The presidency of the Council of the European Union is held by a Member State, which chairs the meetings and helps ensure the continuity of the EU's work. EU countries share this task on a rotating basis, which began in 1952 when the Federal Republic of Germany held the presidency from September to December. The presidency then started to rotate every six months as from 1958.

With the enlargement of the EU, the Member States holding the presidency work closely together in groups of three, a.k.a. 'trios'. This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The 'trio' sets long-term goals and establishes a common programme for an eighteen-month period, based on which of the three Member States carries out its own six-month programme.

Rotating Presidencies