The Presidency tasks are focused on the three paramount issues:
- Conducting the work of the EU Council and its subsidiary bodies (working groups and committees) as well as the European Council
- Representing the EU Council in its dealings with other EU institutions
- Representing the UE in international relations (with third countries and international organizations)
The first task, i.e. conducting the work of the European Council and the EU Council and its subsidiary bodies (committees and working groups) is the biggest substantive as well as organizational challenge. It is connected with the necessity of organising several thousands of both formal (on current topics) and informal (in order to exchange views on long term matters) meetings in Brussels, Luxemburg and in the country holding the Presidency, including also meetings at the highest level (European Council, summits with third countries heads). A key role of the Presidency in conducting the Council's work is "building bridges" and working out agreements among Member States. The role is particularly important as sensitive and controversial problems are being touched on. In such cases the Presidency listens to opinion of individual Member States and institutions of the European Union and then presents compromise proposals. In cases requiring a rapid decision, the Presidency, of its own motion, or at the request of the Commission or a Member State shall convene an extraordinary Council meeting within 48 hours or, in an emergency, within a shorter period (Article 22 of the TEU). The Presidency signs also acts adopted by the Council. Moreover, the Presidency convenes Intergovernmental Conferences of the Member States representatives when there is a need to introduce amendments to the Treaty on European Union.
The second task comprises representing the Council before other EU institutions, particularly the European Commission and the European Parliament. This task requires above all procedure and substantive fluency both at political level and first and foremost at clerical one. During half a year a state holding the Presidency conducts the work of the Council and shapes its relations with institutional partners. So, the functioning of the Union over this period depends on this state efficiency and good preparation. The performance of the task requires a very good preparation of the representatives of a state holding the Presidency and their intensive cooperation with the institutions well in advance of the beginning of the Presidency. The Presidency duties contained in this task consist, among others in co-chairing the conciliation Committee meetings convened in the framework of the codecision procedure and participating in Troika meetings as well as chairing these meetings and regular informing the European Parliament on the work in the area of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters (Article 39 of the TEU) cooperation with the European Parliament.
The third task consists in representing the Union in its relations with third countries and international organizations in cooperation with the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Commissioner for External Relations. Representing the EU in international relations refers to identification of the most important areas of the EU potential activity during the Presidency and setting possible priorities of the Presidency in this scope. In this area, depending on further course of the treaty reform, the biggest changes may occur with regard to the envisaged post of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
It is worth to underline a key role of the Presidency in representing the Union in matters coming within the common foreign and security policy (the CFSP) and its responsibility for the implementation of decisions taken under this title as well as the representation of the Union stance at international organisations meetings and during international conferences (the Article 18 of the TUE). The Presidency consults also the European Parliament on the main aspects and the basic choices of the common foreign and security policy and ensures that the views of the European Parliament are duly taken into consideration. The European Parliament is kept regularly by the Presidency and the Commission of the development of the CSFP (Article 21 of the TEU). Moreover, the Presidency - authorized by the Council - can enter into negotiations to conclude an agreement with one or many states or international organisations in the scope of the common foreign and security policy and in matters connected with justice and home affairs. Representing the Union in dealings with third countries means also for the Presidency chairing the sessions of negotiation conferences on the accession of candidate countries to the European Union and chairing or co-chairing ministerial meetings with third countries, too. The Presidency is also responsible for accrediting the third countries ambassadors to the European Union.