The Environment Council is composed of Environment Ministers who meet about four times a year. It decides by qualified majority in co-decision with the European Parliament. In this sector, the European Community has the task of fostering the harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of economic activities which respects the need, in particular, to ensure a high level of environmental quality.To achieve this, it aims to preserve the quality of the environment, human health, and the prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources and to promote measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems.

Source: http://ue.eu.int/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=415&lang=en