German EU Council Presidency

Germany’s Council Presidency

Dominated by corona

Germany assumed the EU Council Presidency for six months on 1 July and will be chairing all Council meetings. That amounts to roughly 1,500 meetings of almost 200 working groups and committees, in addition to the meetings of ministers. Overcoming the corona crisis is the central priority for the Council Presidency, under the banner “Together for Europe’s recovery”. A Trio Programme, it was jointly developed by Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.

Quick facts

1951 was the year in which Germany co-founded the European Coal and Steel Community – a precursor of the European Union – which was initiated by Robert Schuman.

83 million is the number of inhabitants in Germany, making it the EU’s most populous country.

357,022 square kilometres is the area covered by Germany, making it the EU’s fourth-largest country after France, Spain and Sweden.

3,344 billion euros Germany’s gross domestic product makes it the EU’s largest economy.

96 is the number of German MEPs in the European Parliament.

In 2017 Germany was the EU’s largest net contributor. Germany paid 13 billion euros more into the EU than it received from it in the form of grants.

07.2020 – 12.2020 During this period Germany is holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In 2019 a German was elected President of the European Commission, namely Ursula von der Leyen.

Maas: Germany has delivered

At year-end, the German Presidency of the EU Council finishes. On balance German Federal Foreign Minister Maas is satisfied with things.

Together for Europe’s recovery

Germany has assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU for six months: no easy task in corona times

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What is the Council of the EU and what are the duties of the presidency?

To unite rather than to divide

The role of the EU Council Presidency is to establish a broad and common political foundation for all EU member states. This relates to all areas of European policy, which in turn is based on agreement between all members of the community of states. The Council of the EU coordinates member states’ policies at ministerial level – which is why it is also known as the Council of Ministers. It adopts laws and concludes international agreements on the community’s behalf.

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The EU at a glance

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Germany assumes the EU Council Presidency

Information about the Council Presidency

Germany assumes the EU Council Presidency on 1 July. The eu2020.de website provides information about its tasks and topics.

The main priorities of the Council Presidency in detail

Tackling the pandemic

The most important priority of the Council Presidency is to tackle the corona pandemic. This includes combating the disease Covid-19, overcoming its economic consequences and strengthening structures so as to be able to respond better to such crises in the future.

EU and Corona

Freundschaftlicher Abschied: ein Italiener nach der Genesung.

“We could set an example”

The Chemnitz Hospital treated Corona patients from Italy. A chief physician reports on how he experienced these emotional weeks.

Drei Betroffene über Ihre Erfahrungen mit Kurzarbeit.

Short-time work – a concept against crises

Pilot, software developer, project manager: the coronavirus crisis is forcing many employees into work short-time work. We reveal here what is good about it.

Serumproben werden in Leipzig ausgewertet.

Joint effort against the coronavirus

With strong German participation, European researchers are working to tackle the coronavirus pandemic – with initial success.

Ohne Computer geht nichts im Krankenhaus.

Start-ups confront the coronavirus

The Covid 19 pandemic poses new challenges for healthcare. German start-ups lend a helping hand with creative solutions.

Frans Timmermans, EU-Kommissar für Klimaschutz

“To make change fair”

What does Europe's future look like? EU Commissioner Timmermans explains why the Green Deal is particularly important in the coronavirus crisis.

The future will be digital, too

Digitisation of all areas of our lives is underway. One important job for the German Council Presidency is to drive forward the digital transformation while preserving human and civil rights.

EU AND DIGITALIZATION

Die Datenschutzregeln der EU gelten weltweit als Maßstab.

Europe's digital security

Data protection is a valued asset in the EU. Ulrich Kelber reveals in an interview why European standards are regarded as a benchmark worldwide.

Die EOSC erleichtert Forschern den Umgang mit großen Datenmengen.

A cloud for science

In the European Open Science Cloud, researchers can store their data securely and exchange them across borders. We explain how it works.

Glasfaserkabel: Digitale Vernetzung hat viele Facetten.

For sustainable networking

How Germany's EU Council Presidency is driving Europe's digitalization forward and which digital strategies will help Europe out of the crisis. Three questions, three answers.

Diversity generates innovation

The EU member states have chosen different roads to digitalization. Five good examples.

Deutsche Startups punkten mit digitalen Lösungen.

Young companies, great potential

Successful at digitalization: start-ups from Germany are causing a stir all over Europe. Here are three examples.

Sustainable future with the Green Deal

The Green Deal is the EU’s growth strategy in response to the existential threat posed by climate change and environmental destruction. The idea is to achieve economic success and a climate-neutral continent in such a way that nobody – nor any region – is left behind. The start of the Green Deal happens to coincide with Germany’s EU Council Presidency.

EU AND CLIMATE PROTECTION

“We need to get nature a seat at the table”

EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius on biodiversity, sustainability and the need for cross-border cooperation.

Für eine grünere EU: Wir stellen den Green Deal vor.

EU Green Deal – questions and answers

Europe is planning a climate-neutral future: discover what is behind the plans and how this goal is to be reached.

In Niedersachsen fährt seit 2018 der erste Zug mit Wasserstoff.

The clean fuel of the future

Eco-friendly hydrogen is regarded as a “silver bullet” when it comes to fighting climate change. With its hydrogen strategy, Germany is now promoting its production.

Klimaschutz fängt oft schon in der Schule an.

Together for more climate protection

Three Presidencies for Climate: that’s the motto of the Three4Climate project. Find out here what it’s all about.

Naturverbunden: Meeresforschung an der Uni Kiel

Lasting university networks for Europe

They are innovative, international and facing up to climate change: a look at three European university networks.

Human rights for all

The EU’s human rights policy is designed to preserve the basic rights of all EU citizens and to strengthen human rights worldwide. During their trio presidency, Germany, Portugal and Slovenia want to develop permanent and crisis-proof solutions for the issue of migration. The idea is to address the root causes of migration, while at the same time combating human trafficking and illegal migration.