Page "Council of the European Union" Paragraph 0

The Council of the European Union ( sometimes just called the Council and sometimes still referred to as the Council of Ministers ) is the institution in the essentially bicameral legislature of the European Union ( EU ) representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament.

The Council is composed of several configurations of twenty-seven national ministers ( one per state ).

The exact membership of the configuration depends upon the topic ; for example, when discussing agricultural policy the Council is formed by the twenty-seven national ministers whose portfolio includes this policy area ( with the related European Commissioner contributing but not voting ).