FIONA HAYES-RENSHAW is Visiting Professor, College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium.HELEN WALLACE is Director, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute, Florence, Italy.

Reviews of 1st edition: '[Will] deservedly become a standard text, be very widely used, and shape our core understandings of the Council of Ministers.' - Alberta Sbragia, ECSA Review 'The authors combine the meticulous factual and innovative research which is expected of them with their happy knack of catching what they call 'atmospheres'... The authors have provided a framework hitherto lacking and a wealth of fact, insight and judgement, along with cogently argued conclusions and proposals for improvement in performance...' - William Nicoll, Journal of Common Market Studies 'Combines a set of full and systematic information about an institution where composition, nature and powers are unclear and misunderstood, with an in-depth analysis of its role, importance and weaknesses... [S]hould be read by anybody seriously interested in European affairs and seeking to understand the Union's ambitions as well as the nitty-gritty of one of its major actors.' - Yves Meny, Journal of Public Policy

• IntroductionPART 1: WHO DOES WHAT?National Representatives Decide: The Ministers in CouncilOfficials Prepare the Ground: The Preparatory BodiesBureaucrats Organise and Advise:The Council SecretariatTaking Turns at the Wheel: The PresidencyPART II: WITH WHOM?Overlapping Competences: The Council and the European CouncilCompetition and Cooperation: The Council and the CommissionAn Evolving Partnership: The Council and the European ParliamentNot Just Governments: The Council and the Member StatesPART III: HOW?Less Often than Expected: Voting in the CouncilCompromise and Consensus: Negotiation and Bargaining in the CouncilConclusions.