> The council is the only legislative writing body in the EU, but it has no power to enact legislation. Funny, as I recall that is one of the roles of Commissi

> The council is the only legislative writing body in the EU, but it has no power to enact legislation. Funny, as I recall that is one of the roles of Commission. It is the one with the power of initiative. If its draft legislation is not accepted, and modifications are proposed which it does not like, it can simply withdraw the proposed legislation. The council and the parliament can only request that the Commission draft some legislation to a purpose. So there are three institutions involved. The Commission, the council, and the parliament. Where the latter is very much the junior partner, and the council can set political direction, but the Commission is the only part with the power to initiate legislation. The whole thing is quite different from any form of national government and legislature. (NB there are two councils - the EU Council, and the Council (of ministers) - which gets very confusing for those of us not actively following along.)