Publications
Environmental statement 2023
On 25 January 2016, the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (GSC) obtained EMAS registration1, validating the quality of the environmental management system in place since 2010.
This statement contains an update on the GSC’s environmental performance up to 2022. The continued implementation of an effective environmental management system has enabled the GSC to go even further in reducing its energy consumption. These positive results lend credibility to the environmental initiatives which have been in place at the GSC for a number of years, and which were validated by the EMAS registration. The environmental management system enables the GSC not only to measure and monitor the impact of its activities so as to better control it, but also to continuously improve its performance.
2023, 68 pages, PaperbacksWorking party on public international law (COJUR) report on the EU guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law - July 2023
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict and to protect civilians and others not taking part in hostilities, is a cornerstone of modern international law. The EU Guidelines underline the Union's commitment to promoting compliance with IHL and set out the main tools at its disposal. The Council Working Group on Public International Law (COJUR) has prepared the sixth annual report on the action taken by the European Union to implement the Guidelines. The reference period is from January 2022 to December 2022.
2023, 117 pages, PaperbacksSchengen - Your gateway to free movement in Europe
This leaflet in the Schengen series briefly explains the history of the Schengen area and the principles that govern it. It contains a political map of Europe and information about the different statuses of the 26 countries that make up the Schengen area. Available in 24 EU languages.
2023, 4 pages, Leaflet / flyerSchengen - Your gateway to free movement in Europe
Schengen, a village in southern Luxembourg on the river Moselle, located where the territories of the initial contracting parties of the Schengen Agreement (France, Germany and the Benelux States) meet, has become a synonym for the abolition of internal border controls and for free movement in Europe.
2023, 16 pages, PaperbacksUnderstanding the Economic and Monetary Union
How does the Economic and Monetary Union work? Who are the main players involved? What caused the economic and financial crisis and how was it resolved? This booklet provides information on the Economic and Monetary Union, its functioning and the response to the economic crisis. It defines the tools used to resolve the crisis and avoid a similar situation in the future: economic policy coordination, financial stability with supervision and resolution mechanisms, and stability mechanisms to support euro area countries that encounter difficulties.
2023, 28 pages, Paperbacks
The booklet is available in 24 EU languages.The Schengen area - poster
This poster of the Schengen series is a geo-political map indicating 27 countries covered by the Schengen area and the states that have a different status. It also contains short information on the movement of persons in each of presented countries.
2023, 1 pages, PostersYooki and the Union of the Forest
This illustrated story about the adventures of Yooki the firefly and his animal friends is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it.
Print versions can be requested via the Council’s website, subject to the conditions stated and availability.
2023, 38 pages, Educational resourceLearn with Yooki
This activity book is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it. For children to get the most out of it, they first need to have read the story book ‘Yooki and the Union of the Forest’.
Print versions can be requested via the Council’s website, subject to the conditions stated and availability.
2023, 86 pages, Educational resourceIllustrated map of the European Union
This map is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it. It is to be used as part of the activities suggested in the ‘Learn with Yooki’ activity book.
Print versions can be requested via the Councils website, subject to the conditions stated and availability.
2023, 0 pages, Educational resourceTeacher’s guide (Yooki and the Union of the Forest)
This teacher’s guide is part of an educational package designed to explain to pupils aged 7 to 9 what the European Union is, why it was created and what role the Council and the member states play in it. It offers lesson-planning suggestions for classroom teaching based on the story book ‘Yooki and the Union of the Forest’ and the activity book ‘Learn with Yooki’.
2023, 60 pages, Educational resourceThe Council’s follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe
This brochure provides an overview of the Council’s follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe. The Conference was launched in March 2021 as a joint undertaking of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, to listen to European citizens and let them have their say on the future of Europe, through a citizen-led series of deliberations. The Conference ended on 9 May 2022 when the report on the final outcome of the Conference was presented. The focus is now on the follow-up.
2023, 6 pages, Leaflet / flyer
