Council Decision of 1 December 2009 laying down measures for the implementation of the European Council Decision on the exercise of the Presidency of the Council, and on the chairmanship of preparatory bodies of the Council

The order in which the Member States shall hold the Presidency of the Council as from 1 January 2007 is set out in Council Decision of 1 January 2007 determining the order in which the office of President of the Council shall be held . The division of this order of Presidencies into groups of three Member States, in accordance with Article 1(1) of the European Council Decision, is set out in Annex I to this Decision.

1 Each member of a group as referred to in Article 1, second subparagraph, shall in turn chair for a six-month period all configurations of the Council, with the exception of the Foreign Affairs configuration. The other members of the group shall assist the Chair in all its responsibilities on the basis of the Council's 18-month programme.

2 The members of a group as referred to in Article 1 may decide upon alternative arrangements among themselves.

3 In either of the situations provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Member States within each group shall by common accord determine the practical arrangements for their collaboration.

The order in which the Member States will hold the Presidency as from 1 July 2020 shall be decided by the Council before 1 July 2017.

The preparatory bodies of the Foreign Affairs Council shall be chaired in accordance with the rules set out in Annex II.

The Council preparatory bodies listed in Annex III shall be chaired by fixed chairs as set out in that Annex.

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.