Council Decision (EU) 2020/556 extending the temporary derogation from the Council’s Rules of Procedure introduced by Decision (EU) 2020/430 in view of the travel difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Union

Summary:

Decision (EU) 2020/556 adopted by the Council of the European Union on 21 April 2020 relating to a temporary derogation to its Rules of Procedure to make it easier to take decisions by written procedure.

Further information:

Council acts can be adopted either at formal Council meetings, or if necessary through a written procedure. The exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many ministers from travelling in order to attend Council meetings. This in turn made it difficult to reach the required quorum, and therefore to hold formal Council meetings.

Decision (EU) 2020/430 was adopted in March 2020 to ensure the continuity of the work conducted by the Council in the exceptional circumstances. The derogation allows EU ambassadors to decide to use the written procedure in accordance with the voting rule applicable for the adoption of the act itself. It means that the requirement for unanimity for all decisions to use the written procedure no longer applies.

That Decision initially applied for one month, subject to renewal. The present Decision extends it for one further month, justified by a continuation of the exceptional circumstances relating to the coronavirus outbreak.