Glossary
Updated
COREPER is the gatekeeper between member state positions and the trilogue room. Without an updated mandate, a Council Presidency cannot offer concessions or compromise on positions previously agreed by member states. When a trilogue stalls because the Presidency's mandate leaves no flexibility on a contested provision, an updated COREPER mandate is required before negotiations can resume, a procedural step that often delays final agreement by weeks.
Example
When an EU AI Act trilogue stalls on a contested point (for example, the boundary between Annex I Section A and Section B), the Council Presidency typically has to seek an updated COREPER mandate before the next round can be scheduled, often delaying agreement by several weeks.