The first meeting of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community, which was to later become the Council of the European Union, takes place in Luxembourg, on 8 September 1952. Source: Consilium.

The Council of the EU plays a crucial role in the legislative process of the European Union: it negotiates and adopts EU law. This process begins when the European Commission proposes new laws or changes to existing laws.

The Council of the European Union (often referred to simply as ‘the Council’) is a key EU decision-maker. It brings together the ministers of the 27 EU countries per sectoral area.

The Council negotiates and adopts EU legislation and coordinates certain policies. It also:

• adopts the EU budget;
• concludes international agreements on behalf of the EU;
• develops the EU's foreign and security policy

Source and more information: Consilium.

The Council meets in 10 different configurations, each corresponding to the policy area being discussed where each country sends their minister responsible for that policy area. For instance, when the Council meets in its configuration “Education, Youth, Culture and Sport” (EYCS) the respective ministers in charge of those areas are the ones representing the EU member states. Source and more information: Consilium.

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every six months. During this six-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council. Usually the country holding the Presidency uses its role as an honest broker, mediating the meetings and seeking consensus among EU member states. 

Source and more information about the rotating Presidencies: Consilium.

The Council has three levels, each with distinct roles in the decision-making process: technical (working parties/committees), permanent representatives and ministers.

1. Working Parties or Committees (Technical Level)
   1. Composed of national experts from Member States;
   2. Prepare the technical details of legislation and policy proposals.
2. Coreper (Ambassadorial Level)
   1. Short from French “Comité des représentants permanents” (Committee of Permanent Representatives):
      1. COREPER II: Composed of the Permanent Representatives from each EU Member State;
      2. Coreper II prepares the work of 4 Council configurations:economic and financial affairs; foreign affairs; general affairs; justice and home affairs;
      3. COREPER I: Composed of the Deputy Permanent Representatives from each EU Member State;
      4. Handles more sector-specific issues - Coreper I prepares the work of 6 Council configurations:
         1. agriculture and fisheries (only financial issues or technical measures on veterinary, phytosanitary or food legislation);
         2. competitiveness;
         3. education, youth, culture and sport;
         4. employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs;
         5. Environment;
         6. transport, telecommunications and energy.
      5. They coordinate and filter issues before they reach ministers.
3. Council Configurations (Ministerial Level)
   1. Ministers from national governments meet in 10 different configurations, depending on the topic;
   2. This is the formal decision-making level, where legislation and policy are formally adopted.

Source: Consilium.

The role of the Council Presidency is to guide the work of the Council through meetings, ensure that decisions are made effectively. The presidency makes sure four things happen within the Council:

• continuity of the EU’s agenda;
• sound law-making;
• cooperation among member states;
• cooperation/coordination among the other EU-instititions.

Source and more information: Consilium.

Correct Answer: Yes. The only piece of legislation within the Youth field is the European Solidarity Corps regulation, which is adopted by the youth ministers of EU Member States. European Solidarity Corps Regulation.

There is no legislation adopted in the field of sport. Sport Ministers adopt Council Conclusions or Council Resolutions, which do not intend to have legal effects. The Council uses these documents to express a political position on a topic related to the EU's areas of activity. These types of documents only set up political commitments or positions - they are not foreseen in the treaties. Therefore, they are not legally binding.

Source and more information: Consilium. 

The Council is supported by the committee of permanent representatives of the governments of the member states to the European Union (Coreper) and more than 150 highly specialised working parties and committees, known as the 'Council preparatory bodies'.

Source, more information and the full list of Council Preparatory Bodies: Consilium.