In the context of the Treaties of Rome, the council is the ultimate legislative body. But under the CS Treaty, it is mainly known as a consultative body.
In some ways the Council acts in the same way as a government, as it authorises negotiations to take place, confers on the commission the power to sort out international agreements and decides if they need to be concluded or not.
In art 208 EC it states that the Council may ask the Commission to do any issues that the Council thinks is worth for the attainment of the common objectives and submit it in suitable proposals. The council also fixes the wages of the commissions, judges and registrars of the ECJ.
The role of the Council of the European Union under pillar 3 has diminished as a result of the transfer of visa, asylum, immigration and other policies which are incorporated into the free movement of people necessary to the area of freedom, security and justice from pillar 3 to the EC Treaty.
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