The main institutions of the European Union are the Council, the Commission and the Parliament.

The Council of the European Union is the pre-eminent decision-making body.  It provides a forum for member state representatives to meet regularly at all levels, including ministers and heads of government/state and rotates between member states on a six-monthly basis.

The European Commission, currently consisting of one Commissioner from each member state and led by a President, is the Union’s executive body and public service.  It shares policy and decision-making powers with the member states through the European Council and with the European Parliament and is responsible for budget management.

The European Parliament is the only institution directly elected by EU citizens.  It shares decision-making power with the Council on most internal market policies and has budget approval powers.  

More information.
  

Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Belgium is the holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July 2010 to 31 December 2010. For the first time, the Belgian Presidency is part of a Trio Presidency, in which three countries – Spain, Belgium and Hungary – are coordinating their activities in this role. The Trio Presidency began with Spain’s six-month term and will be concluded by Hungary, which will take over the Presidency from Belgium in January 2011.

The cooperation between the three Member States aims to establish greater continuity in the European Union’s initiatives and activities as laid down in the EU treaties and assumes concrete form in the trio’s common work programme. In addition to this programme, Belgium has also set a number of its own priorities.