The latest revision of the Internal Regulation of the Council (IRC) – Decision 2006/683/CE, Euratom, of 1 September, JOL 285, of 16 October – introduced in-depth alterations in the Programme of activities of the Council, allowing for the presentation of an 18-month Programme, which replaces the former Annual Operational Programme and the Pluriannual Strategic Programme for three years. This alteration was the result of a joint initiative from Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, which intends to continue the ongoing collaboration among these three countries in anticipation of their future Presidencies. The «Trio of Presidencies» appears as a substitute of the concept «Team Presidencies» registered in the Constitutional Treaty, representing a pioneer experience in the Union.

Thus, the IRC anticipates the following (nº 4, article 2):

• for each period of 18 months, the «Trio of Presidencies» that will be holding office prepares, in close collaboration with the Commission, and after adequate consultation, a project for a programme of activities for the mentioned period;
• this project is presented to the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC)at the latest one month before the 18-month period, so that the council may approve it. It is established, in a declaration relating to nº 4 of this Article, that each 18-month Programme has a general introductory section in the context of the strategic orientations of the Union in the long term. That is why the three subsequent Presidencies are consulted.

the Secretary General of the Council (SGC) must be closely linked to this project (it is the responsibility of the SGC to present the drafts of the Programme and indicative provisional orders of the day). He is also expected to take part in the execution of the Programme for the 18 months (nº 3, Article 23 of the IRC). The Presidency must also, with the assistance of the SGC, establish all the necessary contacts with the European Parliament, in order to ensure the best collaboration for the formulation of the Programme.

The Commission will also take into consideration the programme of the Council, when making its own programme.