The EU Council is the institution representing the governments of the Member States. It is the forum where national ministers of citizenship and EU countries meet to adopt legislation and coordinate policies.

The individual EU Member States take over the presidency of the Council for six months. During a six-month period, the Member State of duty chairs meetings at all levels of the Council in order to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in that institution.

During the first half of 2023, Sweden holds the presidency of the EU Council. Sweden has identified four priorities for work under its third Presidency of the Council:

• safety – unit
• competitiveness
• ecological and energy transition
• democratic values and the rule of law — our basis

The Swedish Presidency will give priority to continuing economic and military support for Ukraine, as well as support for Ukraine's path to the EU. It will devote its attention to European competitiveness, reducing the risks of volatility in energy prices, and to energy market reform, ecological transition and the defence of the rule of law.

Please refer to the EU Presidency page: https://swedish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/