Permanent Representatives Committee II (COREPER II)

Coreper II is composed of each member states' permanent representatives. It is chaired by the permanent representative of the country holding the presidency of the General Affairs Council.

Coreper II prepares the work of 4 Council configurations:

• - 

  economic and financial affairs
• - 

  foreign affairs
• - 

  general affairs
• - 

  justice and home affairs.

Coreper¹'s meetings are prepared by 2 groups, each named after its first chairperson:

'Mertens Group', which prepares the work of Coreper I²

'Antici Group', which prepares the work of Coreper II

These informal groups help to form an initial idea of the positions that the various member state delegations will take at the Coreper meeting.

• 1. 

  Coreper is the Council's main preparatory body. All items to be included into the Council's agenda (except for some agricultural matters) must first be examined by Coreper, unless the Council decides otherwise.
   
• 2. 

  Coreper I is composed of each country's deputy permanent representatives. Its meetings are chaired by the deputy permanent representative of the country holding the presidency of the General Affairs Council.