2 Euro Proof

The Council of the European Union (Rat der Europäischen Union) is the institution in which the specialist ministers of the member states meet. It must not be confused with the European Council (Europäischer Rat), the body of heads of state or government, or with the Council of Europe (Europarat). The government concerned chairs most Council configurations as well as the preparatory committees and working groups. An exception is in particular the Foreign Affairs Council (Rat „Auswärtige Angelegenheiten“), which is chaired by the High Representative of the Union.

The presidency is intended to mediate between national positions, draft compromise texts and conduct legislative negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission. In doing so, it can set political priorities, but remains bound by the ongoing agenda and by legislative procedures already under way. Since 2009, three successive presidencies have worked together as a so-called trio presidency. Cyprus forms such a trio with Poland and Denmark, which establishes a joint programme for eighteen months.

The Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004 and introduced the euro in 2008. Due to the division of the island, the application of EU law is suspended in the areas over which the government of the Republic does not exercise effective control. Cyprus held the Council presidency for the first time in the second half of 2012. The renewed exercise of this task therefore takes place a good thirteen years after the first Cypriot presidency.

The choice of the theme for a commemorative coin follows a practice of several member states of also commemorating their Council presidency numismatically. Such a presidency is a clearly defined period of European cooperation and, at the same time, a rarely recurring date in a country’s political calendar. For Cyprus, it also provides an opportunity to make its role within the EU and the euro area visible on a means of payment circulating throughout the entire euro area. Cyprus had already made its own national Council presidency of 2012 the subject of a 2-euro commemorative coin.