Published standards for the institutional functioning of the new EU
The Official Journal of the European Union of December 9, 2009 has issued five decisions which detail the rules on the exercise of the Presidency of the Council, and on the chairmanship of preparatory bodies of the Council, and the conditions of employment of new EU leaders, just as the appointment of the Secretary General of the Council of the EU.
Following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December, the Official Journal of the European Union has issued five decisions of the Council to set standards of performance of the new charges and the functioning of the Presidency of the Council in the new outlook.
Decision 2009/908/UE lays down the development of the European Council decision on the exercise of the Presidency of the Council and on the chairmanship of preparatory bodies of the Council.
It compiles the system of pre-established groups of three Member States to hold the Presidency in turn for consecutive periods of 18 months, even though each State in turn will chair for a six-month period all configurations of the Council, with the exception of the Foreign Affairs one. The other members of the group shall assist the Chair in all its responsibilities on the basis of the Council's 18-month programme.
Decision 2009/909/UE sets out the conditions of employment of President of the European Council, a position for which Belgian Herman Van Rompuy has been elected, while the decision 2009/910/UE does the same with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the office that British Catherine Ashton holds.
Moreover, the Decision 2009/912/UE spells out the conditions of employment of the Secretary General of the Council of the EU, a position for which he was elected, according to Decision 2009/911/UE, Frenchman Pierre de Boissieu.