The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) is composed of the ministers of foreign affairs, defense and/or development of the Member States of the European Union. The Council meets once a month. The High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy chairs the meetings of the Council for Foreign Affairs.

In the Council of the European Union, the ministers from the EU Member States take a joint decision on the policy to be implemented within the EU. The Council is supported by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which prepares decisions and guards the implementation and adherence of the decisions monitored by the Council.

The Foreign Affairs Council was established under the Lisbon Treaty. Up until 1 December 2009, this part of the General Affairs and External Relations. The first and current High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy is the British Catherine Ashton.

This council deals with, among others, the following policy fields:

Foreign Policy

Foreign Trade

Defence Policy

Humanitarian aid

Development