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The European Council

The European Council. Origins and Development. What? 1 of 7 European Union Institutions - Initially a series of informal meetings When? Officially institutionalised on December 1 st 2009 with the Treaty of Lisbon - meetings held: 2 to 3 times a year

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The European Council

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  1. The European Council

  2. Origins and Development • What? 1 of 7 European Union Institutions - Initially a series of informal meetings • When? Officially institutionalised on December 1st 2009 with the Treaty of Lisbon - meetings held: 2 to 3 times a year • Where? Justus Lipsius Building in Brussels

  3. With the accession of Bulgaria and Romania and lastly Croatia the number of member states is now 28

  4. Establishment Extract from the 1974 Paris communique Recognising the need for an overall approach to the internal problems involved in achieving European unity and the external problems facing Europe, the Heads of Government consider it essential to ensure progress and overall consistency in the activities of the Communities and in the work on policy cooperation The Heads of Government have therefore decided to meet, accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, three times a year and, whenever necessary, in the Council of the Communities and in the context of political cooperation. The administrative secretariat will be provided for in an appropriate manner with due regard for existing practices and procedures.

  5. Objective of the European Council The Lisbon Treaty article 15 sets out the objective for the European Council: The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political directions and priorities thereof. It shall not exercise legislative functions.

  6. Membership – Participation and Structure

  7. Development • 1986 – the European Council given legal recognition for the first time via the Single European Act 1957 (first major revision of the Treaty of Rome) • Treaty of the European Union - assigned responsibility for identifying the general direction of the EU’s development • Given important powers in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) pillar Lisbon Treaty - creates the role of the President of the European Council  President Herman Van Rompuy

  8. Participation • National Delegation (20 people) + Commission Members • two formal members/ delegation • the Council Secretary General • the Council Deputy Secretary General • a very small number of the Council Presidency • the Council Secretariat • National civil servants – only one adviser/country at any one time; and interpreters

  9. Structure 2 tiers of membership • Heads of State or Government • President of the Commission, Foreign Ministers and members of the Commission who provide assistance • 2002 Seville Summit: • ‘Each delegation shall have two seats in the meeting room’ (Euro Council, 2002a: Annex III – Rules for Organisation of the Proceedings of the Euro Council)

  10. The European Council president • The creation of the post • The treaty provisions on the post • The appointment of the first occupant of the post • Organisation • Frequency, location and length of the summits • Preparing summits • Setting the agenda • The conduct of business

  11. The European Council president • The creation of the post Prior to the Lisbon treaty: Presidency of the European council the presidency of the council of ministers The European council president Advantages: injection of innovative dynamics Every member state has the chance to be in the spot light Disadvantages: Never-ending turnovers Side-effect of national politics

  12. The treaty provisions on the post Article 15 5. The European Council shall elect its President, by a qualified majority, for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. In the event of an impediment or serious misconduct, the European Council can end the President’s term of office in accordance with the same procedure. 6. The President of the European Council: (a) shall chair it and drive forward its work; (b) shall ensure the preparation and continuity of the work of the European Council in cooperation with the President of the Commission, and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council; (c) shall endeavour to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council; (d) shall present a report to the European Parliament after each of the meetings of the European Council. The President of the European Council shall, at his level and in that capacity, ensure the external representation of the Union on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy, without prejudice to the powers of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.EN 30.3.2010 Official Journal of the European Union C 83/23 The President of the European Council shall not hold a national office. 1.Range of responsibilities and tasks is not clear 2.No specific power 4.Elected by qualified majority vote 3.Former seniors are okay 5.Potential tension with other EU posts

  13. The appointment of the first occupant of the post • in terms of the nature of the post and who should be appointed to, there are two views: Bolder view: More vigorous leadership and enable the EU to act more effectively and dynamically on the world stage Big hitter: a serving or a former head of government with forceful personality Meeker view: competent politician who is good at mediating and chairing Jan Peter Balkenende Jean-Claude Juncken Herman Van Rompuy Felipe Gonzalez Tony Blair

  14. Organisation • Frequency, location and length of summits Frequency: From the Maastricht treaty until the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty: at least twice a year From late 1990s: often 3 or4 meetings per year 2002 sevillesummit:regularized the de facto situation of four summits per year Lisbon treaty:made it a treaty requirement that there should be four meetings in a year • Location: • Up to 2001, held in the country of the presidency • the 2000 IGC annexed a declaration to the nice treaty stipulation • late 2009:Brussels move completed • Length: • Standard model two day period • 2002 seville summit changed the arrangement • Most conducted much like their predecessors • Depends largely on the reason for which they have been called

  15. Standard procedure • Preparing summits Secretariat of the council of ministers commission Senior officials from the presidency Antici group Prior to the Lisbon treaty…… The presidency and the GAERC After the creation of the new postion The new post-Lisbon rules of procedure of the European council provision: Head of government of the council presidency state, the commission president, and the general affairs council also get involved in preparation. In the case of CFSP matters through PSC COREPER GAERC

  16. Setting the agenda • Agenda-making circumstances: • invariable issues because of its intrinsic importance • contextual environment • Issues towards which some member states are sympathetic • The need to make or formalize institutional changes • Issues requiring EC resolution, or approval • Business left over from or referred from previous summit • Reports that need to be considered or at least noted More summits focused around specific themes and issues will be held Economic social environmental situation particular policy area potentially troublesome matters particularly urgent matters

  17. The conduct of business unanimity Variation Consequence of political choice and necessities De facto situation given treaty status by the Lisbon treaty Much less with the semi-permanent presidents Arise from contents of agenda

  18. Activities of the European Council Varies, according to preferences and changing circumstances Trend: 1970s Integration, Economic/Monetary Issues Early 1980s Decision Making Late 1980s General Direction, Community Development • Acting as the ‘Board of Directors’ ? • Setting overall framework and taking decisions about major initiatives • BUT leaving operation of pronouncements and other decisions for management team (here, Commission and Council of Ministers)

  19. The Six “Main” Activities of the European Council 1. The Evolution of the EU 2. ‘Constitutional’ and Institutional Matters Decisions relating to treaty development and reform Decisions involving institutional matters Decisions regarding personnel -> QMV if necessary • Monitoring, setting framework

  20. 3. Economic and Monetary Policies of the EU Article 121 TFEU“The European Council shall, acting on the basis of [a draft report] from the Council [of Ministers] discuss a conclusion on the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union” (174) -> Regulation of Financial markets -> Speeding up progress by Commissions and Member States • Review overall economic and social situation within the EU • Trend: National interest  Economic policy coordination • EMU + Lisbon Strategy for economic growth and employment • 2008, Global Financial and Economic Crisis • Approved European Economic Recovery Plan, Dec 2008 Summit

  21. 4. Enlargements 2004 enlargement June ’93 Copenhagen: CEECs could become members Dec ‘94 Essen: pre-accession strategy ’97 Luxembourg: confirmation of negotiation starting date, 5 CEECs + Cyprus ’99 Helsinki: negotiation date extended, 5 CEECs + Malta Dec ’02 Copenhagen: 10 States completed accession negotiations May ’04: Joined EU Consider Applications • Wide range of enlargement matters discussed in European Council Meetings Authorize opening of negotiations Monitor Progress Set accession dates Deal with issues during accession process

  22. 5. External Relations • Consider EU’s relation with other economic powers (US, Russia, Japan..)Coordinate EU’s position in international negotiations • Guiding role on direction of foreign and security policy (Maastricht Treaty) • Issue declarations on important international political affairs (“soft” power)

  23. 6. Specific Internal Policy Issues Involvement of the European Council in these issues: Policy initiation Policy involvementTackling issues unsolved by the Council of Ministers Acting as a “final court of appeal” for policies that were declined in the Council of Ministers Why the European Council? • Sensitive issues and require to be dealt by authority • Issues suitable for institutions with non-sectoral nature • Issues that require sense of being dealt with

  24. The functions of the European UnionSummary Contributes to the coordination of EU policy goals and activities Acts as a decision-maker, including matters that have been unresolved by the Council of Ministers • Acts as a forum for building mutual understanding and confidence between the governments of the EU member states • Identifies medium- and long-term EU goals • Acts as a policy initiator and dispenser of guidelines No legislative roles Added to the intergovernmental element Dealing with the “big picture”

  25. The European Council and the EU System Implications on the role and functions of other EU institutions The European Parliament lost powerLittle input by the EP into the European Council Few implications on the Court of Justice • The Commission compensated for undermining, given permission to enter political discussions etc. • The Council of Ministers lost powerBUT no rigid hierarchical relation between institutions, no clear division of roles, most matters initially go through the Council of Ministers before the European Council

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