Comprising forty member states, its main role is to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law throughout its membership. Its most important instrument is the adoption of conventions, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998, a permanent European Court of Human Rights was established to enforce the European Convention on Human Rights. It performs the role of legislative chamber and also has executive powers. The Council is comprised of one representative at ministerial level from each member state.
Council members are politically accountable to their national parliaments.
Each of the members acts as President for a period of six months. The Council exerts legislative and decision-making powers. It is also the forum in which the representatives of the governments of the EU member states can declare their interests and try to reach compromises. The Council ensures general co-ordination of the activities of the European Union, in particular the establishment of an internal market. The Council is also responsible for intergovernmental cooperation, in common foreign and security policy and in the areas of justice and home affairs, including matters such as immigration and asylum, combating terrorism and drugs and judicial cooperation.