Council of the
European Union
Brussels, 21 June 2021
(OR. en)
9897/21
INF 191
API 103
JUR 347
INST 235
OMBUDS 19
NOTE
From:
General Secretariat of the Council
To:
Delegations
No. prev. doc.:
7075/21
Subject:
Sponsorship of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union:
guidance on best practice
Delegations will find in the annex the latest version of the draft “Guidance for Presidency best
practice on the use of sponsorship”. It is expected that the latest tweaks of the text, done in an effort
to meet all concerns expressed so far by delegations, will lead to its unanimous endorsement by
delegations at the next meeting of the Working Party on Information on 29 June.
As stated before, this text aims to provide Member States holding the rotating presidency of the
Council with general guidance in their relations with sponsors. It encourages Member States to
establish clear and transparent rules on certain aspects of such sponsorships, while acknowledging
that the final responsibility for their concrete implementation rests with each Member State holding
the presidency.
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ANNEX
Draft Guidance for Presidency best practice on the use of sponsorship
The Member State holding the six-monthly Presidency is responsible for the costs not covered by
the Council’s budget, in particular as regards the organisation of informal meetings, seminars, and
social and cultural events on the occasion of the Presidency, and chooses autonomously how it will
finance such costs.
Member States holding the six-monthly Presidency that consider using private sponsorships to
cover some costs of the above-mentioned activities are advised to carefully consider the possible
impact of the choice of sponsors on the reputation of the Council or the EU.
Should the Member States holding the six-monthly Presidency decide to use private sponsorship to
cover some costs, it should put in place all measures necessary to avoid any actual or perceived
conflict of interests and any possible reputational risks for the Council or the EU arising out of the
sponsorship.
The sponsorship cannot affect, or be seen to affect, the decision-making of the Council in any way
or be provided in exchange for specific visibility for the sponsors in relation to the policy-making of
the Council. In particular, the Council’s name or logo cannot be used by the sponsor in its activities.
Member States holding the six monthly Presidency are encouraged, at their discretion, to establish
clear and transparent rules, based on best practice, on sponsor selection criteria as well as on the
terms under which sponsorships are awarded. Member States are also encouraged to publish, where
appropriate, the list of selected sponsors.
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