particular, enabled the GSC to reduce its consumption of energy and water and to improve its waste management. These results enhance the credibility of the GSC’s environmental initiatives validated by the EMAS registration. The environmental management system enables the GSC to measure and monitor the impacts of its activities to better control those impacts and to continuously improve its performance.

    2026, 69 pages, Leaflet / flyer

  • The European Council and the Council of the European Union (2025 edition)

    The European Council and the Council of the European Union are the two institutions representing the member states in the European Union. They bring EU countries’ leaders and ministers together to shape the European Union’s future. They both play an essential role in EU decision-making. This publication explains their respective powers, functioning and composition, who presides in the two institutions and how decisions are made.

    2025, 83 pages, Paperbacks

  • Working party on public international law (COJUR) report on the EU guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law - July 2025

    International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict and to protect civilians and others not taking part in hostilities, is a cornerstone of modern international law. The EU Guidelines underline the Union's commitment to promoting compliance with IHL and set out the main tools at its disposal. The Council Working Group on Public International Law (COJUR) has prepared the eighth annual report on the action taken by the European Union to implement the Guidelines. The reference period is from January 2024 to December 2024.

    2025, 224 pages, Paperbacks

  • History of the Council of the European Union and of the European Council

    The Council of the European Union and the European Council are key players in the EU’s decision-making process. This publication traces their history from their origins in the 1950s in Paris, through the Lisbon Treaty (2009) and the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU (2020), to the present day. Their story reflects that of the EU as a whole: its policies and ambitions, its crises and progress.

    2025, 136 pages, Paperbacks

  • Schengen - Your gateway to free movement in Europe

    This leaflet in the Schengen series briefly explains the history of the Schengen area and the principles that govern it. It contains a political map of Europe and information about the different statuses of the 26 countries that make up the Schengen area. Available in 24 EU languages.

    2025, 4 pages, Leaflet / flyer

  • Schengen - Your gateway to free movement in Europe

    Schengen, a village in southern Luxembourg on the river Moselle, located where the territories of the initial contracting parties of the Schengen Agreement (France, Germany and the Benelux States) meet, has become a synonym for the abolition of internal border controls and for free movement in Europe.

    2025, 15 pages, Paperbacks

  • The European Council

    The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general direction and priorities of the European Union. It consists of the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. The European Council represents the highest level of political cooperation between the member states.

    2025, 8 pages, Leaflet / flyer

  • The Schengen area - poster

    This poster of the Schengen series is a geo-political map indicating 27 countries covered by the Schengen area and the states that have a different status. It also contains short information on the movement of persons in each of presented countries.

    2024, 1 pages, Posters

  • “Europe and You” activity book

    Would you like your pupils to learn more about the 27 countries that belong to the European Union?

    With this activity book they can discover fun facts about them, find out about the names of their capitals and colour in their flags.

    Available in 24 languages.

    Ideal for children aged 7 to 10.

    2024, 40 pages, Educational resource

  • I colour in Europe

    Looking for a fun way to introduce young kids to the European Union? This educational colouring book can be a great start. Children can colour in the flags of the EU countries using the provided models, write down their names with the given hints, and match the stickers to the corresponding flags and country shapes.

    2024, 40 pages, Educational resource

  • Environmental statement 2023

    On 25 January 2016, the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (GSC) obtained EMAS registration1, validating the quality of the environmental management system in place since 2010.

    This statement contains an update on the GSC’s environmental performance up to 2022. The continued implementation of an effective environmental management system has enabled the GSC to go even further in reducing its energy consumption. These positive results lend credibility to the environmental initiatives which have been in place at the GSC for a number of years, and which were validated by the EMAS registration. The environmental management system enables the GSC not only to measure and monitor the impact of its activities so as to better control it, but also to continuously improve its performance.

    2023, 68 pages, Paperbacks

  • Working party on public international law (COJUR) report on the EU guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law - July 2023

    International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict and to protect civilians and others not taking part in hostilities, is a cornerstone of modern international law. The EU Guidelines underline the Union's commitment to promoting compliance with IHL and set out the main tools at its disposal. The Council Working Group on Public International Law (COJUR) has prepared the sixth annual report on the action taken by the European Union to implement the Guidelines. The reference period is from January 2022 to December 2022.

    2023, 117 pages, Paperbacks

  • Understanding the Economic and Monetary Union

    How does the Economic and Monetary Union work? Who are the main players involved? What caused the economic and financial crisis and how was it resolved? This booklet provides information on the Economic and Monetary Union, its functioning and the response to the economic crisis. It defines the tools used to resolve the crisis and avoid a similar situation in the future: economic policy coordination, financial stability with supervision and resolution mechanisms, and stability mechanisms to support euro area countries that encounter difficulties.
    The booklet is available in 24 EU languages.

    2023, 28 pages, Paperbacks

  • Yooki and the Union of the Forest

    This illustrated story about the adventures of Yooki the firefly and his animal friends is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it.

    Print versions can be requested via the Council’s website, subject to the conditions stated and availability.

    2023, 38 pages, Educational resource

  • Learn with Yooki

    This activity book is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it. For children to get the most out of it, they first need to have read the story book ‘Yooki and the Union of the Forest’.

    Print versions can be requested via the Council’s website, subject to the conditions stated and availability.

    2023, 86 pages, Educational resource

  • Illustrated map of the European Union

    This map is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it. It is to be used as part of the activities suggested in the ‘Learn with Yooki’ activity book.

    Print versions can be requested via the Councils website, subject to the conditions stated and availability.

    2023, 0 pages, Educational resource

  • Teacher’s guide (Yooki and the Union of the Forest)

    This teacher’s guide is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it. It offers lesson-planning suggestions for classroom teaching based on the story book ‘Yooki and the Union of the Forest’ and the activity book ‘Learn with Yooki’.

    2023, 60 pages, Educational resource

  • The Council’s follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe

    This brochure provides an overview of the Council’s follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe. The Conference was launched in March 2021 as a joint undertaking of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, to listen to European citizens and let them have their say on the future of Europe, through a citizen-led series of deliberations. The Conference ended on 9 May 2022 when the report on the final outcome of the Conference was presented. The focus is now on the follow-up.

    2023, 6 pages, Leaflet / flyer

  • Comments on the Council's Rules of Procedure

    The main purpose of the Comments on the Council’s Rules of Procedure is to provide guidance to all those called upon to find their way through the legal environment of the Council’s Rules of Procedure, such as the members of the Council and their representatives, the persons chairing any of the Council configurations or preparatory bodies, and the staff of the General Secretariat of the Council.

    2022, 178 pages, Paperbacks

  • Environmental statement 2022

    On 25 January 2016, the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (GSC) obtained EMAS registration1, validating the quality of the environmental management system in place since 2010.

    This statement contains an update on the GSC’s environmental performance up to 2021. The continued implementation of an effective environmental management system has enabled the GSC to go even further in reducing its energy consumption and to maintain the downward trend in the amount of paper used annually per person. These positive results lend credibility to the environmental initiatives which have been in place at the GSC for a number of years, and which were validated by the EMAS registration. The environmental management system enables the GSC not only to measure and monitor the impact of its activities so as to better control it, but also to continuously improve its performance.

    2022, 71 pages, Paperbacks