Every six months a new member state takes over the presidency of the Council of Ministers.

EU presidency

July-Dec 2000: France Jan-June 2001: Sweden July-Dec 2001: Belgium Jan-June 2002: Spain July-Dec 2002: Denmark

The country holding the presidency sets the agenda for council meetings during its six month stint.

Sweden laid out priorities of employment, enlargement and the environment when it took over the presidency in January 2001.

But the President of the European Commission has criticised the system, calling it "ineffective political tourism".