ABSTRACT
This chapter explores a gender spotlight to re-inspect what people already know about the Councils and to determine what is still lurking in its ‘dark corners.’ The original Council had only six members of ‘ministerial’ rank, one from each of the founding countries. The Council presidency rotates among member states every six months, based on a fixed scheme. National governments use this position to enhance their representation at European Union (EU) level and to raise awareness about EU affairs among their own citizens. The main topics dominating Council research, along with its ‘dark corners’ merit re-inspection employing a gender lens. Fiona Hayes-Renshaw and Helen Wallace published the first comprehensive account of the Council in 1997. Constructivist interpretations emphasize the ‘culture of consensus’ developed and internalized by national institutions. The Council’s preparatory bodies have been covered in mainstream research, albeit without a gender lens.
