The Foreign Affairs Council sets the course for the EU's external action and ensures the coherence of the EU’s different efforts in the area. The Council deals with issues concerning the common foreign and security policy, security and defence cooperation, trade and development policy.

Member States are represented by different ministers depending on what is on the agenda. The Council is chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, and meets approximately once a month.

A presidency briefing, agenda and background note will be published on the Council website closer to the date of the meeting.